Liam Wooding

Liam Wooding (Atihaunui a Paparangi) was born in Whanganui, New Zealand in 1992. His love of the piano was fostered at an early age and developed through piano lessons and an array of musical experiences.
 
He went on to study piano in Auckland and Hamilton under Rae de Lisle and subsequently Katherine Austin, graduating with a Master’s degree in music. He was then accepted into the selective piano class at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) to study with Timothy Young, and remained there for three years. More recently he studied in the United States as a Fulbright Scholar with Aleck Karis.
‍
Liam is the recipient of numerous awards. He was twice named the University of Waikato’s Creative and Performing Arts Person of the Year, was a prizewinner in the National Concerto Competition in New Zealand, and has received numerous awards from Creative New Zealand.

In his work he performs as a soloist, chamber music partner, and accompanist, and also teaches and coaches younger students. He is a founding member of the Morton Trio, an ensemble consisting of the violin, french horn, and piano that are becoming increasingly recognised for their engaging performances.

Music by New Zealand composers has always been present in his music making, and this interest led him to commence a doctoral degree at the University of Waikato on this topic. As a result, Liam often works with some of New Zealand’s best-known contemporary composers, such as Reuben Jellyman, Janet Jennings, and John Psathas.
‍
He appears on three albums, Cabaret Songs (Rattle, 2023), Chamber Music Volume II by Lachlan Skipworth (Cygnus Arioso, 2022) and Play Pen (Atoll, 2019). The Morton Trio record and release their debut album in 2024.