What started you as a musician?
I’ve been playing music my entire life. My first steps were towards the guitar, and my parents enrolled me in cello lessons at age 6. Since then, I just never stopped. I enjoyed getting better at my instrument and continuously improved in both solo work and small ensemble collaboration.
What made you decide to come to SPU?
A combination of many factors including connection to the school, financial aid, and proximity to home. I grew up in Seattle and didn’t want to move too far. At the beginning of my freshman year, I was also a part of other musical ensembles that I would lose if I were to move somewhere else.
What professors have made an impact on your music career?
My immediate answer is my composition professor, Dr. Sarah Bassingthwaighte. I have met with her every week of my college career and consistently look forward to our time together. She has helped me pull off massive projects during my time at SPU, including many premieres and also a few awards. To these things I owe her my thanks and gratitude. I could not have done them without her. Another professor that comes to mind is Dr. Krosschell, who has both helped me take my musician mindset to a new level while also being a friend outside the classroom. Finally, our beloved cello instructor, Mara Finkelstein. She has pushed me into new territory with my instrument and has made me better with every session we’ve shared. I feel incredibly lucky to have been surrounded with these people and will miss seeing them on a regular basis post-graduation.
What do you hope to do with your degree?
I plan to continue honing my compositional skills with composer Hummie Mann and the Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program in September of 2026. After that, I will take my skills and career to the scoring stages of Hollywood, hopefully delivering memorable scores that stick with people long after I’m gone. With my cello degree, I look forward to playing in new (and old) groups, discovering new music, and most of all, playing with my wife and fellow cellist in our duo, Cellobration.
See Max's premier of Project Unity here