Press & Testimonies

Quotes from Reviews & Other Press

  • "She composes for specific people and specific circumstances...she cranks stuff out using a vivid imagination and a well-used sketchbook, she gets her music performed and recorded and puts it in her catalog and keeps going. ...So, like Haydn’s music, Osberg’s is the good kind of “all over the place.” It fits the mood, the performers, the occasion. It insists only on being itself–but “itself” is an embodied thing, something defined by its context in a time and a place, in a community."

    Matthew Neil Andrews (feature story), Oregon ArtsWatch

  • "...There are various degrees of minimalist technique use, sometimes a rhythmically refined treatment of the thematic material, as in Just Another Climb, written by the gifted Kimberly R. Osberg, which closes the album..."

    Giorgio Koukl, Ear Relevant (on “Just Another Climb” feat. on The Book of Spells album)

  • …a program featuring an impressive and moving new work by a Dallas-based composer. I’ll admit I was at first dubious of the projected text—interjecting spoken or written text into a musical composition is a time-honored but risky proposition. I was soon won over, however, by the perfect match of Osberg’s sometimes self-deprecating, often evocative descriptions and her shimmering orchestration and melodic instincts. Osberg takes the trend for intensely colorful orchestration, now flourishing among American composers, and distills it for a small chamber orchestra, bringing an unexpected array of beautifully organized musical sounds. Conductor McKay and the orchestra brought a fine precision, color, and impetus to the 13-minute-long score, with its primordial echoes and wonderfully suspenseful climax.

    Wayne Lee Gay, Theater Jones (on “Rocky Summer” premiere)

  • Johnson also performed in Kimberly Osberg’s "Just Another Climb," joined by colleagues Mercedes Smith on flute, Zach Boeding on oboe, Marci Gurnow on clarinet, and Madeline Sharp on viola. If the Saint-Saëns suggested a leisured dreamscape, "Just Another Climb" packed the punch of an involving musical short story, its impact belying the brevity of the piece’s duration (about four minutes) — and making this a real highlight of the evening. This first performance before a live audience emphasized Osberg’s colorfully individualistic writing for each component of the ensemble. The result was an assuredly paced musical storytelling that found freshness in a diatonic idiom, using evocative gestures to hint at but not dictate a plausible narrative. I’m eager to learn more about this composer and hear what she can accomplish with a longer form.

    Thomas May, Memeteria

  • The concert concluded with the wonderfully humorous and witty "Suite-Ass Cycle" by Kimberly Osberg...The only problem was that Lukas’ score became locked near the end, and she couldn’t advance to the last page (screen). That didn’t matter to the audience, which responded with enthusiastic applause. But the performers wanted to do it the right way. So we were treated to an encore. This time, the foot stomping was more coordinated, and that brought down the house a second time. I loved the fun aspect of "Suite-Ass Cycle," and I am sure Peter Schickele aka P. D. Q. Bach would have fully approved. It was a great way to end the concert...

    James Bash, Oregon ArtsWatch

  • Osberg is on a fast track in her adopted city, where last year, the musical group Trio Kavanáh appeared at Dallas Contemporary to perform yet another world premiere composed by the woman from Wisconsin. And earlier this month, Trio Kavanáh, supplemented by the grace and beauty of Bruce Wood Dance, performed the same Osberg piece at Dallas Contemporary that served as the perfect complement to Ian Davenport's large-scale, dripped paintings.

    Michael Granberry, Dallas Morning News

  • ...I wouldn't say I have caught 'the bird thing' yet, but Elizabeth Ronbinson's new album AVIARY might just change my mind! ...The low flutes in "Featherbrained" movement of Osberg's "Fowl Play" have no trouble taking the spotlight with their melodies, building a rich, harmonic sound world that is even more exciting in the section of pizzicato tonguing about halfway through the movement.

    Jessica Dunnavant, The Flutist Quarterly

  • "Interplay," by Dallas-based composer Kimberly Osberg, provided the high point of the afternoon. Osberg took inspiration from Ian Davenport's Horizons exhibit, which was on display at the Dallas Contemporary in the fall of 2018. Images of Davenport's art projected onto a screen at the back of the stage throughout the performance...Interplay's highly engaging combination of art and music made one want to experience the work again.

