Liam R. Marchant

utilizes techniques and tools from a variety of sources to create works that authentically represent his story and vision. From jazz fusion to early repertoire works for the saxophone, he finds inspiration from the works of Frank Zappa, Egon Wellesz, Fela Kuti, and modern composers and ensembles such as Buke and Gase, Chris Potter, Sō Percussion, and Eric Wubbels.

His work has been premiered by The Decho Ensemble, TORCH Collective, and University of Idaho String Orchestra. He has studied with Patrick Jones, Vanessa Sielert, Horace Alexander Young, Scotty Stepp, and Matt Olson in his saxophone education. He has worked under the direction of Dan Bukvich, Mark Thiele, and Vern Sielert. He studied composition with Ruby Fulton.

Liam thrives off of collaboration and sees music as an opportunity to share and exist within a sound-world rather than dictate one. In the Summer of 2021, Liam founded the ensemble Pumice Pocket. Following the release of their debut EP in January 2022, they quickly got to work on developing their larger works and arrangements. Releasing When the Dam Breaks in February 2023, they sonically sought to represent the geological formation of the Palouse region with the 5 movement work “When the Dam Breaks.“ Liam was commissioned by the Kenworthy Performing Arts Center to create a silent film score for The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari– a recording of the evening is currently streaming on all platforms.

In addition to his composition and performance work, he also collaborates with librarians and archivists to further enhance the information and resources available in the Lionel Hampton, Leonard Feather, and Maria Mancini Collections at the University of Idaho Library. He also had the unique opportunity to contribute to the digital archiving of jazz theory icon, George Russell, scores for the Library of Congress at the Russell estate in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Liam graduated cum laude from the University of Idaho in 2022, with degrees in Composition and Saxophone Performance. He is currently pursuing his MM in Composition at DePaul University with Christopher Jones and Osnat Netzer.