2006 Adjudicator - Max Olding, AM
 

Max Olding is  one of Australia’s most distinguished musicians. He has performed in Australia, UK, USA, NZ, Austria, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Korea and Vanuatu  as pianist,  duo-pianist and/or conductor, and has given many masterclasses and seminars nationally and internationally.

In addition, Max Olding has worked in collaboration with many international artists  (including his wife Pamela Page, son Dene Olding and daughter-in-law Irina Morozova) in recitals, chamber music ensembles and concertos. As concerto soloist he has given several first performances in Australia. He has also recorded with his wife and son. 

He has held senior teaching and administrative positions in The Queensland Conservatorium of Music-Griffith University (Deputy Director and Principal Lecturer in Piano); Queensland University of Technology (Acting Head and Senior Lecturer); City University of New York (Visiting Professor). He began his tertiary teaching career at the Melbourne University Conservatorium.

There is also a long list of student successes to his credit at both national and international levels.

He has had a long association with the Australian Music Examinations Board as Federal Examiner as well as Deputy Chair  and Principal Examiner (Instrumental) in Queensland. In recent years he has also worked extensively in SE Asia and New Zealand for the Board in examining and promotional activities.

 He has adjudicated at most of Australia’s major music competitions, has chaired many of them and has acted as external examiner for higher degrees at the Universities of Melbourne,Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, Southern Queensland and Queensland University of Technology.

Max Olding has been associated with Sydney’s Music Awards for many years, the first of which was as adjudicator at the 1952 City of Sydney Eisteddfod - the same year that he won the ABC’s Concerto and Vocal Competition. Two years later in an overseas competition, he met his wife-to-be, Pamela Page, when he shared first prize in the London-based Royal Concert Trust Fund Competition.

Max has held positions as President of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra Society and Deputy Chair of the Brisbane Institute of Art. He is a Churchill Fellow; Patron of the Queensland Music Teachers Association; Patron of the Queensland Piano Tuners and Technicians Guild and is a Life Member of the Queensland Accompanists Guild.

He is an Honorary Fellow of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and a Member of the Order of Australia - AM.- in recognition of his service to music and to music education.

Both Max and his wife Pamela are currently on staff at the School of Music, University of Queensland.