Connecting People Through Music
Nexus String Quartet & Ensembles, formerly known as Cheza String Quartet, began in 2009 with players from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Since then, the Nexus musicians have performed for hundreds of weddings, corporate events, receptions, parties, galas, and fundraisers around Colorado. Our ensemble has grown to include some of the Front Range's most talented, university-trained string players with experience performing venues like Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the 1stBank Center, Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Boettcher Concert Hall, the Mission Ballroom, and more.
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While formally trained, our expertise extends well beyond classical music into fiddle, jazz, pop, and rock genres. Nexus musicians have had the opportunity to perform and record with both local and world-renowned artists, and we take pride in embracing the unique essence of every genre.
So, why the name change? The original ensemble, Cheza String Quartet, was started with a desire to bridge the gap between classical and contemporary music. That desire eventually grew into a full-scale passion – we wanted audiences to find inspiration in new ways by exploring how genres have influenced each other throughout the centuries. As a result, the Denver Nexus Project, a performance ensemble dedicated to showcasing those connections, was born. Finding the nexus between musical cultures became both our mission and our mantra: whether we are on a concert stage or at a wedding ceremony, our new name encompasses our love for connecting people through unique and elevated musical experiences.
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Nexus doesn't just provide string music. We offer honest service, bright personalities, a fresh perspective on an ancient art form, and, most of all, genuinely-inspired music making. Whether you are looking for a ​classical ensemble for your dream wedding ceremony or a rock string quartet for your company's reception, our music will be the soul of your event.
Our commitment is to redefine what it means to be a string player;
To approach our art with passion & free-thinking.
We believe that music should never be made sitting still.
It should be a celebration.
Meet the Founder
Kayla Hayes is the owner of Nexus Strings and an avid lover of all-things-music. She works full time as the Director of Digital Marketing & Promotions for the Colorado Symphony and has performed with some of the nation's top musicians, including the Colorado Symphony, Deltron 3030, DeVotchka, Streetlight Manifesto, Pretty Lights, and Kygo.
Kayla holds bachelor's degrees in Cello Performance and Business Innovation from Colorado State University where she became widely involved in the special events industry. She later went on to receive a master's degree in Arts & Culture Marketing from the University of Denver to help cultivate her passion for championing music and the arts.
With over 15 years of experience in the special events industry, Kayla has had the opportunity to work alongside many of the top producers, vendors, and venues in Colorado to create unique and innovative events for clients. A strong believer in the value of music, Kayla is also enthusiastic about bridging the gap between classical and modern genres. Her research has included studies of modern orchestral management and marketing as a way to initiate change in the classical music industry. She co-created the Denver Nexus Project, a performance ensemble dedicated to showcasing the similarities between classical and contemporary styles. Kayla has also arranged much of Nexus' modern repertoire and has loved seeing clients' and audiences' new-found excitement for string music.