Liza Wallace founded the Present Time Ensemble in 2010 with Jazz clarinetist Liz Gorman and Latin percussionist Bruno Cabrera. Fast-forward to April 2013 and they celebrate the release of their new CD, "Waken". This unique group consists of harp, voice, clarinet, violin, cello, bass, and percussion in what might be called a chamber popular music ensemble. "Waken" presents Liza's original compositions and arrangements of Brazilian Choros, Venezuelan Joropos, and American Jazz standards. Her instrumentation fluctuates between duets, trio, quartets, and full ensemble pieces, creating a diversified musical experience. As a soloist and ensemble musician, Liza brings a new dimension to the harp’s role in contemporary music, striving to expand the possibilities for this unique instrument in Jazz, Folk, Latin, and World music. Liza has worked and performed with such Grammy award winning artists as Salsa composer/pianist Gonzola Grau, Tango bassist Pablo Aslan, Jazz singer Silvia McNair, and Flamenco guitarist Adam del Monte. She grew up immersed in the vibrant musical culture of the San Francisco Bay Area and now is based in Los Angeles. Recent tours have taken her to Mexico, Chile, and Germany. As a composer and arranger, Liza draws from the rhythmically passionate music of Venezuela, Brazil, and Cuba and the melodically enthralling music of North American Jazz and Folk traditions. Liza holds a Bachelor's of Music with High Distinction from Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music where she studied with Dr. Susann McDonald and Professor Elzbieta Szmyt. She is currently the Assistant Harp Instructor at the University of Southern California's Thorton School of Music where she is pursuing a Master's of Music under the tutelage of Professor JoAnn Turovsky.