About Max
A native New Yorker, Max Parsons is a versatile musician with a focus on classical singing. Known for his musicality and dramatically colored voice, Max is at home singing both operatically and in choral music. Max is an experienced music educator, an accomplished conductor, and a budding composer.
This season Max was a member of the Fifth Avenue Choir, where he performed in a concert series that included Handel's Messiah, Martin's Mass for Double Choir, Caroline Shaw's To the Hands, and the Brahms Requiem. He appeared with Musica Sacra and the New York Philharmonic's presentation of Messiah at Lincoln Center. He sings regularly with Canterbury Choral Society, with which he recently performed in the Verdi Requiem and Bach's St. John's Passion, singing the role of Pontius Pilate. Max is also a frequent sub at St. Thomas Church and St. Bart's.
As a student at the University of Texas at Austin's Butler School of Music, Max performed in the Butler Opera Chorus and the Austin Opera Chorus. During his undergrad he participated in the Opera Breve Institute, where he played the roles of Papageno and Masetto in The Magic Flute and Don Giovanni, respectively. Since his time in school Max has vocally transitioned to tenor and is excited to explore that repertoire.
As Upper School Choir Director at Manhattan Country School, Max led students aged 8-14 in a robust multicultural music program. He arranged and transcribed songs and led the school chorus in several assemblies throughout the year. This year, Max music directed a production of Guys and Dolls at M.S. 54. He has been a regular accompanist and pit orchestra pianist for the spring musicals at St. Hilda's and St. Hugh's school, including repertoire such as Into the Woods, School of Rock, Godspell, and Pirates of Penzance.