“Maximilian Leinekugel has the potential to overturn many a principle of the classical music scene” (Süddeutsche Zeitung).
Maximilian recently conducted amongst others the Orchestra of the Czech National Theatre, the Southwest German Chamber Orchestra Pforzheim, the Budapest Symphony Orchestra MÁV, the Athens Philharmonia Orchestra and the Bohuslav Martinu Philhamonic Zlín. In 2016, with the age of just 20 years, he founded the MUNICH CLASSICAL PLAYERS, a chamber orchestra consisting of professional musicians and advanced students from German and Austrian Music Universities. Since then he has conducted the orchestra in numerous concerts in Munich and across Bavaria with highlights including performances at the Bavarian State Opera, the Munich Residence and the Bavarian State Chancellery. Furthermore he worked as assistant conductor in various concert projects in Germany and abroad.
Maximilian’s interpretations attract great attention and he is praised by the press as a conductor “who distinguishably bridles to not adorn himself with the glamour of popular classical music hits but rather earns tribute for his special interpretations. In doing so he is credibly suggestive of being an artist for whom every personally shaped music is a fulfilment that he shares with his musicians” (Süddeutsche Zeitung).
Maximilian received his first conducting tuition at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich. Later he studied orchestral conducting at postgraduate level at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire with Michael Seal, Edwin Roxburgh and Daniele Rosina and at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm with B. Tommy Andersson. Additionally, he took part in various international conducting masterclasses throughout Europe led by Jorma Panula, Christian Ehwald, Douglas Bostock and others.
Maximilian is a rather versatile and curious conductor. His repertoire ranges from the baroque period to contemporary music including several first performances. He is particularly keen to explore less known repertoire and has conducted e. g. Kurt Weill’s opera Down in the Valley, Paul Hindemith’s In Sturm und Eis as well as flute concertos by Anton Adam Bachschmid. In addition to his conducting studies, he also completed a full degree in musicology at the University of Munich focusing on the music of Beethoven, Wagner, Strauss and Mahler. He is alumnus of both the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes and the Bavarian Elite Academy and was sponsored by the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Association. In 2018 he was awarded the Tassilo Culture Prize of the Süddeutsche Zeitung for his commitment to enthuse young people with classical music. In 2021 he was quarter finalist at the 3rd Antal Dorati International Conducting Competition in Budapest.