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Ethan Ding Liu
Curriculum Vitae · Saxophone · Composition · Music Technology
Johns Creek, Georgia · ethanliu0921@gmail.com
Education
Northview High School, Duluth, GAAug 2023 – May 2027
Dual Enrollment — Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA2026–2027
Dual Enrollment — Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA2025–2026
Apex Learning Virtual School — online coursework2026
ACT 35 composite
English 36 · Reading 34 · Math 34 · Science 36 · Writing 12
AP Exams
5 — Music Theory, Biology, World History: Modern, Calculus BC, English Language & Composition, Precalculus, U.S. Government & Politics · 4 — Psychology
Honors & Awards
Georgia Governor’s Honors Program (GHP 63) — Music, Woodwind: Saxophone2026
GMEA All-State Band — 1st Chair Tenor Saxophone (all years)2023, 2024, 2025
Couperin International Competition — Gold Prize, Original Composition (open age)2026
Heu, non tua (Alas, I am no longer yours), for full orchestra
AP Scholar with Distinction2026
National Latin Vocabulary Exam and National Latin Exam — Bronze Medalist2025, 2026
Private Instruction
Dr. Kenny Baik, Saxophone — D.M.A., Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University2023–present
Dr. Chisato Eda Marling, Saxophone — Instructor of Arts Leadership, Eastman School of Music2021–2022
Jay Lambert, Saxophone2022–2023
Drew Viavattine, Saxophone — Eastman School of Music2019–2021
Alla Kuznetsov, Piano — Community Music School of the Eastman School of Music2020–2022
Mark Balestra, Guitar2020–2022
Yingling Zhu, Voice (Contemporary) — W.E. Music Academy2025
Performance Experience
Northview High School Bands2023–present
1st Chair Tenor Saxophone, Mastery Band · Lead Tenor and Alto Saxophone, Jazz Band · Section Leader and Arranger/Librarian, Marching Band
Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony2024–present
1st Chair Tenor Saxophone · AYWS Saxophone Quartet · AYWS Summer Band · Europe Tour (Czech Republic, Austria) · Chicago Tour, Symphony Center
Georgia Governor’s Honors ProgramSummer 2026
PRISM I, PRISM II, Woodwind/Brass Showcase and Jazz Ensemble concerts
- Tenor & Baritone Saxophone, GHP Saxophone Quartet (“Final Bosses”) — Final Boss (Hass), Ex Machina: Machine I (Mellits), Mishima: Closing (Glass, arr. Ethan Liu), Converging Spectrums (Day)
- Tenor Saxophone, GHP Woodwind Ensemble — La La Land Medley (Hurwitz, arr. Ethan Liu & Mason Courtney-Souper)
- Tenor Saxophone, GHP Full Orchestra — 1812 Overture (Tchaikovsky)
- Tenor Saxophone, GHP Jazz Ensemble
GMEA All-State and District Honor Bands2023–2025
1st Chair Tenor Saxophone, All-State Band · District V Honor Band · Featured solos: Dixieland Jam (Lowden), Deep River (Horne)
Northview Chamber Music Society — Saxophone Quartet & Woodwind Ensemble2023–present
Tenor Saxophone and Arranger; senior living communities, public parks, band concerts
Eastman School of Music — Saxophone Ensemble2021–2022
Tenor Saxophone, under Dr. Chisato Eda Marling
lovelikesnow — Founder, Lead Guitarist & Lead Vocalist2025–present
Pop-rock band performing repertoire from the U.S., U.K., Korea and China; arranger and soloist; opening act, Northview International Night (2025, 2026)
Engineering
The Mechanical Embouchure — robotic saxophone mouthpiece, independent projectFeb–Sep 2026
Air-flow system and lip-pressure mechanism with 3D-printed parts refined over many iterations; designed and soldered the electronics; Arduino (C) controller regulates air flow from foot-pedal input or an external signal.
Compositions & Productions
Kaiju — concert band2025
Heu, non tua — full orchestra · Gold Prize, Couperin International Competition2025
Battle of Zama — full orchestra2024
E.V. — full orchestra2024
都市理論 (Urban Theory) — Ableton Live; synths, MIDI drums, saxophone, electric guitar2026
プレリュード (Prelude) — sample-based production2026
Nightwave — Ableton Live; MIDI drums, electric guitars2024
Solo Repertoire
Bach — Partita in A minor, BWV 1013
Martin — Ballade for Saxophone and Piano
Banks — Come As You Are
Poulenc — Sonate pour hautbois et piano, FP 185
Glazunov — Concerto in E♭ major, Op. 109
Saint-Saëns — Bassoon Sonata in G major, Op. 168
Handel — Adagio and Allegro, Sonata No. 1, HWV 361
Singelée — Saxophone Concerto, Op. 57
Higdon — Soprano Saxophone Concerto
Villa-Lobos — Fantasia for Saxophone, Three Horns, and Strings
Iturralde — Pequeña Czarda
Service & Leadership
Founder, PeerNotes · peernotes.org2026–present
Free music lessons, virtual and in person; six tutors across saxophones, clarinet, flute, trumpet, trombone, euphonium/baritone and tuba
Northview Chamber Music Society — Outreach Officer (10th), Treasurer (11th)2023–present
Northview Marching Titans — Section Leader (11th, 12th); Arranger/Librarian (10th–12th)2023–present
Guide Club — Community Outreach Director, Tutor2023–present
Northview Junior Classical League — Secretary & Parliamentarian (10th), Editor (11th)2023–present
City of Johns Creek — Bilingual volunteer (English, Mandarin), Lunar New Year Celebration2023–present
S.E.A.S.U.S. — Volunteer performer, 2024 Korean Festival in Atlanta2024–2025
Instruments & Skills
Saxophone (8 years) — primary; tenor specialist, proficient on soprano, alto and baritone
Guitar (6 years) — electric specialist; acoustic guitar, electric bass
Voice (3 years) — contemporary, baritone · Former study: viola (5 years), piano (2 years)
Music technologyAbleton Live · audio editing · digital audio production · MIDI programming · MuseScore Studio · notation · sample library integration
Engineering3D printing and rapid prototyping · Arduino (C) · circuit design · mechanical design and CAD · soldering · system integration and testing
MusicianshipArranging · composition · improvisation · music theory · orchestration · score study · sight-reading