Liam Barron is currently an undergraduate student at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music. He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Trombone Performance and Applied Mathematics as a Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholar. At Blair, Liam studies with world-renowned trombonist Jeremy Wilson.
In 2018, Liam won the honor of performing as the bass trombonist in the National Youth Orchestra 2, under the direction of Carlos Miguel Prieto. While in NYO2, he worked with Ava Ordman and Megumi Kanda. In 2020, he won the Bass Trombone, Division 1, American Trombone Workshop Solo Competition. In 2022, he received an honorable mention in the International Trombone Association George Roberts Bass Trombone Competition. He was also a finalist in the 2022 Bass Trombone, Division 2, American Trombone Workshop Solo Competition. Liam has participated in several festivals, including the International Trombone Festival; Southeast Trombone Symposium in the Artist and Participant classes; and the Third Coast Trombone Retreat.
Liam grew up in Northern Virginia, where he studied with David Rosengaft, Jeff Cortazzo, and Matthew Guilford. He was the bass trombonist for the American Youth Philharmonic for three years. He played in the National Jazz Workshop All-Star Jazz Orchestra for four years and was directed by Alan Baylock, Matt Niess, and Tyler Mire. Liam performed with the All-Star Jazz Orchestra at the Jazz Education Network Conference in 2017 and in 2018 with Charlie Young. He was the first-chair bass trombonist in the All-Virginia Orchestra and the All-Virginia Jazz Ensemble from his freshman to senior year of high school.
From 2016 to 2020, Liam was the bass trombonist in the Brass of Peace chamber group directed by Sylvia Alimena. The chamber group performed at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and worked with the Factory Seconds Brass Trio, Frank Ticheli, Rex Richardson, Hakeem Bilal, and Craig Mulcahy. Outside of these groups, he has performed and worked with many legendary musicians such as Joe Jackson, Doug Elliott, Tom Williams, Wycliffe Gordon, Steve Wiest, Dave Detweiler, Chris Vadala, and Mike Tomaro.
When Liam isn’t playing trombone, he enjoys woodworking, programming, and binge-watching movies and TV shows with his family.