[1] Nickrenz was born in Seattle to Herbert C. and Mary Volz and had four older siblings (two brothers and two sisters).
According to her daughter, Erika, Nickrenz moved to New York City "to seek her fame and fortune on the piano.
[6] While their counterparts in the 1960s and 1970s were doing multi-microphone/multi-tracked recordings, the pair decided to continue with a more simple and natural approach using fewer microphones.
Their approach was sometimes more difficult and time consuming but the results were recognized for their natural sound quality.
He also was a founding member of the Orpheus Trio and directed chamber music for the New World Symphony.
Erika Nickrenz received a Bachelor and Master of Music from the Juilliard School and is a member of the Eroica Trio.