Bob Becker - Bill Cahn - Robin Engelman - Russell Hartenberger - John Wyre
For immediate release:
NEXUS, the Canadian percussion ensemble that recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, announced today the resignation of one of its founding members, John Wyre. "After forty-five years of travel and performance I want to devote more time to composing and exploring new horizons," Wyre said. He and his wife, Jean, a literary editor, plan to move to St. Johns, Newfoundland, when his obligations with NEXUS are fulfilled. Wyre's last performance with NEXUS will be with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in October 2002 as part of the opening concert series in the newly renovated Roy Thomson Hall.
NEXUS member Robin Engelman said today, "John's desire for a change in his life is not surprising. We are all getting older, all of us have personal interests that grow stronger as we age and touring is a difficult life style. We will miss John, but we are restructuring and will fulfill all our future commitments. We have a number of major commissions for new works which will be completed and performed on schedule and busy seasons ahead of us."
NEXUS is acclaimed throughout the music world for its innovative percussion music, much of it composed by members of the group. Thirty years of playing together has created a seamless communication with each other and audiences. They have inspired the formation of other percussion ensembles throughout the world and have been a major influence on the acceptance of percussion music by composers and concert-goers.
The other founding members of NEXUS are Bob Becker, William Cahn, Robin Engelman and Russell Hartenberger. All are commissioned composers, former orchestral players, soloists, clinicians and teachers.
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Ray Dillard - NEXUS