Liam Burrows
Liam Burrows | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 22, 1994 Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Vocalist, musician |
| Known for | Australia's Got Talent finalist (2011) |
Liam Burrows (born 22 February 1994) is an Australian vocalist and musician who rose to prominence in 2011 by advancing to the Grand Final of the fifth season of Australia's Got Talent, where he placed fifth out of 19,000 participants. That same year, he independently launched his first album, All of Me.
Early life and education
Hailing from the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Burrows was brought up in a musically inclined household; his father Steve served in the Australian Navy, while his mother Gemma works as a high school music educator. He began studying classical piano at age six and took up the trumpet at nine, with his public singing debut occurring during his secondary school years. At 12 years old, jazz artist Dorian Mode introduced him to the Great American Songbook, igniting his enthusiasm for jazz music. During adolescence, he performed with the Chatswood High School Stage Band at the Montreux Jazz Festival, crediting his high school’s music curriculum as a significant influence.
In 2014, Burrows completed the Musical Theatre Open Program offered by the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). As of May 2022, he is engaged in earning a Bachelor of Music degree specializing in Contemporary Performance.
Career
Burrows has been a featured performer at leading jazz festivals throughout Australia, including those held in Manly, Noosa, Broadbeach, Adelaide Hills, and Norfolk Island. His performances have also taken place at notable venues such as Melbourne’s Crown Casino and Jupiters Casinos located in Townsville and Broadbeach.
His television appearances nationwide encompass Channel 7’s The Morning Show, Channel Ten’s The Circle, the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Telethon, and Channel 7 Perth Telethon. Additionally, he served as an opening act for the Pointer Sisters during their Australian tour.
In 2011, he recorded his debut album alongside The Swing City Big Band. The album All of Me showcases timeless selections from the Great American Songbook. Subsequently, he has produced original tracks, including compositions by Graeham Goble—a multi-award-winning songwriter known for his work with Little River Band.
Burrows performed in Hong Kong for events such as the British Chamber of Commerce and Hong Kong Polo After Dark in 2014. Beginning in 2015, he expanded his performance venues to include cruise ships. In November 2015, he made his New Zealand debut at a Sinatra Centenary Concert held in Auckland with accompaniment from a 24-piece orchestra.
Recognition
At just 14 years old, Burrows secured first place in the Open Age Jazz Vocal Division at The Sydney Eisteddfod and was awarded The Central Coast Jazz League Scholarship recognizing him as the Most Promising Young Artist. In 2010, he became the youngest vocalist chosen to participate in Generations in Jazz and earned a Mo Award nomination for Best New Talent. He was also honored as Outstanding Young Talent at the Newcastle Jazz Festival.
Selected once more by James Morrison to perform at Generations in Jazz in 2011, Burrows competed on Australia's Got Talent at age 17, citing Michael Bublé and Frank Sinatra among his primary musical inspirations.
In 2012, he achieved second place in the Vocal Performance category of the Unsigned Only Music Competition and received the Best Jazz Artist award at the Australian Music Industry’s Musicoz Awards. The following year saw him win a Mo Award (Johnny O'Keefe Award), gain an Honorable Mention among over 10,000 entrants in the International Unsigned Only competition, and become a finalist in the Jazz Category of the MusicOz Awards.
Burrows maintained strong showings at the Unsigned Only Music Competition with second-place finishes in both 2014 and 2015 along with several Honourable Mentions. In 2015, James Morrison presented him with the Generations in Jazz Vocal Scholarship.
That same year marked Burrows’ selection as one of only eleven semi-finalists worldwide for the esteemed Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Vocals Competition held in Los Angeles—distinguished as the sole semi-finalist representing the southern hemisphere.
Significant Awards and Recognitions
| Year | Organization | Award Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz | 2015 Vocalist Competition | Reached Semi-Finals |
| 2015 | International Unsigned-Only Competition | Category: Vocal Performance | Runner-Up (Second Place) |
| 2015 | International Unsigned-Only Competition | Category: Vocal Performance | Received Honourable Mention |
| 2015 | Generations in Jazz | Vocal Scholarship Award | Champion |
| 2014 | International Unsigned Only Competition | Category: Vocal Performance | Runner-Up (Second Place) |
| 2014 | International Unsigned Only Competition | Category: Vocal Performance | Honourable Mention Recipient |
| 2013 | MusicOz Awards | Jazz Division | Finalist |
| 2013 | Mo Awards | Johnny O'Keefe Encouragement Prize | Awarded Winner |
| 2012 | MusicOz Awards | Best Jazz Artist – Jazz Division | Winner |
| 2012 | International Unsigned Only Competition | Category: Vocal Performance | Second Place Finisher |
| 2011 | Australia's Got Talent | Grand Finalist Position | Placed 5th Overall |
| 2010 | Generations in Jazz | Vocal Scholarship Award | Finalist Status |
| 2010 | Mo Awards | New Talent of the Year | Winner Declared |
| 2008 | Sydney Eisteddfod | Top Jazz Vocalist Award | Winner |
Philanthropic Involvement
Burrows acts as a Youth Ambassador representing multiple organizations such as Angels Hope (an Australian Anti-Bullying Initiative), the Australian Children’s Music Foundation, and Saves Our Sons.
Studio Albums
| Album Name | Information |
|---|---|
| All of Me |
|