Cellist
WELCOME
TO THE WEBSITE OF MÉTIS-CANADIAN CELLIST, DAVID LIAM ROBERTS
BIOGRAPHY
An Associate Artist in Residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium, David Liam Roberts is a versatile Canadian cellist who performs internationally with "infectious joy, thoughtfulness, and integrity" (Winnipeg Free Press). As the founding cellist of the Rilian Trio, David Liam won the 1st Prize, Audience Prize and Commissioned Work Prize at the 12th Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition in Norway, which catapulted the trio to international attention.
The 2026-27 season includes a tour of China, a recital with violist Miguel da Silva in Brussels’ Flagey Hall, and a debut recital in Helsinki with the Rilian Trio. Recent engagements include a self-curated solo recital at the International Cello Festival of Canada, the Copenhagen Summer Festival (Denmark), Trondheim Kammermusikkfestival (Norway), as well as debuts in Calgary (Calgary Pro Musica), Bergen and Oslo with the Rilian Trio.
David Liam studies with Danjulo Ishizaka at the Basel Academy of Music, as well as chamber music with Corina Belcea, Miguel da Silva and Augustin Dumay at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel. He has worked closely with composers Thomas Adès and Magnus Lindberg, and with esteemed musicians such as Steven Isserlis, Barbara Hannigan, Christian Tetzlaff, Joel Krosnick and Donald Weilerstein.
David Liam has twice participated in the Open Chamber Music seminar at Prussia Cove in Cornwall, UK. His recent chamber music collaborators include Hélène Clement (Doric/Ébène Quartet), Molly Carr (Juilliard Quartet), and Thomas Reif (1st Concertmaster Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra). He has performed in Carnegie Hall, recorded with the Sinfonieorchester Basel and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, performed as soloist with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra on several occasions, studied Baroque Cello with members of Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, shared the stage with jazz musicians John Patitucci and Larnell Lewis, and performed a metal-inspired concerto on an amplified cello at the Toronto New Music Festival.
In March 2026, David Liam won 1st Prize at the Ilmari Hannikainen International Chamber Music Competition with the Rilian Trio in Jyväskylä, Finland, and performed the Beethoven Triple Concerto as soloist with the Jyväskylä Sinfonia. Of this performance, the World Federation of International Music Competitions wrote: “[The Rilian Trio’s] dedication, their raw musicality, and their joy in playing together were so infectious that the orchestra found itself getting carried away as well, lost in the moment during Beethoven’s C Major Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano.”
David Liam is grateful to perform on the Cremonese ca. 1690 Francesco Rugeri cello, on loan from the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank, and a WE Hill&Sons bow generously loaned from CANIMEX, Inc. from Drummondville, Quebec.
Current as of April 2026
CONCERTS
Upcoming
31 May 2026: Duo recital with Jennifer Armor presented by Gallery Chamber Players of Niagara. St. Catherine's, Canada. Tickets
7 June 2026: Riehener Serenaden, Dvorak and Strauss Sextets with Barbara Doll, Danjulo Ishizaka and others. Riehen, Switzerland. Tickets
22 June 2026: Graduating recital, Grosser Saal, Musikakademie der Stadt Basel
Past
Recital tour made possible by Prairie Debut:
02.21.2025: Duo recital presented by Lacombe Performing Arts Centre, Lacombe, AB, 7:30pm. Tickets
02.23.2025: Duo recital presented by Stettler Showcase, Stettler, AB, 1:30pm & 7:00pm. Tickets
02.25.2025: Duo recital presented by Biggar & District Arts Council, Biggar, SK, 7:30pm. Tickets
02.26.2025: Duo recital presented by Dekker Centre, North Battleford, SK, 7:30pm. Tickets
02.27.2025: Duo recital presented by Swift Current Arts Council, Swift Current, SK, 7:30pm. Tickets
02.28.2025: Duo recital presented by Watrous & Area Arts Council, Watrous, SK, 7:30pm. Tickets
03.1.2025: Duo recital presented by Indian Head Theatre & Community Arts Inc., Indian Head, SK, 7:30pm. Tickets
03.2.2025: Duo recital presented by Estevan Arts Council, Estevan, SK, 2:00pm. Tickets
03.4.2025: Duo recital presented by Moosomin & District Arts Council, Moosomin, SK, 7:30pm. Tickets
03.5.2025: Duo recital presented by Tisdale Arts Council, Tisdale, SK, 7:30pm. Tickets
03.6.2025: Duo recital presented by Canora Arts Council, Canora, SK, 7:30pm. Tickets
03.7. 2025: Duo recital presented by Nipawin Performing Arts Group, Nipawin, SK, 2:00pm.
