Maxim Rubtsov was appointed Principal Flute of the Russian National Orchestra in 2003. Born in 1977 in Bryansk, Russia, he began his studies in music and choreography there and later transferred to Moscow's Gnesin Institute of Music. He graduated with an advanced degree in music from the Moscow Conservatory. Rubtsov joined the flute section of the RNO in 1999 and was appointed Associate Principal the following year, at the time the youngest ever to hold this position in the history of the orchestra.

Rubtsov's solo performances with the Russian National Orchestra have included the Russian premiere of John Corigliano's Pied Piper Fantasy in 2004. Of the performance the composer said, "Maxim Rubtsov is the perfect Pied Piper. He has both the charm and excitement that a great performer must have. His extraordinary musicianship and perfect technique resulted in a magnificent performance." In 2006, he was featured soloist in the RNO's performance at Mondavi Center, Davis, California, which was rebroadcast to a nationwide audience on National Public Radio. In March 2007, in Worcester, MA, he performed Mozart's Flute Concerto as soloist with the RNO. Of that performance, the Worcester Telegram and Gazette wrote, "Rubtsov was absolutely impeccable... A dialogue between the flute and orchestra in the lively final movement came across with an exuberance that at the same time was well-measured." December 2007 marked Rubtsov’s US debut recital presented by Friends of Chamber Music of Miami. The Miami Herald called his playing "virtually faultless" and stated "he possesses a stellar technique."

At the invitation of Michael Tilson Thomas, Rubtsov was in residence at the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra for its July 2002 Russian Festival and performed each of the festival’s four musical programs. This residency opened a series of professional exchanges between the RNO and major US orchestras under the Cultural Allies initiative of the Russian Arts Foundation.

In addition to his extensive orchestral work, Maxim Rubtsov regularly performs in chamber ensembles and is the leader and a founding member of the Russian National Orchestra Wind Quintet, which took top honors in the Fifth Annual Osaka International Chamber Music Competition in 2005. Together with the Wind Quintet, Maxim has explored jazz and classical connections with the Brubeck Brothers in the US, and performed in Washington D.C., Spain, Singapore, Malaysia and Bermuda. He has also performed chamber music with pianists Mikhail Pletnev and Francesco Schlime, among other soloists, in Moscow, London and Spain, and has led string quartet performances in the US and several Russian cities.

In October 2008 Maxim Rubtsov created a series of solo flute performances for children presented by the Bryansk Philharmonic. His recent collaborations with contemporary dance masters have included performances with Denis Boroditsky and Germaul Barnes.