A diverse range of interests + influences fuel a colourful artistic output as cellist of the award-winning Ruisi String Quartet, Artistic Director of leading chamber orchestra 12 Ensemble plus close collaborations both recording and performing with leading composers + contemporary artists.
Max regularly performs in major concert halls and festivals throughout Europe, the US and Asia. He is currently Artist-in-Residence at the Wigmore Hall for 2023-25 as Artistic Director of 12 Ensemble, with whom he has led two highly successful albums, both receiving wide-spread critical acclaim. 2023 also saw the Ruisi Quartet's release of their highly praised debut album Big House on the Pentatone label...
“Compelling spontaneity, breathtaking clarity, gloriously poetic and expressive"
The Strad, 2023
He has also featured on recent records for Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello quintet) plus as a soloist for Decca. Recent highlights include giving the world premiere of a new work by Thomas Adès with the Ruisi Quartet at Wigmore Hall, plus directing the 12 ensemble at the BBC Proms and at the Barbican for a sold-out performance alongside Anna Meredith + Jonny Greenwood.
Max enjoys collaborating with a wide range of artists, regularly working closely with leading composers (Jonny Greenwood, Thomas Adés, Bryce Dessner, Oliver Leith) and collaborating with contemporary artists (Nick Cave, The National, Laura Marling, Daughter).
British-Italian cellist + director Max Ruisi has emerged as an innovative and expressive artist with an international career built around his love of chamber music.
Max was recipient of an RPS Award with the Ruisi Quartet and the group were one of only ten selected worldwide for the Banff International String Quartet Competition 2019. As founder and Artistic Director of the 12 ensemble, Max has established a pioneering and award-winning un-conducted string orchestra that is in-demand worldwide. He was also recently invited to work with students at the Royal Academy of Muasic, guest-directing an orchestral project without conductor. He has also coached chamber music at the Royal College of Music and the Pro Corda courses in the UK, and has been invited to work with post-graduate composers at the University of Cambridge.
After completing his undergraduate degree at the GSMD, Max studied with Rainer Schmidt (Hagen Quartet) at the Basel Hochschule fur Musik and completed an Artist Diploma in Chamber Music at the Royal College of Music. He has participated in numerous public masterclasses as both a soloist and chamber musician, including working with Alfred Brendel and Eberhard Feltz, and has been a student of Ferenc Rados + Thomas Adés at IMS Prussia Cove.