Piano with Maxx M.

Maxx McGathey is a professional pianist, composer, band leader and music director based in Chicago. A lifelong student of the piano, Maxx started lessons at the age of 4 and never lost interest, picking up experience with classical, jazz, rock, pop, funk, salsa, and many more styles over the years. As the leader, main composer, and keyboardist for the band Gramps The Vamp, Maxx brings his eclectic interests together into a unique project that has headlined Lincoln Hall, Metro, Sleeping Village, House of Blues, Schubas and many more top venues in Chicago and around the country. Gramps The Vamp was voted Best New Band 2013 in The Chicago Reader and received the equivalent honor from Deli-Mag Chicago in 2014. As a freelance keyboardist, Maxx has performed or recorded with the Chicago groups Divino Niño, Secret Colours, Mercedes Inez, and many more. Maxx has music-directed multiple shows at the famed comedy club The Second City, and has appeared with various groups at music festivals such as SXSW, Austin Psych Fest and Ruido Fest. His film composer credits include Demonoid (a short horror film released in 2016), a live score commission from the Chicago Park District in 2017 for the film “Nosferatu”, and 2 live score commissions from the Music Box Theater in 2018 and 2019 for silent films “The Lodger” and “The Man Who Laughs”. Maxx brings brings his unique and extensive music experience into his lessons, giving students not only excellent instruction on their instruments, but also expert guidance on how to compose, improvise, talk, walk, live and breathe music in the 21st century. Maxx believes music is an adventure and wants to pass that excitement along to his students!