A graduate of the Yehudi Menuhin School, British-German violinist and violist Max Baillie is sought after as soloist, chamber musician, improvisor, orchestral leader in the UK and abroad, and is known for his uniquely versatile and creative playing.

Max's musical life reflects his interest in the cross-pollination of musical styles. Artists has worked with include Steve Reich, Mischa Maisky, Bjork, John Williams, Abel Selaocoe, Thomas Adès, Bobby McFerrin, Zakir Hussain, Max Richter, Anoushka Shankar, James Thierrée, and many more. From folk tunes in the Welsh hills to major festivals across the world, Max leads a dynamic life which embraces classical, improvisation, contemporary, and experimental music.

Max founded Lodestar Trio with star Scandinavian folk musicians Erik Rydvall and Olav Mjelva, exploring Baroque music through the meeting of violin, Swedish nyckelharpa, and Norwegian hardanger fiddle. The ensemble released its debut disc Bach to Folk on the Naxos label in 2023 to critical acclaim. They have toured all over Europe and launched their follow up programme, A Folk Odyssey, in Oct 2024 with United Strings of Europe. In February this year they played in Reykjavik with Deutsche Grammophon artist Viktor Arnasson in a new collaboration. They made their Barbican Centre debut last November and later this year will collaborate with Belgian string group Bryggen Strings at the Brugges Concertgebouw, and Norwegian Baroque ensemble Barokkanerne at the Voss Festival, Norway.

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Max plays in ZRI, a quintet drawing together the Folk and Gypsy influences in works by Brahms, Schubert, and Janacek, and which was inspired by the Red Hedgehog Tavern: a Viennese gateway to the East as well as a favourite drinking hole and music venue. Together they have played at festivals across the UK and in Europe and make their London Southbank Centre debut with a double bill as part of the Alternative Experiences series. They also tour their own live score to Charlie Chaplin's early classic 'The Adventurer', and released their 4th studio album Cafe Danube in Autumn of 2025 on Naxos.

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Max is founder and director of St Leonards Concerts, a series in his hometown in East Sussex. There he collaborates with many wonderful musicians including Laura van der Heijden, Alice Zawadzki, Alasdair Beatson, Heloise Werner, Byron Wallen, Maxim Rysanov, Paolo Pandolfo, Fred Thomas, and many others.

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As guest-director of Swiss chamber orchestra CHAARTS Max has toured with artists including Mischa Maisky and Fazil Say, in Switzerland, Germany, and China, and has recorded for Sony and Berlin Classics. He has also guest-directed other ensembles including Britten Sinfonia, Manchester Camerata, Scottish Ensemble, Sinfonia Cymru, and is a regular guest-leader of the UK's trail-blazing Manchester Collective.
 

Max is a regular at chamber music festivals, which in the last few years have included Rosendal Festival in Norway, SoNoRo in Romania and Italy, Natalie Clein's Purbeck International Chamber Muisc Festival, Lawrence Power’s West Wycombe Chamber Music Festival, and Plush Music in Cologne. With his father, cellist Alexander Baillie, he has toured the Brahms Double concerto with national orchestras of South Africa.
 

Max is one half of Sonnen, an experimental electronic music duo with Vahakn Mattosian which has taken part in Snape Maltings' Festival of New and been resident artists supported by the Britten Pears Foundation.

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Max has appeared as on many flim and television soundtracks, including solo credits on Napoelon, Wonka, Under the Skin, Macbeth, and many more. ​

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Max plays on an 1845 J.B Vuillaume violin and a 2009 viola by Stephan von Baehr. Max was taught and mentored by the legendary violinist Ivry Gitlis, and recieved first class honours in Political Philosophy from Christ's College, Cambridge. He also plays the mandolin.