Max began studying piano in April 2022 and has been actively developing his musical skills ever since. He performs regularly and participates in two piano recitals each year, gaining valuable experience as a young musician.
In addition to piano, Max studies violin and serves as the second-chair violinist in the Diablo Vista Middle School Orchestra. Through both solo and ensemble performance, he continues to strengthen his musicianship and appreciation for a wide range of musical styles.
A passionate listener and creator of music, Max is especially interested in composition. He enjoys writing original piano works as well as orchestral pieces that combine multiple instruments and musical textures. His compositions are inspired by the music he loves and reflect his creativity, imagination, and growing understanding of musical expression.
In 2026, Max received Third Place in the Open Original Piano Composition (Intermediate Division) at the Thirty-Fourth Annual United States Open Music Competition, recognizing his achievement as a young composer. He looks forward to continuing his musical journey as both a performer and composer while exploring new ways to express ideas and tell stories through music.
Watch Maxwell Gan perform Three Preludes Op.18 III by Zhang Shuai on the piano for the 2026 Summer Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.