Max Zeugner, bass

Max Zeugner joined the New York Philharmonic in September 2012 and serves as Associate Principal Bass. Originally from Worcester, Massachusetts, he began taking lessons at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School with bassist Deborah Dunham and studied with Richard Hartshorne. He went on to become a scholarship student of New York Philharmonic bassist Orin O’Brien at The Juilliard School and Edwin Barker at Boston University. He has performed, recorded, and toured with the Apple Hill Chamber Players and has been on their Summer Chamber Music Faculty since 2006. He is a founding member of the Worcester Chamber Music Society; gave a performance of Mozart’s Per questa bella mano with bass-baritone Daniel Gross at the Elbereth Chamber Music Series in New York City; and performed with the Providence Quartet, Apple Hill String Quartet, and Quartet X. As a soloist, Zeugner performs frequently with his wife, pianist/fortepianist Yi-heng Yang. In the non-classical realm, he is a former member of the Eastern Jazz Project, Charles Ketter Quartet, and Delfino Brothers Duo and has performed with such artists as Joanna Newsom, Kelley Polar, and the Pet Shop Boys. Zeugner was previously section leader (i.e. principal) double bass of the Northern Sinfonia and was offered a trial as principal double bass with the London Symphony Orchestra. In 2010, following a brief stint with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Zeugner was appointed principal double bass with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in Manchester, England. Zeugner has served on the faculties of the Royal Northern College of Music, Newcastle University, and The Sage Gateshead Weekend School. In August 2008 he made his debut as a conductor leading the Darlington Youth Orchestra at the Edinburgh Festival. He continues to work as a music educator at the Royal Northern College of Music and the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music.