a vane assembly for a gas turbine engine including a shroud with openings defined therein about a circumference thereof and vanes extending radially from the shroud with a vane tip in each opening . isolating means are disposed in each opening to isolate the vane tip from the shroud ring . each vane tip is engaged with the shroud by retaining means for restricting movement of the vane tip in an axial direction relative to said shroud .