Nexas Quartet Formed in 2002, Nexas Quartet are focused on promoting the musical diversity of the saxophone, showcasing its versatility and ability to cross genres. The group’s success comes from a combination of personalities, virtuosic saxophone skills, and an ability to program concerts of a wide appeal that has seen the musicians perform in a multitude of settings. This unique approach has enabled Nexas Quartet to perform throughout Australia and internationally, performing a diverse repertoire that reflects their artistic direction. Ranging from transcriptions, standard and contemporary repertoire, to collaborations with theatre companies and premiering and commissioning new works. At the forefront of chamber music, Nexas Quartet are leaders in promoting existing and
creating new repertoire for the saxophone quartet.
During the past few years Nexas performed at the prestigious APRA Awards as well as at the heart of Australia in Uluru for Darwin Symphony’s Symphony at Uluru. 2014 was a landmark year for the ensemble as they launched their inaugural Concert Series featuring Nexas collaborating with some of Australia’s finest musicians including Gerard Willems AM (pianist), Daniel Rojas (pianist), Nicky Crayson (jazz vocalist), David Theak (jazz saxophonist and bandleader), Frank Celata (SSO clarinettist) and Peter Coleman-Wright AO (opera singer).
Open-minded to new and innovative music, Nexas have commissioned many new Australian works and have had several works dedicated to them by composers such as Lachlan Skipworth, Amanda Cole, Anthony Moles, David Slater and Marcus Whale. In 2015 Nexas Quartet collaborated with composer and sound artist Drew Crawford on the Melbourne Theatre Company’s production of Jumpy as well as performing the world premiere of Matthew Hindson and Cyrus Meurant’s Romeo and Juliet with the National
College of Dance Company.
In 2016 Nexas were once again engaged in their annual concert series featuring collaborations with trumpeter Matthew Dempsy and performing the world premiere of Matthew Hindson’s Romeo and Juliet Suite. In November 2016 Nexas launched their debut album, Current, at the iconic Utzon Room in Sydney Opera House. The CD features world premiere recordings by Australian composers Matthew Hindson, Elena Kats-Chernin, Daniel Rojas, Matthew Orlorvich and Lachlan Skipworth.
A year of firsts, 2017 began with the collaboration with international operatic superstar Peter Coleman-Wright AO. This resulted ABC classics first ever saxophone quartet release “Ballads of the Pleasant Life”. With their stage show “Composers in Exile” the quartet with Coleman-Wright appeared in numerous concerts including critically acclaimed appearances at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Sydney’s Independent Theatre. Later that year, Nexas chalked up another first with an invitation to be the saxophone quartet in residence at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music.
