Nikolaus Brass, born in Lindau in 1949, initially studied medicine and took private composition lessons with Peter Kiesewetter at the Munich Academy of Music. He concluded his medical studies at the Free University of Berlin. He studied composition with Frank Michael Beyer and later privately with Helmut Lachenmann. Between 1978 and 1986 he regularly attended the Darmstadt Summer Courses, where he also met with Morton Feldman.

After being invited to the Gaudeamus Muziekweek in the Netherlands, he began publishing his compositions in 1981. Since then he has had numerous premieres at the most important New Music festivals, such as the Donaueschingen Festival, musica viva Munich, Ultraschall Berlin, ECLAT Stuttgart, Klangspuren Schwaz or Witten Days for New Chamber Music.

Nikolaus Brass has received numerous awards, including the Music Prize of the State Capital Munich in 2009. Since 2014 he has been a member of the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts.

Since its foundation, the TrioCoriolis has dedicated itself to the entire repertoire for string trio. The ensemble regularly performs both in classical halls and at festivals for New Music (Klangspuren Schwaz, ECLAT Stuttgart and musica viva in Munich).

TrioCoriolis:
- Michaela Buchholz (violin) (Morgenlob & Glanz)
- Heather Cottrell (violin) (Zeichen, Zeichnungen)
- Klaus-Peter Werani (viola)
- Hanno Simons (cello)