Originally from Edmonton, Mark Nerenberg completed a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music in Composition at the University of Alberta. He now resides in Toronto where he is working on his doctorate, studying with Christos Hatzis. Encompassing a wide range of styles, genres and techniques, his compositions include instrumental and vocal music, electronic music focusing on interaction between computers and performers, and collaborative multimedia works. Many recent works have involved collaborations with artists from varying disciplines, including Awakening the Electronic Forest (a multimedia sound installation incorporating music, art, dance and poetry, premiered at Toronto's 2007 Nuit Blanche festival); Piece for Painter, Marimba and Live Electronics; Piece for Saxophone Quartet, Video, Poetry, and Live Electronics; and Resonance, Suite for Solo String Instrument, choreographed by Miriam Esquitin and performed by the ORCHESIS dance group. His Piano Trio No. 1 was recently awarded the inaugural composition prize at the Scotia Festival of Music.

The New Zealand String Quartet (violinists Helene Pohl and Douglas Beilman, violist Gillian Ansell and cellist Rolf Gjelsten) takes pride of place on the international chamber music scene, acclaimed by critics and audiences alike. The Quartet is lauded for its imaginative programming, including cycles by composers from Mozart to Berg, and for fostering an international audience for works by New Zealand and Pacific Rim composers. In New Zealand, the country's premier chamber ensemble presents some 40 concerts each year. Tours and festivals have taken the Quartet across Canada and the United States, to Mexico, Korea, Australia, Scotland, Germany and the Netherlands. Recent highlights include acclaimed debuts in London's Wigmore Hall and New York's Frick Collection. Upcoming are debut performances in Poland and Czechoslovakia. The ensemble's many collaborations with eminent artists have recently included Frans Helmerson, James Campbell, Piers Lane, Nobuko Imai and Peter Nágy. The Quartet's extensive discography includes Beethoven, Bartók, Ravel, Dvorák, Berg, Wolf, New Zealand composers, the premiere recording of Zoltan Székely's quartet, and Mendelssohn's complete string quartets.

NEXT is a newly formed group of three internationally renowned trumpeters. Niklas Eklund is firmly established as one of the greatest natural trumpet players in the world. He has more than 30 recordings to his credit. Rex Richardson ranks as one of the most versatile trumpeters, easily moving between jazz, classical and contemporary repertoire. Paul Merkelo is best known as solo trumpet with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, but is rapidly establishing a reputation as one of the great virtuosos of his generation.

In 1999, just before celebrating its 30th anniversary season, NEXUS was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame. Fusing the virtuosity of Bob Becker, Bill Cahn, Robin Engelman, Russell Hartenberger and Garry Kvistad in all genres of percussion music, NEXUS stands out on the contemporary music scene for the innovation and diversity of its programs, remarkable collaborations and commissions, revival of 1920’s novelty ragtime xylophone music, and infl uential improvisatory ideas. NEXUS’ commitment to music education and a steady fl ow of quality CDs and compositions by its members continue to enhance the role of percussion. A signature piece, From me fl ows what you call Time, composed by Toru Takemitsu, was premiered at Carnegie Hall’s centennial celebration in 1990 with Seiji Ozawa conducting the Boston Symphony. Touring regularly across North America and around the world, NEXUS was the fi rst Western percussion group to perform in China. Recent highlights include performing at the Oklahoma Bandmasters Conference, their popular annual residency at the Toronto Summer Music Academy and Festival, the Seoul Drum Festival, and Commonwealth Games Cultural Festival in Melbourne, Australia.