Biography

Max Ando is a current J.D. Candidate at the Fordham University School of Law in New York City. Before law school, Max received his bachelor’s degree in jazz performance and musicology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he played bass drum in the University of Illinois Marching Illini for four years. At Illinois, Max studied trumpet under Tito Carrillo, Charles Daval, Pat Harbison, and Jeff Helgesen.

While at Illinois, Max performed in various jazz ensembles, including the University of Illinois Repertory Jazz Orchestra , the University of Illinois Latin Jazz Ensemble, and the University of Illinois Concert Jazz Band. As part of these ensembles, Max has performed with renowned jazz artists like Christian McBride and Carl Allen and performed at national music conferences like the Jazz Education Network conference and the Midwest Clinic. Additionally, Max was part of the 2024 UIUC National Trumpet Competition Quintet, which was selected to perform at the 2024 National Trumpet Competition in Kingsville, Texas.

Max also has extensive experience in the marching arts, performing for three seasons with Chromium Winds and three seasons with the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. At the collegiate level, Max has performed with the Marching Illini for five years – one on cymbals and four on bass drum. Recently, he has transitioned into an educational role, serving as a brass instructor for the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps since 2024.

Beyond his performing interests, Max researches copyright’s effects on jazz and hip-hop. His senior thesis, entitled “Public Enemies: How Copyright Law and the Rise of Gangsta Rap Affected Public Enemy’s Muse Sick-N-Hour Mess Age” was accepted for presentation at the 2025 Society for American Music Annual Conference in Tacoma, Washington, and the 2025 Denman Undergraduate Research Forum at The Ohio State University.