Liz Ames

Liz Ames is revered globally as a premier collaborative pianist, specializing in the most innovative wind and chamber repertoire while embracing projects with a wide variety of artists and ensembles. Her passion for performing and working with composers is evident in her contributions to albums by top instrumentalists worldwide, with over 50 commissions and world premieres accredited to her.

Recent concert engagements include solo appearances with the Grand Rapids Symphony and the Grand Rapids Ballet, as well as performances with the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, collaborating with Detroit Symphony Orchestra members like Hannah Hammel Maser, Scott Strong, Jiamin Wang, and Alex Kinmonth.

She has also partnered with notable artists such as flutist Amy Porter, tubist David Zerkel, trombonist Hana Beloglavic, and her duo partner, three-time GRAMMY-winning saxophonist, Timothy McAllister. With McAllister, she also performs as a member of the Marsalis/McAllister/Ames trio, featuring the legendary Branford Marsalis.

Dr. Ames is additionally devoted to creating unique and accessible piano reductions for recital programming, utilizing extended techniques. Her published reductions include concertos by Henry Brant, Joel Pucket, John Mackey, and Steven Bryant. The McAllister/Ames duo released two critically-acclaimed albums in 2020: collected works of Andy Scott for NAXOS Records, and iconic saxophone repertoire for XAS Records. Their “Project Encore Vol.1” followed in September 2022 on Neuma Records, with “Project Encore, Vol.2” and a Vincent Ho anthology due in the 2025-2026 season. Ames completed her doctorate at Arizona State University and currently serves on the collaborative piano staff at the University of Michigan, also collaborating for workshops at Interlochen and MPulse Institutes.