About Us
The Nexus Saxophone Quartet is comprised of veteran music educators and performers from central Ohio. With a shared passion for the saxophone, these musicians have dedicated themselves to the art of saxophone quartet performance. Known for their versatile repertoire, The Nexus Saxophone Quartet strives to highlight the timeless beauty of the saxophone quartet genre as well as champion contemporary music by performing new compositions. Among these works is the mesmerizing piece Day Today which was composed for the Nexus Quartet by noted composer HyeYoung Kim. Through their commitment to embracing innovative compositions, their goal is to contribute to the growth and evolution of the saxophone quartet genre. Members of the quartet, Ryan Alexis, Rob Cebriak, Matt Guirreri, and Don Nathan, have over 100 combined years of serving the music education community in central Ohio and beyond.
Ryan Alexis
Ryan Alexis has been teaching in the Worthington City School District since 2006, where he is the Director of Bands at Kilbourne Middle School. At KMS, he conducts the 6th Grade Bands, 7th Grade Bands, 8th Grade Band, KMS Jazz Band, and “ KMS Red Bird” Honor Band.
In addition, he also assists with the Thomas Worthington High School “Pride of Cardinal Country” Marching Band, directs the TWHS Cardinal Jazz Band, and conducts the Thomas Worthington High School Pit Orchestra. Ryan is the Director of Junior Winds, an honor band for 8th ,9th, and10th students in Central Ohio through Capital University.
Alexis received a BME from The Ohio State University School of Music, and an MMME from The Conservatory of Music at Capital University. Ryan is a member of OMEA, NAfME, ASBDA, and has served as a treasurer for the OMEA South-Central Region. Ryan serves as a guest clinician for OMEA Honor Bands all around Ohio, working with students of all ages. In his free time, Ryan enjoys teaching saxophone lessons, and coaching saxophone ensembles. Ryan resides in Worthington, with his wife Meg, and son Benjamin.
Rob Cebriak
Rob Cebriak is the director of bands in the Gahanna Jefferson Public Schools, having previously taught in the Ohio districts of Washington Court House, Crestview (Columbiana), and Miami Trace. Under his direction, the Gahanna Bands have been selected to perform at the Ohio Band Directors Conference, the Capital University Band Festival, and the OMEA state conference; and they have worked with or premiered compositions by Frank Ticheli, Ryan Nowlin, Ralph Hultgren, and Rick Kirby, among others. Mr. Cebriak received his Bachelor of Music Education at The Ohio State University and his Master of Music in Saxophone Performance from Ithaca College in New York. Mr. Cebriak currently performs with the Big Walnut Big Band and the Heisey Wind Ensemble. He lives in Gahanna with his wife (and accompanist) Christina. Their two children, Alex and Madeline, are in college.
Matt Guirreri
Matt Guirreri is a band director in the Pickerington Local Schools. Mr. Guirreri began his career in the school district of Southeastern, where he taught Band 5 -12, choir 9-12, and general music. Mr. Guirreri received his Bachelor of Music Education at The Ohio State University and his Masters of Instrumental Music from Capital University. During his time at the Ohio State University, Mr. Guirreri was a five-year member of the Ohio State University Marching Band and was named the Most-Inspirational Bandsmen by his peers in 2001. He has served with OMEA as an adjudicator as well as All-State band coordinator. Mr. Guirreri currently resides in Pickerington, Ohio with his beautiful wife Janelle and children Jonathon and Mia.
Don Nathan
Don Nathan was the Director of Bands at Worthington Kilbourne High School from 2006 to 2019 and worked at all levels in Worthington Schools for 31 years. Under his direction the Worthington Kilbourne Wind Ensemble has performed at Carnegie Hall twice and at both OMEA and NAfME professional development conferences. He instituted an active commissioning program which includes works from John Mackey and Roger Cichy among others. In 2008 Don was honored with the Johnstone Woodwind Master Teacher Award as the Ohio Woodwind Teacher of the Year. He maintains an active performing schedule, formerly holding the principal clarinet chair in the Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra, and has performed with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and the Newark Granville Symphony Orchestra. Currently Don is an educational consultant and performing artist for Pyne Clarion and an Ambassador for SeriO clarinets. He is the founder and director of the Central Ohio Honors Clarinet Choir and the Orchestra Director at Grace Polaris Church. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Music from The Ohio State University. Since retiring from full time teaching in 2020 Don and wife of 40 years, Julie (also a retired band director and fabulous flutist and flute teacher), have started Nathan Woodwind Services, specializing in clarinet and flute instruction and clarinet repair. In their spare time they enjoy being with family including two one-year-old grandchildren.