Cedille Records, the acclaimed nonprofit classical music label based in Chicago and led by founder James Ginsburg, has named oboist Oliver Talukder the winner of its second Emerging Artist Competition. Sponsored by the Zell Family Foundation, the competition aims to spotlight promising classical musicians under 35 with ties to the Chicago area who haven’t yet been featured on a commercial CD.
This year, 23 applicants vied for the opportunity, with Cedille’s board selecting seven semi-finalists from the pool. Following a live semi-final round held on May 17, three finalists advanced to the public showdown at the Spertus Institute’s Feinberg Theater on May 18. Talukder clinched the top prize — a Cedille recording contract valued at $70,000 for his debut solo album.
Talukder, of Mexican and Bengali descent, was born and brought up in the Chicago suburbs. He credits the city’s rich musical landscape — including training from the People’s Music School, Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative, and the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra — for shaping his early development.
Currently based in Philadelphia, Talukder is the Second Oboist with the Opera Philadelphia Orchestra. He recently graduated from the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied under renowned instructors Katherine Needleman and Philippe Tondre. In his final year at Curtis, Talukder served as Student Council President and earned the 2024 Presser Scholar distinction, a recognition of his artistic excellence and leadership.
He also earned First Prize at the 2022 Midwest Double Reed Society Competition and was recognized as Outstanding Instrumentalist at the 2024 Sphinx Orchestral Partners Audition Competition.
With this win, Talukder not only secures a professional recording debut but also solidifies his place among the next generation of standout classical musicians.
