musical philosophy

A dynamic conductor, performer, educator, and arts administrator Liam Cunningham serves as the Director of String Ensembles for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s El Sistema inspired program, OrchKids. In this capacity he works with three levels of string ensembles and engages over 85 students from across Baltimore City.

In May 2026 Liam was announced as the new Philharmonia Conductor with the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra where he will be leading 130 students in regular performances at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.

Passionate about working with youth ensembles, Liam is committed to concert presentations and projects that resonate deeply with his community. In pursuit of this work he has continued to champion the works of underrepresented composers and styles across all of his ensembles. He is a true believer that classical music is not only European music and that great instrumental music resonates with everyone, regardless of background, race, or country of origin.

Highlights of his work with OrchKids String Ensembles include artistic collaborations with Marin Alsop (Conductor Laureate, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra), Jonathan Heyward (Music Director, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra), Baltimore Artist and Rapper Wordsmith. His ensemble students have also been featured alongside world class musicians such as Yo-Yo Ma, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, and the Dance Theater of Harlem, amongst many others.

Outside of his work with Baltimore Symphony, Liam also serves as bassoon faculty with Music and Mindfulness: Chamber Music and Orchestral intensive in Syria, Virginia. He has also been on the faculty of the Peabody Innovation and Music Academy for the past two years. Notable teachers and mentors include Marin Alsop, Margaret Phillips, Bruce Hangen, and Andrew Altenbach, after pursuing studies at Ithaca College, The Boston Conservatory, and the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins.