FEATURED PERFORMER
Maximilian James, violin
Saturday, OCT. 25, 20257:30 pmMeydenbauer Theater, Bellevue
Grand Prize Winner of the 2025 Performance Arts Festival of Eastside Concerto Competition
Maximilian James (age 15) is a violinist from Redmond, Washington. Inspired by Itzhak Perlman’s Zigeunerweisen, he began studying violin at age four with Sharon Wherland and later received guidance from Professor Grant Donnellan. He currently studies with Dr. Pasha Sabouri.
Max has performed in masterclasses with renowned artists including Miriam Fried, Stefan Jackiw, Grigory Kalinovsky, and William van der Sloot. A passionate chamber musician, he is a member of the Seattle Chamber Music Society Academy and has worked with musicians such as Efe Baltacigil, Nathan Chan, Susan Gulkis Assadi, Mark Salman and Rachel Lee Priday. His chamber groups have also performed in masterclasses for artists like James Ehnes, Tessa Lark, and Inon Barnatan. Max has been the concertmaster of his Highschool’s Symphony club since his freshman year. He has a leadership position in his highschool Chamber Orchestra and will be co-concertmaster in the fall.
Max won the Performing Arts Festival of the Eastside’s Concerto Competition in 2025 and is honored to make his orchestral debut with the Bellevue Symphony. Outside of music, he enjoys strength training, skiing, and online strategy games. He currently plays a violin made by luthier Michael Doran.
