Commissioning consortium

oboe, English horn, oboe d’amore

Commissioned Work

Timeline

Consortium Membership

About the composer

Onsby C. Rose was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, but spent much of his formative years growing up in Abingdon, Virginia. He graduated from Abingdon High School in 1993. Following high school, Rose attended the University of South Carolina for three years as a music education major, laying the foundation for his lifelong passion in music. Military Career In January of 1997, after his time at the University of South Carolina, Rose auditioned and was accepted as a trombone instrumentalist in the United States Marine Corps Fleet Band system. He underwent recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina, and Marine Combat Training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. After completing an accelerated six-month course at the Armed Forces School of Music in just two months, he was assigned as a Lance Corporal to the Marine Corps Logistics Base Band in Albany, Georgia, where he served as a trombonist, music librarian, and drill writer/instructor for military tattoos. In October 1999, Rose was promoted to Corporal and transferred to “The Commandant’s Own” United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps at Marine Barracks 8th and I Streets SE in Washington, D.C. There, as a Sergeant, he performed as a baritone bugler and assistant instrument repairman, deploying to Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait to provide musical support. Upon re-enlistment, he returned to the Fleet Marine Corps bands as a trombonist with the Marine Corps Band in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he held multiple leadership roles, including trombone and low brass section head, travel operations chief, brass quintet Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, small ensemble leader, fiscal chief, platoon sergeant, assistant drum major, arranger, and assistant conductor. During this period, he toured extensively with the brass quintet, performing in 42 states and Europe. In 2004, upon promotion to Staff Sergeant, Rose joined the Marine Staff Non-Commissioned Officers Degree Completion Program. This allowed him to attend East Tennessee State University, where he completed his Bachelor of Music Education degree in 2005, studying conducting under Roxanne Haskill. After graduation, he served as a faculty member at the Armed Forces School of Music in Norfolk, Virginia, acting as brass ensemble rehearsal conductor and registrar. Rose was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 2007 after 11 years of service. His military tenure earned him numerous accolades, including the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2nd Award), National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Navy Unit Citation Award, and Marine Corps Meritorious Unit Award. Rose has often cited his Marine Corps experience as deeply formative, and he holds the title of United States Marine closest to his heart. Post-Military Transition and Return to Music Following his discharge in 2007, Rose pursued activities outside of music for several years while freelancing as a trombonist in Indiana, Virginia, and Tennessee. A pivotal moment came in 2012 with the death of his first wife, Julia, which prompted him to return to full-time music education. That year, he became the Director of Bands at Hampton High School and Hampton Elementary School in Carter County, Tennessee, serving through the 2012-13 and 2013-14 school years. Under his leadership, the bands achieved consistent superior ratings in marching and concert performances, and enrollment grew tenfold. In 2014, Rose advanced his education by becoming a Graduate Conducting Associate with the Bands at Appalachian State University, where he conducted wind ensembles, team-taught music education classes, and assisted with athletic bands. He earned his Master of Music in Conducting in 2016. He then pursued doctoral studies at The Ohio State University as a Doctoral Conducting Associate, studying under Dr. Russel Mikkelson, and completed his Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Conducting in 2019. During this time, he also co-founded and served as music director and conductor of The Brass Band of Appalachia in Bristol, Virginia. Academic and Professional Career Since 2019, Rose has served as a Professor and Director of Instrumental Activities at Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa. He recently attained the faculty rank of Professor. In this role, he teaches courses including Basic and Advanced Conducting, Instrumental Music Education Techniques, and Orchestration. He conducts the university’s Wind Symphony, 4th Ave. Jazz Band, Campus Band, Defender Pep Band, and the Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra. His research interests focus on the music of composer David Maslanka, music education, music composition and wind band literature. Rose has contributed to the field through published articles, such as “The Ripple Effect: Remembering David Maslanka” (The Instrumentalist, September 2017), “Steps to Score Mastery” (The Instrumentalist, August 2017), and “Old, New, Borrowed, Blue and a March!” (The Instrumentalist, March 2017). Rose is an active guest conductor and clinician, leading honor bands at high school and college levels both domestically and internationally. He has presented at conferences, including the College Band Directors National Association National Conference (2025), Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference (2023), and Iowa Musicological Society (2021). With over 30 years as a freelance musician, he has performed in jazz ensembles, orchestras, and wind bands, including the Johnson City Symphony, Kingsport Symphony, Elkhart Symphony, Truth in Jazz Big Band, Jazz Assemblage, Band of America’s Few Marine Musician Alumni Band, State Line Wind Symphony, Elkhart Municipal Band, Orange City Community Band, The Hollanders Jazz Ensemble, and numerous other jazz and classical ensembles. He is affiliated with numerous professional organizations, including Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma (honorary), College Band Directors National Association, World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, National Association for Music Education, and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP). Compositions and Achievements Rose is an accomplished composer whose works draw heavily from his military background and personal faith. His Symphony No. 1, “Heroes,” was composed during his final year at Ohio State (2018-2019) and commissioned by a consortium of 77 universities, public schools, community groups, and military bands. It has been performed widely, including excerpts by “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band. In 2023, Rose was commissioned by Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Nowlin to compose Symphony No. 2, “The Sacred Cloth,” a 40-minute, four-movement work for modern American wind band, celebrating the 250th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. Inspired by the symbolism of the Marine Corps dress blue uniform, it premiered on March 23, 2025, at The Music Center at Strathmore near Washington, D.C., conducted by LtCol. Nowlin and performed by “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band. The band also recorded it for their 2025 album, releasing in December 2025. Rose described this commission as the pinnacle of his composing career. Other notable works include “You Were There” (a 9/11 tribute, 2021), “Heroes from the Sea” (performed by the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band in 2017), and various pieces for wind ensembles, often commissioned by military, collegiate, and professional groups. In 2021, he won The American Prize in Composition for band divisions. His compositions are published by Murphy Music Press. Personal Life Rose’s faith profoundly influences his teaching, composing, and overall career. He was previously married to Julia, who passed away in 2012. He later remarried Jessica, and as of 2025, they live in Sioux Center Iowa. Two of their five sons, Aidan and Timothy, have departed home to begin lives of their own, while the younger three, Caleb, Elijah, and Colin and only a few years behind them. While Dr. Rose has been blessed with many opportunities and professional honors, the one he holds closest is attaining the title of United States Marine.

inspiration for the piece

Throughout Dr. Miranda’s childhood, her most fond memories of her grandfather, Willard McNichols, had to do with fishing.