CYRE began the year 2000 with the highly successful Armidale Trip featured above.
On returning to New Zealand, they proceeded to record material from that trip as the basis of their forthcoming second CD. (Recording the balance needed to complete the CD was incidentally one of the last activities for 200).
February saw the early start of the group's peformance schedule with an outdoor recital as part of the Garden City 150 year celebrations run by the Canterbury Horicultural Society in the lovely setting of Mona Vale.
Further appearances during the year saw a Lunchtime Concert at the Music Centre of Christchurch, a Concert of Early Music, a performance in the local competitions of the De Croy NZ Secondary Schools' Chamber Music Contest, two CSM Recorder School Concerts, one CSM Sunday Winter Series Concert, an appearance at the Christchurch Youth Orchestra's Christmas Concert in Diamond Harbour Hall and a second Canterbury Sesqui-centennial appearance in the Botanic Gardens at the Victorian Garden Party.
However the highlight would have to have been the feature item at this year's Annual CSM Showcase Concert in the Christchurch Town Hall. This saw the CYRE combine with its junior sister group Canterbury Recorder Players and other members of the CSM Recorder School in the Christchurch premiere of Rehu ma Tangi, the Gareth Farr work commissioned for the 1999 Nelson NZ Recorder Week. Soloists were Bernard Wells (Nelson) Keith Sayers (ChCh), Mariaan de Beer and Ruth Hope (CYRE leaders). Special guest Richard Nunns performed on the Maori instruments scored for this haunting and unique work, while several of Christchurch's adult amateur players joined in the fun. The work was received warmly by the capacity audience and was probably the highlight of the evening.
In October the ensemble joined with Double reed players from CSM and presented a fascinating varied programme entitled Echoes and Reflections. With shawms, renaissance recorders, dulcian, gemshorn, crummhorns and modern reed instruments and recorders, a carefully planned programme stretching from Mediaeval to modern times held the audience spellbound.
Later appearances for the ensemble were associated with end-of-year activities of the CSM Recorder School and the Christchurch Youth Orchestra who invited CYRE to be their guest artists in their annual concert at Diamond Harbour. An enjoyable ferry trip across Lyttelton Harbour on the catamaran preceded and followed the concert which was attended by a considerable number of local community residents including several children.