It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Max Olding on Wednesday 17 November 2021, in Brisbane, Australia. The entire Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) community mourns this great loss. Still, it recognises and celebrates the remarkable and unique contribution Max made to music and music education throughout his entire life.
Max Olding enjoyed a remarkably distinguished career as a performer, teacher, adjudicator, Examiner, conductor, and administrator. Recognised internationally as a performer of outstanding reputation, Max was one of Australia’s most distinguished musicians, having performed in Australia, United Kingdom, United States of America, New Zealand, Austria, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Korea and Vanuatu as pianist, duo-pianist and conductor.
Max also made a significant contribution to music education in Australia and internationally. He held senior teaching and administrative positions at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music – Griffith University (Deputy Director and Principal Lecturer in Piano), Queensland University of Technology (Acting Head and Senior Lecturer), The University of Queensland and City University of New York (Visiting Professor). He began his tertiary teaching career at the Melbourne University Conservatorium.
Concurrently with this outstanding career, Max made an exceptional contribution to the work of the Australian Music Examinations Board for more than seven decades. His involvement began when he was appointed Examiner at the age of 21. His AMEB career included significant roles such as Deputy Chair and Principal Examiner in Queensland and Federal Examiner. This work extended beyond Australia’s borders by examining and other Southeast Asia and New Zealand activities.
Max’s extraordinary contribution to the development of musicians in metropolitan and country Queensland, touring annually as an examiner, is unparalleled. He has been one of the longest-serving Federal Examiners, offering the benefits of his expertise nationwide over many years.
Acknowledging his distinguished reputation within Australia and internationally, Max Olding has, by association, enhanced the reputation of the AMEB. Perceptions of the organisation have been positively influenced by having Max as its representative, arising from the universal respect for him as a musician, teacher, and Examiner, further enhanced by his genuinely warm and gentle nature.
Max Olding also served as a member of the Queensland Advisory Committee and Deputy Chairperson from 1992.
Max’s contribution to the musical life of Australia was recognised in 1991 when he became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to music and music education. He is also an Honorary Fellow of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music; he received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Queensland in 2011 and was awarded AMEB’s highest honour of Honorary Fellowship of Music, Australia, in 2008. In 2005, the auditorium at AMEB Qld was named in his honour, The Max Olding Auditorium.
Through such a distinguished career, remarkably, Max never lost his passion and generosity in helping musicians, young and old, achieve their full potential. This kind, gentle, generous, remarkable man will be deeply missed. However, his legacy will live beyond us all.
— Mike Tyler
Chair – AMEB Federal Board of Directors
Chair – AMEB Qld Advisory Committee