03.9.2025: Duo recital presented by Regina Musical Club, Regina, SK, 7:30pm. Tickets
03.10.2025: Duo recital presented by Shaunavon Arts Council, Shaunavon, SK, 7:30pm. Tickets
03.11.2025: Duo recital presented by Kindersley & District Arts Council, Kindersley, SK, 7:30pm. Tickets
03.12.2025: Duo recital presented by Luseland Arts Council, Luseland, SK, 7:30pm. Tickets
03.13.2025: Duo recital presented by Station Arts Centre Cooperative, Rosthern, SK, 7:30pm. Tickets
03.14.2025: Duo recital presented by Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, St. John's Cathedral, Saskatoon, SK, 7:30pm. Tickets
03.16.2025: Duo recital presented by artsPlace, Canmore, AB, 7:30pm. Tickets
03.18.2025: Duo recital presented by Moose Jaw Cultural Centre, Moose Jaw, SK, 7:30pm. Tickets
11.27.2024: Duo recital presented by Weyburn Concert Series, Weyburn, SK, 7:30pm. Tickets
11.26.2024: Duo recital presented by Whitehawk Arts Council Inc., Whitehawk, SK, 7:30pm. Tickets
11.25.2024: Duo recital presented by Yorkton Arts Council, Yorkton, SK, 7:30pm. Tickets
11.23.2024: Duo recital presented by La Ronge Arts Council, La Ronge, SK, 7:30pm. Tickets
11.19.2024: Duo recital presented by Souris District Arts Council, Souris, MB, 7:30pm.
11.17.2024: Duo recital (with pianist Godwin Friesen) presented by Virtuosi Concerts, Women's Musical Club of Winnipeg, and Prairie Debut, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, MB, 3:00pm. Tickets
11.16.2024: Rilian Trio recital presented by Calgary Pro Musica, Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall, Calgary, AB. Mozart K. 496 G major Trio, Godwin Friesen Psalm 131 for Piano Trio (2024), Shostakovich Trio No. 1 Op. 8, Ravel Trio
11.9-14.2024: Music Toronto residency with duo partner, pianist Godwin Friesen
09.24-29.2024: Trondheim Kammermusikkfestival, Trondheim, Norway. Jessie Montgomery Duo for Violin and Cello, Fanny Hensel Trio, Ellen Lindquist Shining Through (2023), Ravel Trio, Chick Corea Addendum, Mozart K. 496 Trio, Godwin Friesen Psalm 131 for Piano Trio (2024), Frank Martin Trio on Irish Folk Tunes, Louise Farrenc Nonet.
09.20-21.2024: Prince Edward County Chamber Music Festival, Picton, ON. La Pietá (After Monkman) by Ian Cusson, Schubert Trout Quintet, Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel Trio, Brahms G minor Piano Quartet.
09.8-15.2024: Open Chamber Music at Prussia Cove, Cornwall, UK
08.15-25.2024: Creative Dialogue Sessions, led by Anssi Karttunen, Magnus Lindberg and others. France.
08.12.2024: Rilian Trio recital presented by Copenhagen Summer Festival. Copenhagen, Denmark.
07.12-22.2024: Bamfield Music By the Sea Festival. Bamfield, Vancouver Island, BC.
May 25-June 16, 2024: Perlman Music Program, Chamber Music Workshop. Shelter Island, NY.
05.12.2024: Rilian Trio recital presented by the Gallery Players of Niagara. St. Catherines, ON, 3:00pm.
05.07.2024: Royal Conservatory Orchestra in Carnegie Hall, NYC. 2nd chair cello.
05.04.2024: Rilian Trio recital presented by Music Toronto, "Celebration of Small Ensembles" series.
