Nikolai Khrust (1982, Moscow, Russia — St.-Chamond, France): composer, sound artist, computer music designer, Ph.D. in music studies, former associate professor at the Moscow Conservatory (till 2022). Khrust graduated from the Moscow Conservatory and its post graduate classes as a composer (prof. V. Tarnopolski). His creative portfolio spans instrumental and vocal compositions, electroacoustic works, sound installations, multimedia projects, and sound design. He has received numerous accolades, including the Moscow Art Prize (2021, the first case the award was granted for a musical composition). Khrust’s works have been performed throughout Europe at major festivals, including the Venice Biennale, Darmstadt Summer Courses, and ISCM World Music Days, and by such ensembles as MCME, Studio for New Music Moscow, Ensemble Aleph. His residencies include GRAME (Lyon) and CIRM (Nice). His scientific works covers extended techniques, musical phenomenology, multimedia composition; his theory is being taught in several Russian high schools. Khrust founded Octopus and King Bee ensembles. As a performer Khrust collaborated with known conductors such as T. Currentzis and V. Jurowski.