Liam Jackson is a Chicago-based Bassoonist and Music Educator with a passion for performing new music and expanding the bassoon repertoire. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Liam began studying with Robert Williams (Principal Bassoon, Detroit Symphony Orchestra) at age 12 before studying with Dr. Jeffrey Lyman at the University of Michigan and William Buchman and Keith Buncke at DePaul University. After graduating from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in Bassoon Performance and Music Education, and DePaul with a master’s degree in Bassoon Performance in 2020, Liam joined the Civic Orchestra of Chicago Bassoon Section from 2021-2023 where he performed under the direction of Ken-David Masur, Rossen Milanov, Lina González-Granados, and Thomas Wilkins. In addition to his work with the Civic Orchestra, Liam has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Musicians of the Chicago Symphony MusicNOW series under the direction of Lahav Shani, Marin Alsop and Jeffrey Milarsky. Other orchestral work includes performances with the Detroit Opera, International Chamber Artists, Rockford Symphony Orchestra, Kenosha Symphony Orchestra, Folks Operetta, Michigan Philharmonic, Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago, Chicago Composers Orchestra, and the 5th Wave Collective. 

As a teacher, Liam has held positions as Band Director at Niles West High School (Skokie, IL) and Forsythe Middle School (Ann Arbor, MI). Liam is an avid marching band instructor and has worked with numerous high school marching bands as well as the University of Michigan Marching Band. Liam also began teaching bassoon privately in 2010 and maintains a studio of high school bassoonists with aspirations of further bassoon study at the collegiate level.