Max Haymer was born and raised in Los Angeles. He began his classical piano studies at the age of seven and was introduced to jazz piano at the age of 14. He studied with the great LA based pianist Tamir Hendelman through high school and went on to continue his music education at UC Irvine, graduating with Magna Cum Laude honors and a Bachelor of Music degree in 2007. At Irvine, Haymer studied Jazz Performance with Kei Akagi, Darek Oles, Bobby Rodriguez, and the late Sherman Ferguson. During that time, he also studied Musical Theater Direction with Dr. Gary Busby. Haymer has won 2nd prizes at the Montreux Jazz Festival Solo Piano Competition and the Great American Jazz Piano Competition in Jacksonville Florida, and was a finalist in the Horace Silver Piano Competition and UWF Phillips Jazz Piano Competition. He was also named a Rising Star by the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Haymer has had the pleasure of performing and recording with many amazing artists, including Arturo Sandoval, Jane Monheit, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Brian Lynch, Mike Stern, Denise Donatelli. Greg Hutchinson, Bill Holman, Crystal Bowersox, Mike Clark, Bob Francheschini, Cindy Blackman, Joel Frahm, John Ellis, Andy Galore, Ernie Andrews, Justo Almario, Andrew Heringer, Brian Swartz, Munyungo Jackson, Bobby Rodriguez, Mike Cottone, Katisse Buckingham, Hamilton Price, Dan Schnelle, and Barbara Morrison. In 2006, Haymer debuted with his trio at the world famous Catalina Bar and Grill in Hollywood, being one of the youngest headliners this storied club had presented. In 2008, with that trio, Haymer released his debut album, Pickpocket Witness. The album is comprised entirely of Haymer's original compositions.