ABOUT THE ARTIST

    ROMAYNE WHEELER WAS BORN IN CALIFORNIA IN 1942. HI IS A PIANIST, COMPOSER AND POET. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING HE FEELS THAT MUSIC IS HIS MOTHER TONGUE AND HE DECIDES AT A VERY EARLY AGE  TO DEDICATE HIS LIFE TO ITS PERFECTION.  HIS FIRST MUSICAL TRAINING TAKES SHAPE WHILE TRAVELING WITH HIS PARENTS IN THE CARIBBEAN, LATIN AMERICA, AN THE USA. IN 1960 HE MOVES TO EUROPE WHERE HE STUDIES CONCERT PIANO AN COMPOSITION, FIRST IN "SALZBURG´S MOZARTEUM" AND THEN IN VIENNA´S "HOCHSCHULE FUER MUSIK" (UNIVERSITY OF MUSIC) AND IN THE VIENNA CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC. IN 1968 HE GRADUATES WHITH A DEGREE IN COMPOSITION AND IN 1972 WITH A PIANO CONCERT DIPLOMA.

    IN 1968 HIS CONCERT CAREER BEGINS WITH A TOUR THROUGH THE MEDITERRANEAN. SINCE THEN HE PREFORMS EXTENSIVELY THROUGHOUT EUROPE, THE NEAR EAST, CANADA, THE USA, THE CARIBBEAN AND  MEXICO.

    AS A COMPOSER HE FEELS THAT IT IS HIS MUSICAL CALLING TO DISCOVER SOME OF THE NATIVE ROOTS IN HIS HOMELAND AND HE LIVES WITH THE  HOPI INDIANS RECORDING AND NOTATING THEIR COUNTLESS KACHINA DANCES. IT IS WHILE LINGERING WITH THEM THAT HE FIRST REALIZES, NOT ONLY IN THEORY, BUT IN PRACTICE, THAT HARMONY AND INNER PEACE ARE THE FRUITS OF A HARMONIOUS, RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL THE NATURE.

    LATER HE IS BEFRIENDED BY  REV. LUIS VERPLANCKEN WHO OPENS THE DOOR TO THE INNER UNIVERSE OF THE SOUL OF THE TARAHUMARA INDIANS.  THEIR HOMELAND, IN THE COPPER CANYON OF MEXICO, BECOMES IS OPEN AIR STUDIO. NOW IT IS MORE IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO DISCOVER AND KNOW THE SPIRIT OF PRIMEVAL MAN, VERY  MUCH AS HE WAS IN THE  BEGINNING OF TIME - BEFORE FALSE MATERIAL VALUES BEGAN TO CONSTRUCT BARRIERS BETWEEN US -, THAN TO TRAVEL TO A DISTANT PLANET. AFETER 12 YEARS OF PERIODIC VISITS TO THE CANYONS, HE DECIDES TO LEAVE AUSTRIA AND MOVES TO THE REMOTE RIM OF BATOPILAS CANYON WHERE HE PARKS HIS GRAND PIANO AT THE EDGE OF ABYSS. HIS ADOPTED FAMILY NOW CONSISTS OF 320 SCATTERED FAMILIES THAT LIVE IN THE NEARBY CANYONS AND MESAS. DUE TO THE FACT THAT STILL UP TO 50%  OF THE CHILDREN THAT LIVE IN THIS AREA DIE BEFORE REACHING THE ADGE OF TEN  HE DECIDES NOT TO PASS THROUGH LIKE A PASSIVE TURIST, AND HE NOW DEDICATES HIS CONCERTS TO HELP SUPPORT THE TARAHUMARA CHILDREN´S HOSPITAL, A SELF SUPPORTING CLINC IN THE HIGH COUNTRY. HIS DEEP LOVE, UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT FOR THESE ABANDONED PEOPLE CAN BE FELT IN HIS POETRY, HIS ESSAYS AND IN HIS MUSIC.