Robin Engelman recently bid adieu to Canadian percussion ensemble Nexus. He was one of its founding members. His decision to leave the ensemble was due to ongoing vision difficulties.“It is impossible to adequately express my gratitude for the friendship and music of my colleagues in Nexus. Their willingness to explore any idea has been an inspiration to me for 39 years. I will continue to write music articles and also continue to research and develop various interests, including the history of military instruments.”
For almost four decades, Engelman was active with Nexus as a performer, composer, arranger and conductor. His distinguished career also included principal percussion positions in the Milwaukee Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic and Toronto Symphony, as well as pioneering work with Toronto’s New Music Concerts contemporary music ensemble.
Robin Engelman and the other four original founding members - Bob Becker, Bill Cahn, Russell Hartenberger and John Wyre - were inducted into the PAS Hall of Fame in 1999. Wyre, who passed away in 2006, resigned from the ensemble in 2002 and was replaced by Garry Kvistad.
Nexus recently co-commissioned Steve Reich’s new “Mallet Quartet” and will give the Canadian premiere in April. The group will continue to play solo and concerto concerts, including performances of their signature piece, Toru Takemitsu’s “From me flows what you call Time…” with orchestras in Japan, Texas, and New York during the 2010–11 season.
