Nikolai Nikolayevich Tcherepnin (May 15 [O.S. May 3], 1873 – June 26, 1945) was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor, notable for his contributions to the nationalist style of Russian music. Born in Saint Petersburg to a wealthy physician, Tcherepnin pursued a law degree at the insistence of his father but simultaneously nurtured his passion for music. He studied composition under Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and piano under Karl Karlovich Fan-Ark at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, graduating in 1898.

Tcherepnin's career as a conductor began with the Russian Symphony Concerts in 1902, and he later conducted for the Imperial Opera and the Mariinsky Theatre. From 1908 to 1914, he was involved with Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, conducting in major cities like Paris, Berlin, and London. His notable works include the ballet "Le Pavillon d'Armide," which premiered with the Ballets Russes.

In 1918, Tcherepnin became the director of the Tiflis (Tbilisi) Conservatory but relocated to Paris in 1921 following political changes in Georgia. In Paris, he founded the Russian Conservatory and collaborated with Anna Pavlova's ballet troupe. Despite a decline in his hearing, which led him to abandon his concert career in 1933, Tcherepnin continued to influence the musical world through teaching and composition until his death in Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, in 1945. He was part of a musical dynasty, being the first of his family to achieve prominence in the field. His legacy includes a diverse range of compositions, from ballets and symphonic poems to songs and piano pieces.