Max McBride is a well respected musician having found success on the concert stage and as an educator.  He began his professional career in 1969 gaining recognition as a double bassist when he became the youngest full time member of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. In 1973 he gained the position of co-principal of the bass section.

After two study leaves in Austria where he studied double bass with world-renowned Ludwig Streicher and conducting with Otmar Suitner, he returned to Australia in 1979 to take up the position of Principal Double Bass with the Australian Chamber Orchestra. He toured extensively with them in Australia as well as in Europe, the United States and South East Asia. He also became the regular bass player of the Australia Ensemble and the Brandenburg Orchestra, performing most of the standard repertoire which includes bass as well as less familiar works. .

Other significant appearances were with Kathy Selby and Friends; Pinkas Zuckerman for Melbourne Summer Music; several solo performances with cellist David Pereira and viola player Irena Morozov; a concert for Sydney’s Mostly Mozart Festival in 1997 with the Korean cellist Young Chang Cho and regular appearances at the Townsville International Chamber Music Festival between 1993 and 2012.

In 1992 Max took up a full-time teaching position at the Canberra School of Music. In 1994 he was appointed Lecturer in conducting. In 2001 he was promoted to Senior Lecturer in Double Bass. In 2009 Max left his full time position but has continued to teach double bass on a part time basis.

Max’s students have held positions in the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Orchestra, Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, Ensemble Modern, at Penn State University, as well as other teaching institutions.

Max has held the positions of Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of The Sydney Youth Orchestra.