Nexus (ensemble)
Nexus is a Toronto-based percussion ensemble made up of percussionists Bob Becker, Bill Cahn, Robin Engleman, Russell Hartenberger, and Garry Kvistad. Founding member, Michael Craden, died of liver cancer in 1982. Former member John Wyre died in 2006 and was replaced by long-time professional colleague Garry Kvistad. The group formed in 1971 with a concert of entirely improvised music. Nexus primarily performs contemporary classical music, though the group also performs world music and ragtime music that features the xylophone as a virtuosic solo instrument.
In 1990, Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu wrote a concerto for percussion ensemble and orchestra entitled From me flows what you call time for the group. Dozens of other composers have written music specifically for Nexus and for individual members of Nexus, and the group's members are also composers and arrangers, writing for Nexus and, on occasion, for others.
In addition to their regular concerts, the group also gives masterclasses and educational performances.
Russell Hartenberger is on faculty at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music (Dean, Chair of Graduate Education, and Professor, Percussion). Robin Engleman was also a long-time staff member at the University of Toronto, where he mainly taught and conducted the percussion ensemble and the contemporary music ensemble.
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