School of Music alumnus Liam Near died in late July, 2025 in a drowning near Bremerton, Washington. A gifted educator and multi-instrumentalist admired for his skill in working with young children, Near graduated from the UW School of Music in 2020 with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education.
In addition to his involvement with many groups and ensembles at the School of Music, he was a member of the Husky Marching Band sousaphone section from 2016-2020. After graduation from the UW, he taught music at McKenna Elementary and Lackamas Elementary in Yelm, and most recently at Crownhill Elementary and at Mountain View Middle School in Bremerton. He worked at Kids in Concert, an after-school music and youth development program in Kitsap County and co-founded and served as executive director of Sail Kingston Cove, a learn-to-sail program for young sailors. Liam also played sousaphone with the former Kraken Band, Red Alert, and was a member of the local psychedelic surf alt rock band The Coozies.
Near’s UW professor Giselle Wyers joined with scores of classmates, friends, family members, loved ones colleagues, and families of young children he taught in paying tribute to Near, describing him as: “unique, precious, deeply talented, committed, loving, ardent, and full of life.”
“It is devastating news," she said. "It was such an honor to have been his professor in three courses while he was at the UW. He touched countless other souls in life and in his work with young children. He will be dearly missed.”
The School of Music joins loved ones and organizations who worked with Liam Near in sharing this message: If you are struggling, please know you are not alone. You are loved. You matter. Help is available, and there is no shame in asking for it. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline—free, confidential, and available 24/7.