Max is in his third year at ANAM under the tutelage of Howard Penny, having graduated with a Music Degree from the University of Western Australia. Max studied previously with Suzanne Wijsman, Rod McGrath and Xiaole Wu, and attained distinctions in the AMEB Associate and Licentiate Music Diploma exams.
Max has performed concertos with West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO), Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Fremantle Chamber Orchestra, Vienna Pops Orchestra, and in 2022 joined the WASO as a casual cellist.
Max has played in masterclasses with Lynn Harrell, Li-Wei Chin, Howard Penny, Pinchas Zukerman, Amanda Forsyth, Pablo Ferrández, Gautier Capuçon, Hans Jørgen Jensen, Markus Stocker, Martti Rousi, Tim Hugh, Australian String Quartet, Julian Smiles, Narek Haknazaryan, Wolfgang Emmanuel Schmidt, Leonid Gorokhov, Jean-Guihen Queyras, Alban Gerhardt, Sharon Grigoryan, Catherine Hewgill, Henry Shapard, Marko Ylönen, András Fejér and at the Kronberg International Cello Festival.
In 2019, Max attended the National Arts Centre Young Artists Program in Ottawa, Canada founded by Pinchas Zukerman. He received second prize in the Ai Qin International Cello Competition, a prestigious event in China, and won the 2024 ANAM Concerto Competition, debuting with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. In November 2025, Max appeared at UKARIA’s Chamberfest, performing alongside the Brooklyn Rider Quartet with the Osmana Quartet, formed at ANAM in 2024.
Max has a passion for both solo and chamber music and is interested in diverse repertoire spanning baroque to romantic and contemporary works. In February 2020, Max hosted his first public fundraising concert for the victims affected by the Australian Bushfires, raising more than $3000.
Beyond the cello, Max enjoys badminton, table tennis, gym sessions, beach outings, vinyl records, and whiskey tastings.
FROM: WA. Lands of the Whadjuk Noongar people.
Max is supported by ANAM Syndicate donors Darin Cooper Foundation, Victor Goldsztein and Chris Perks, Janet Matton AM and Robin Rowe, Dr Barry and Dr Joan Miskin James Phillips, Michael Schwarz and David Clouston, Anonymous.
Max plays a Pierre Guillaume cello bow, on loan to ANAM from Jannie Brown.
Photo by Pia Johnson