Nenad Firšt studied composition and violin at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. He was a member of the Sebastian String Quartet and the president of the Musical Youth of Slovenia. Since 1988 he is the artistic director and conductor of the Celje String Orchestra. To date, more than 160 Firšt's compositions have been presented in concerts and festivals across Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia. He has received various prizes and recognitions, including the highest national cultural prize (Prešeren Fund Prize) in 2009. Since 2010, he has been the president of the Society of Slovene Composers.