Liam Burden was appointed conductor of the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra in June 2024. Liam was a finalist in the fourth Len van Zyl Conductors’ Competition (now the SA Conductors’ Competition) and brings a great deal of experience to an orchestra has been involved with for many years. As he says,
“After working with the orchestra in an ad hoc capacity over the past years, I am honoured to have the opportunity to conduct the wonderful musicians of the CPYO on a full time basis. The exceptional work that was done by my predecessors inspires me and I look forward to applying the insight and experience I have gained through my research into the repertoire choices for youth orchestras.”
Liam teaches saxophone and clarinet at the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre where he is departmental head: winds, percussion and piano, and principal conductor of the Symphony Orchestra. He also lectures saxophone at Stellenbosch University. Liam is a founding member of the Intonga Reed Quintet, the first of its kind in South Africa. He was an adjudicator at the first South African International Woodwind Competition held in Bloemfontein in 2022, and made his debut with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, in 2022, performing Kevin Houben’s saxophone concerto, Legend of a Giant. Liam was recently on the faculty, as saxophone specialist, at the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival. There he directed the first ever saxophone choir of the SICMF which performed to high praise. Liam has conducted various orchestras in South Africa including, the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, Gauteng Philharmonic Orchestra, University of Stellenbosch Symphony Orchestra, and the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Liam graduated from Stellenbosch University in 2021 with an MMus, cum laude, researching repertoire choices of youth orchestras in South Africa. During his studies Liam studied with Dr Michael Ibrahim (saxophone) and Dr Mitchel Arnold (conducting) at the West Virginia University in the USA on a study exchange programme. He was a finalist the SAMRO Overseas Scholarship Competition (saxophone), the Unisa Licentiate Competitions (saxophone), and ATKV Muziq Competition (percussion). Liam is a recipient of the Rectors Award for Excellent Achievement in Culture from Stellenbosch University.
