This Week's Wiz Kid: Max Hanks

Max has been playing the cello in the Miller Place school district's orchestras since the fourth grade.  He studies privately with Miller Place alumna Kelly Quinn and he has performed at each Pop Jazz Concert in the fall and each Variety Show in the spring.  He is also a member of the high school's Junior String Quartet which has performed at awards ceremonies and numerous community events, including Mather Hospital and the Sound Beach Fire Department.  He performed in the pit orchestra for the high school's drama production of Into the Woods.

Max participates annually in the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) competition on the cello.  His exceptional scores earned him a spot with the NYSSMA 2013 Conference All State Symphony Orchestra.  He was also selected for 2013 New York State Council of Administrators for Music Education (NYSCAME) Festival, which features the most accomplished 11th and 12th graders in the county.

Outside of school, Max is a member of the 2013 Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York/Suffolk Principal Orchestra, which features some of the finest musicians in Suffolk County.  For the past two summers he has attended Usdan Performing Arts Camp as a cello major with a minor in chorus. In 2013 he was the recipient of a full tuition merit scholarship to Usdan.

Max challenges himself with Advanced Placement classes and volunteers with his school's Service Club.  He is an active member of the Mount Sinai Congregational Church Youth Group, participating in mission work that has included work with the homeless in Philadelphia and volunteering at Island Heart Food Pantry.  He also sings with the adult choir and plays cello for special events.

Not limited to the cello, Max plays the drums with his band, Beginner's Luck, and also plays acoustic and electric guitar.  You might catch a glimpse of him playing music on the streets of Port Jefferson.  He would like to pursue a career in musical performance.