Nick Brooke mixes musical sampling and physical theater into a genre all its own. In his works, vocalists and actors are trained to mimic sampled collages of sound effects, pop songs, and musical ephemera, blurring the line between recording and live performance. His work Tone Test received its premiere at Lincoln Center Festival in 2004 and reviews have documented the innovative aesthetic of his blend of musical and theater works.

Brooke’s works have been featured across the U.S. and Europe, at Mass MoCA, HERE, Merkin Hall, Baryshnikov Arts Center, the MATA Series, and the Spoleto Festival, and have performed the Bang-on-a-Can All-Stars, Talujon, Speculum Musicae, Orchestra 2001, the Paul Dresher Ensemble, the Nash Ensemble of London, and Sekar Anu. He has received Guggenheim and Rockefeller Foundation awards, and multiple residencies including Djerassi, MacDowell, Bogliasco, and Bellagio. Originally a clarinettist, he is also an avid instrument builder, and researcher of early musical automata. During a two-year fellowship to Central Java, he studied gamelan and collaborated on musical projects with Javanese composers, dancers, and visual artists. He holds degrees in music composition and philosophy from Oberlin, and a Ph.D from Princeton. He teaches at Bennington College.

The Cabinet is a production company that creates, workshops, and performs experimental music theater works by Nick Brooke. The company supports an up to 8-member ensemble, that works with larger venues to co-produce works.