Dennis Liu started playing music with the piano, achieving ABRSM Grade 8. At the age of 9 he transitioned to the clarinet, and currently studies under Jonathan Cohen, after having learned from Tracy Ma for 2 years.
Dennis currently serves as the concertmaster of the North Shore Youth Symphonic Winds, a multi-award-winning concert band. With this ensemble, he has contributed to performances at prestigious festivals, including the Matamata Music Festival, where the band was one of three to receive a Gold Award. The band has also earned numerous Gold Awards at the New Zealand Concert Bands Association Festival and received a Silver Award in 2024. In August 2024, Dennis won the Most Outstanding Soloist award at the NZCBA, distinguishing himself among School Student, Open, and Tertiary level competitors.
Beyond these achievements, Dennis has been actively involved with the Auckland Philharmonia through the Big Play In programme, Orchestral Summer Schools, and Masterclasses with overseas professors such as Steve Cohen.
In 2025, Dennis’s chamber music group, Les Mousquetaires, reached the finals of the NZCT Chamber Music Contest, playing at the Auckland Town Hall with New Zealand’s finest young musicians.