As Artistic Director and principal cellist of the 12 Ensemble, Max directs one of Europe's leading string ensembles; performing, recording and curating ambitious programmes & projects on the international stage. Max is also a founding member of the award-winning Ruisi String Quartet.
Artist-in-Residence at the Wigmore Hall for 2023-25 (as Artistic Director of 12 Ensemble), Max regularly performs in major concert halls and festivals throughout Europe, the US and Asia. 2024 will see him perform alongside Tom Adés at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, as well as concerts in Berlin, Hamburg, Copenhagen and Switzerland.
In the studio, Max has curated and directed three bold and influential albums with the ensemble; 2024's Metamorphosis reached No.4 in the US Billboard chart featuring Strauss' Metamorphosen for 23 Strings alongside works by Vivier, Leith & Finnis. 2023 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 close collaboration with Thomas Adès, giving the world premiere of his new work Növények with the Ruisi Quartet at Wigmore Hall and recording it for release in 2025, plus directing the 12 ensemble at the BBC Proms 2024 and recording with Max Richter on his new album for string quintet and piano.
Max collaborates with a wide range of artists, regularly working closely with leading composers (Jonny Greenwood, Thomas Adés, Oliver Leith, Bryce Dessner,) and collaborating with contemporary artists (Nick Cave, Caroline Polachek, The National, Laura Marling, Daughter).
British-Italian cellist + director Max Ruisi has emerged as an innovative and expressive artist with a diverse career built around his love of chamber music.
Max has also recorded extensively for TV and Film, working closely with the composers and musicians on a number of award-winning soundtracks. He is also increasingly in-demand as a music supervisor, working directly with directors, producers, composers and musicians between Los Angeles and London.
Max was recipient of an RPS Award with the Ruisi Quartet and the group competed at 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 is also increasingly invited to work with the next generation of young artists, recently directing a project with students at the Royal Academy of Music, as well as having coached chamber music at various institutions including the Royal College of Music, University of Cambridge and the Pro Corda courses in the UK.
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 at IMS Prussia Cove.
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.