04.03-14.2024: Rilian Trio at Prussia Cove International Musician Seminar, masterclasses with Claudio Martinez-Mehner. Cornwall, UK
03.31.2024: Self-presented Rilian Trio recital in Mazzoleni Hall, RCM, Toronto. Dvorak F minor Trio and Schoenberg (arr. Steurmann) Transfigured Night
03.06.2024: Brahms B major Trio with Anna Stube (violin) and Henry From (piano) in Koerner Hall, 1st Prize Glenn Gould School Chamber Competition Finals.
02.24.2024: Graduating Recital at Glenn Gould School, featuring harpsichordist Christopher Bagan and others. Program included "Es ist vollbracht" aria from St John Passion for cello, soprano and harpsichord, Beethoven Op 69 Sonata, Bach Gamba Sonata No. 3, and Pirin by Dobrinka Tabakova. Over 190 people in attendance. Toronto, ON.
02.01.2024: Rilian Trio recital presented by the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel"MUCH Surprise"concert series. Waterloo, Belgium.
01.26.2024: Recital with Rilian Trio presented by the Northern Lights Festival. Tromsø, Norway.
11.29.2023: Walter Braunfels Quintet with the ARC Ensemble (Artists of the Royal Conservatory) in Toronto.
09.26-30.2023: Trondheim International Chamber Competition with Rilian Trio
09.17.2023: Schoenberg Transfigured Night with Viano Quartet and violinist Scott St. John at Prince Edward County Chamber Music Festival, Picton, ON. 3:00. https://pecmusicfestival.com/sep17_finale/
09.10.2023: Concert as Young Artist in Residence at Prince Edward County Chamber Music Festival, Picton, ON. 3:00pm. https://pecmusicfestival.com/sep10_cello/
05.20.2023: Schubert B-flat Piano Trio with Rilian Trio at the Lunenberg Academy of Music Performance. Masterclass residency with Steven Isserlis.
05.11.2023: 8pm Solo Recital in Mazzoleni Hall, Royal Conservatory of Music. Program includes Stravinsky Suite Italienne, Debussy Sonata, Cusson La Pieta (After Monkman), Rossini Largo al Factotum, Schumann D minor Trio with Rilian Trio.
05.07.2023: 8pm Recital with LaLa Lee in Mazzoleni Hall, Royal Conservatory of Music. Debussy Cello Sonata, Beethoven Op. 11 Trio with Eric Abramovitz, clarinet, and other works.
04.21.2023: Debussy Sonata with Sophia Rahman in Cornwall, UK, as part of the Prussia Cove International Musicians Seminar concert series
Liam&LaLa Debut Atlantic Tour (https://www.debutatlantic.ca/artist/liamlala):
03.10.2023: Tatamagouche, NS
03.11.2023: Lunenberg, NS
03.12.2023: Annapolis Royal, NS
03.16.2023: Moncton, NB
03.18.2023: Yarmouth, NS
03.19.2023: Wolfville, NS
03.22.2023: Fredericton, NB
03.24.2023: Charlettetown, PEI
03.25.2023: Antigonish, NS
03.27.2023: Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL
03.05.2023: Solo Recital: "Theatre". Works by Debussy, Poulenc & Stravinsky, and a special performance of Schumann Cello Concerto with chamber orchestra conducted by Pedro Larraín Lyon. Mazzoleni Hall, Royal Conservatory of Music, 273 Bloor St W
02.12.2023: Schumann Concerto with New Brunswick Youth Orchestra at Imperial Theatre, Saint John, NB.
01.28.2023: Solo cellist in "Foreverdark" concertino for amplified cello & orchestra by Bekah Simms at 21C Music Festival. Conducted by Brian Current. Temerty Theatre, Royal Conservatory of Music.
01.14.2023: "Art of Trio" Recital with Rilian Trio at Christ Church Cathedral in Montréal, presented by Oasis Musicale series. Beethoven Op. 1 No. 1 and Ravel Trios.
01.07.2023: "Art of Trio" Recital with Rilian Trio, presented by the Concerts@100 Series in Toronto. Beethoven Op. 1 No. 1 and Ravel Trios.
