Commissioning consortium

About the composer

Dr. Onsby C. Rose was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, and raised in Abingdon, Virginia. After studying music education at the University of South Carolina, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1997, serving 11 years as a trombonist, baritone bugler, conductor, and leader in both Fleet Marine Bands and “The Commandant’s Own” U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps. He toured extensively across the U.S. and abroad, received numerous commendations, and later taught at the Armed Forces School of Music before his honorable discharge in 2007.

Following military service, Rose returned to music full time, earning a Bachelor of Music Education from East Tennessee State University, a Master of Music in Conducting from Appalachian State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from The Ohio State University. He also co-founded and directed The Brass Band of Appalachia during this period.

Since 2019, Rose has served as Professor and Director of Instrumental Activities at Dordt University, where he teaches conducting, music education, and orchestration, and directs the Wind Symphony, jazz and pep bands, and the Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra. He is an active guest conductor, clinician, and scholar, presenting at national conferences and publishing widely in The Instrumentalist.

Rose is also an accomplished composer. His Symphony No. 1, “Heroes” was commissioned by a consortium of 77 organizations and performed by ensembles nationwide. His Symphony No. 2, “The Sacred Cloth,” commissioned by LtCol Ryan Nowlin and premiered in 2025 by “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band, celebrates the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps. His works, often rooted in themes of service and faith, are published by Murphy Music Press, and he was awarded The American Prize in Composition (2021).

With over 30 years as a freelance performer, Rose has appeared with orchestras, wind ensembles, and jazz groups across the country. He is affiliated with professional organizations including CBDNA, WASBE, NAfME, ASCAP, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Tau Beta Sigma (honorary).

Dr. Rose lives in Sioux Center, Iowa, with his wife Jessica and their family. Of his many professional achievements, he most cherishes the lifelong honor of being called a United States Marine.

inspiration for the piece

Throughout my childhood, my most fond memories of my grandfather, Willard McNichols, had to do with fishing. The McNichols’ lived on a farm in Ellettsville, IN (outside of Bloomington, where Indiana University is located). Almost every single visit included at least one fishing trip. We would wake up at the crack of dawn, often stop at McDonald’s (I would usually get a Happy Meal so I could get my TY Beanie Baby), and we would head to the lake. I almost always caught the first fish, and I often caught the majority of the fish for the day (maybe grandpa did that on purpose, I guess I will never know!). Although we didn’t say much while sitting in the boat, I gained a wealth of knowledge from my grandfather during these special moments. The three movement work that Dr. Rose is writing for me will include thoughts of many of these moments, as well as his experiences fishing with his own sons. There is just something about sitting in a boat or on a dock on a serene lake, just hoping and praying for a bite.