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Originally conceived, in 2002, through the scheming of Amanda Baker (flutes) and Beth Meyers (viola), janus’ most recent member is harpist Nuiko Wadden. This season's highlights included performances at Symphony Space, Roulette, BAM Café, Colgate University, and the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Recital Series. janus has been presented at the Look and Listen Festival, the Cleveland Museum of Art Recital Series, the Dubuque New Music Series, Music In Chelsea, and Trinity Church "Concerts At One".
The upcoming season will include a self-produced album containing previously recorded contemporary works and two premiers written specifically for janus.
Baker (flutes), with the most stable employment, is a flautist with the United States Coast Guard Band and makes her home in Connecticut. From 2001-2002, Amanda was the Principal Flutist of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra in Guangzhou, China. Prior to living and working in China, Amanda freelanced in NYC. While there, she formed the flute duo, Third Rail, which played in the subway stations around New York. Not surprisingly, they discovered the most responsive station (both acoustically and personally) was at 66th St (Lincoln Center).
Meyers (viola) makes her home in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Always seeking to expand her identity as a musician, she sings back-up vocals in The Reasons, a New York band led by vocalist and guitarist, Clare Muldaur Manchon. She can be heard singing Reichian “do’s†with So Percussion in Music for 18 Musicians and Drumming. She is also a member of QQQ, a quartet including Dan Trueman (hardanger fiddle), Monica Mugan (guitar) and Jason Treuting (drums and things). Beth's study of improvisation has found her working with artists including Ralph Alessi, Kokayi, and Mark Helias. In 2000, she collaborated with jazz pianist and vocalist, Anna Dagmar Johnson for her album One More Time In The Air (Oasis).
Wadden (harp) has been on the road this year. She spends much time in the car, on the plane, on the train, in the taxi, and has just recently garnered respite from this schedule. Wadden serves as principal harp to the Pittsburgh Opera, the Des Moines Metro Opera and is a member of the International Contemporary Ensemble as well as the amorphous Juan Garcia construct, Soloband.