About
Cedille Records brings Chicago’s finest classical musicians to a worldwide audience
For more than three decades, Cedille has produced world-class recordings featuring outstanding classical musicians.
Founded by James Ginsburg in 1989, Cedille Records has supported Chicago’s classical music community for over 30 years. A nonprofit record label, Cedille’s mission is to produce and disseminate audiophile recordings presenting the finest classical music performers and composers in and from Chicago. The recordings further the careers and legacies of these Chicago artists as Cedille invests heavily in marketing and promotion, not only of the recordings but of the artists represented on them. Unlike other record labels, Cedille never removes albums from its catalog. Each recording is a permanent documentation of the artist’s work, available both as a physical album and on online platforms.
As a label devoted to classical musicians from a specific metropolitan region, Cedille’s model is unique, and its recordings promote Chicago as a musical city by bringing the area’s most significant classical music artists to a worldwide listening public. This can be seen in the recognition our recordings consistently receive: in addition to near-universal critical praise and other awards, Cedille albums have won eight Grammy Awards and received 35 nominations, including six Awards for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance since 2008.
Album sales and streams cover only a small fraction of our expenses; we rely on the generous contributions of classical music lovers to support the rest. With your support, we will continue recording and producing classical recordings of the highest quality, featuring outstanding performers and composers from Chicago. Please contact us to learn more about Cedille Records and how to get involved — and please consider donating today.
Our Story
A New Vision Born Out of Passion
James Ginsburg’s vision was to provide local musicians with a recording home. Founded in 1989, Cedille Records became the only Chicago-based classical label—the first since Mercury Living Presence in the 1950s—and held that distinction for nearly two decades.
After listening to tapes of pianist Dmitry Paperno’s on-air performances on Chicago’s classical music station, Ginsburg enlisted Paperno to record Cedille’s first album. Dmitry Paperno Plays Russian Piano Music garnered favorable reviews and put Cedille on the map.
In 1994, Cedille became a not-for-profit under the umbrella of an operating foundation, Cedille Chicago. This change gave Cedille the ability to produce more recordings and pursue more ambitious projects.
To this day, Cedille helps artists make valuable contributions to their own discographies and the wider catalog of recorded music, as well as to the listening public. Contact us to learn more about Cedille Records and how to get involved.
Our nonprofit mission
Cedille Chicago, NFP is dedicated to bringing Chicago’s finest classical musicians to a worldwide audience by recording, distributing, and promoting their work. Through its high-quality recordings on the Cedille Records label, Cedille furthers the careers of outstanding Chicago classical performers and composers as they present innovative programs featuring the music about which they are most passionate.
Cedille Chicago, NFP
EIN: 36-3925368
How we work
Each project Cedille undertakes offers an interesting perspective on important, new, unusual and/or seldom-recorded classical repertory. Recording projects are artist-driven, generated from the artists’ interests and aesthetic sensibilities.
No other independent organization—either for- or non-profit—is dedicated exclusively to recording Chicago-area classical musicians, ensembles, and composers. Cedille fully invests in all of its artists, producing, releasing and promoting their work and their vision.
Cedille’s ability to receive tax-deductible donations from individuals, institutions and government agencies allows it to pursue projects of great artistic integrity. Cedille empowers its artists to select their own themes and works, and to provide feedback on all aspects of the recording process. Because of this unique approach, Cedille recordings are truer reflections of artists’ visions. Contact us to learn more about Cedille Records and how to get involved.
Support Our Work
There are many ways to give. Sales of CDs and downloads cover less than 20% of our expenses. We rely on your charitable contributions to fulfill our mission. Please consider making a donation today. Contact us to learn more about Cedille Records and how to get involved.
Submit a Proposal
Cedille is the recording home to over 180 Chicago artists, and we’re always interested in learning about new ones. If you would like a chance to join us, submit a proposal and introduce us to your work. We want to hear from you!