Marina Surgan has been principal pianist for the Canada National Ballet School since 1986. Born in the former Soviet Union where she was classically trained in Moscow, Marina immigrated to Torronto in 1975 and joined the National Ballet of Canda in 1978.

Highlights of Marina Surgan's creative career include : composing music for the Cecchetti Grade Examinations; accompanist for the third International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi; and First International Congress of Classical and Contemporary Ballet in Mexico; in 2001 she was chosen to record a CD of 10 variations, which was produced and used for the Prix de Lausanne.

Marina Surgan also tours with NBS across Canada and Internationally, playing master classes and conducting workshops for ballet teachers and accompanists all over the world, including Mexico, Germany, France, Finland, Sweden and Japan.