Nicolai Tarasov -- a native of Russia, Nicolai Tarasov received his formal music training in Moscow where he majored in woodwinds at the Russian Academy of Music. He was a laureate of the All-Union Woodwind Competition in Minsk, and performed with a number of respected eastern European orchestras and ensembles. Since arriving in Canada, Nicolai has established himself as a performer and educator. He has played with leading early music groups in Canada and the United States, including Tafelmusik, Opera Atelier, Gotham City Baroque Orchestra, Apollo's Fire, Toronto Sinfonietta, and performed as part of the Boston Early Music Festival.  He conducted orchestra at the Toronto Waldorf School and also leads period instrument workshops for CAMAC and the Toronto Recorder Society. He is artistic director of the Academy Concert Series in Toronto. Nicolai teaches woodwinds and piano at the Kingsway Conservatory of Music and spends his spare time cycling, canoeing in Temagami and practicing Aikido at the Aikido Shugyo Dojo. This summer he was in Moscow (Russia) performing at the Early Music Festival "Korni i Krona".