Biography

Max Pemberton is the 2023 prize winner of the Musicians’ Company Carnwath Scholarship. As a soloist, he has competed both nationally and internationally, reaching the finals of the 7th international Alkan Prize for Piano Virtuosity in Milan, the keyboard semi-finals in the Royal Overseas League competition and was one of a select few invited to partake in the prestigious Musician’s Company Prince’s Prize. 

He first took up the piano at the age of 8, upon hearing a local performance of the Grieg Piano Concerto. Since then he has performed  both in the UK and internationally, such as in Austria and in Poland where he appeared on local TV. In April 2019, Max would make his concerto debut with a performance of the Grieg Piano Concerto in Guildford Cathedral, realizing his early ambition. He has since performed in Duke’s Hall, Milton Court Concert Hall, Hindhead Music Centre, Alyth Synagogue and a handful of churches in London, such as St Brides, St Olaves and St Stephen Walbrook. Recently, he gave a performance of the Rachmaninov 3rd piano concerto in Guildford.

Max has enjoyed the opportunity to play for many distinguished pianists and pedagogues, including Pascal Nemirovsky, Norma Fischer, Peter Frankl, Joan Havill, Eugene Indjic, Noriko Ogawa, Murray McLaughlan and Paul Roberts to name a few. He now studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with professors Ronan O’Hora and Katya Apekisheva. where he was a finalist in the Guildhall Romantic prize 2 years in a row.

Aside from solo playing, Max has enjoyed many fruitful collaborations at the Guildhall, such as being part of an all-Bartok concert in December 2019 and one of the Guildhall’s annual large-scale song projects (this one themed around an Ouroboros). He has recently developed a keen interest in working with contemporary composers and has been a part of large ensemble projects performing works by Matthew King and Lawrence Crane.

Max studies at the Guildhall under a scholarship generously donated by the Ironmongers’ Company.