Max McLeish

Max has been playing music from an early age, starting the piano when he was five, the cello when he was six and the trombone at eight, beginning his studies with Opera North trombonist Ian Davies. He started playing in orchestras soon after, becoming principal trombone with the National Children’s Orchestra for five years from 2008, receiving a Leverhulme scholarship in 2011. Additionally, Max played cello in the City of Leeds Youth Orchestra (2009-2016) where he held the joint-principal position and performed as concerto soloist during a tour of the Czech Rebublic in 2016. Despite his classical training, Max is also an accomplished jazz musician and has studied with leading UK jazz trombonists Kevin Holbrough, Gordon Campbell and Trevor Mires. His big band experience includes playing lead trombone with the York Youth Jazz Orchestra, directing the Cambridge University Jazz Orchestra and deputy work with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. In 2016 Max progressed to the category auditions of BBC Young Musician whilst also progressing to the top 20 in the respective jazz award, both on trombone. Max's diverse musicianship has also led him to sing in St. Paul's Cathedral and perform Albrechtsperger's Alto trombone concerto in York Minster. Max graduated with a first class degree in Music from the University of Cambridge in 2020 and currently is studying for an MA in jazz trombone at the Royal Academy of Music in London.