Liam was born in Wellington, New Zealand, and first learnt piano at nine. Discovering classical music at eleven through Beethoven’s “Pathétique Sonata”, Liam was immediately inspired to pursue a life in classical music.
Liam started lessons in piano and composition with Gillian Bibby in 2011, running with the foundations she provided. Liam garnered numerous prizes at local IRMT piano competitions, received the Senior Composition Prize for Chamber Music NZ’s 2016 Secondary School Contest, and achieved the LMusNZ and LTCL (Distinction) Piano Diplomas in 2017.
Liam began studying at the New Zealand School of Music (NZSM) in 2018, learning piano under Jian Liu and composition under Michael Norris. During this time, Liam was exposed to internationally acclaimed pianists Lars Vogt, Michael Endres and Deirdre Irons, and was a frequent prize-winner in the NZSM’s competitions for composition and New Zealand music. Liam’s proudest achievement in study was co-founding the Sounds of Te Kōkī concert series in 2019, overseeing the premieres of over 80 works by NZSM students and alumni.
In 2022, Liam graduated with a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours in Classical Performance and Composition. Liam has since taken on various solo and chamber projects. Most notably, Liam has been a two-time student at the Adam Festival’s Summer School in 2023 and 2024, returning to the Adam Festival as a performer and composer-in-residence in 2026.
Liam is a second year musician at ANAM, under the tutelage of Timothy Young. They have enjoyed the adventurous and risk-taking nature of ANAM thus far, performing as a pianist, harpsichordist and celesta player, and incorporating improvisation into their practice.
FROM: NZ / Aotearoa.
Liam is supported by ANAM Syndicate donors Aurel Dessewffy and Olga Vujovic, Tony and Alison Kelly, Anthony Knight OAM and Beverly Knight, Kim Low and Stephen Ngaa, Laurel and Lyndsay Mott, Robert Whitehead.
Photo by Pia Johnson