    Tim Diovanni, Dallas Morning News

  • ...Kimberly R. Osberg set the text for chorus and string quartet—weaving the theme from "Wade in the Water" (which appears in the poem) with original motives depicting combat and chaos as well as hope and resilience. Brilliant and shimmering performances from the string quartet along with commanding solo moments from Vakare Petroliunaite, Cecille Elliott, Brandon Michael, and DeReau K. Farrar vividly captured the complexity of the events depicted in the paintings, as did the music.

    Resonance Ensemble, Concert Reflection

  • To lighten things up, Kimberly Osberg’s Extracted Wisdom conveyed a vivid and somewhat humorous sonic depiction of a visit to the dentist. Written for string quartet, this nugget of a piece evoked the clicks of an X-Ray machine and the slippage of consciousness before drilling into the matter. Violinists Keiko Araki and Inés Voglar Belgique, violist Bunch, and cellist Ives had a field day snapping the strings of their instruments, generating gnawing sounds, and breathing like someone under duress – all of which caused listeners to chuckle...

    James Bash, Oregon ArtsWatch

Quotes from Collaborators & Commissioners

  • I wanted to thank you personally for your lovely piece, and for being so present and supportive of [our students]. This has really been a life-changing experience for all of them, and they have grown so much. We have all been grateful throughout these past months for you, your creativity, your kindness and your music.

    Linda Gilbert, Kinder High School for the Performing Arts

  • It has been my pleasure to work with Kimberly Osberg on two substantial commissions for wind band. During both projects, Kimberly has been an ideal collaborator both professionally and artistically. She has organized and communicated throughout each phase of these commissions, from conception and initial design, during the composition process, to the editing and delivery of the score and parts, and through the rehearsals and premiere. Both of these works are artistically significant and substantial additions to the repertoire, in compositional craft and expressive content. I look forward to further works of this caliber for the wind band medium from Kimberly, and will definitely continue to program her music.

    Dr. Andrew Chybowski, Pittsburg State University

  • ...an endless array of brilliant mosaics, little tiny pieces that are extremely intricate.

    Tim Weiss, Aspen Contemporary Music Ensemble (on “Sketches from Yellowood”)

  • Tonight the UNI Symphonic Band gave one of the most memorable performances of my career. The absolute highlight was an incredible piece by visiting composer Kim Osberg with guest vocalists Michelle Monroe and Aaron DeSantiago. The piece is called "The Noise" and is one of the most intense and moving pieces I've ever conducted. I'm so happy that our students got a chance to experience the piece and have a performance like this....We've been so fortunate to have Kim here as a Guest Artist to lend her expertise and thoughts to make the performance a truly special one.

    Justin Mertz, University of Northern Iowa

  • Big thanks to Kim Osberg for being that kind of collaborator who embraces the whimsy,

    Dr. Elizabeth Robinson, Topeka Symphony Orchestra

  • “Just Another Climb" is inspiring and joyous...it was incredibly special to get to play your beautiful piece here - it almost seems like it was born here, since it was so inspired by the story. I know the audience loved it, and loved being part of the first live performance.

    Elisabeth Remy Johnson, The Merian Ensemble (from Grand Teton Music Festival performance)

  • So thankful to Kim Osberg for her hard work and creativity in really personalizing this piece for the New Jersey Youth Symphony flute ensembles! It was a really fun project to embark on with the kids...such a cool idea and story.

    Natasha Loomis, New Jersey Youth Symphony Flute Ensembles

  • Kimberly is passionate about her craft and strives to offer high quality and engaging pieces for students to perform. At the beginning of the commission process, Kimberly surveyed students for their interests, musical preferences, and ideas as a starting point of inspiration for the piece. Students provided a wide variety of answers, and I was amazed at how Kimberly took all the responses and came up with a topic that wove all student ideas together. This immediately captured the students’ interests and allowed them to make connections to the piece. Kimberly knew exactly what kids would find interesting and even created sections for students to improvise and add their own ideas. Most impressively, Kimberly’s piece made interdisciplinary connections to other subject areas...Students have been highly engaged during our commission project and are deeply interested in the piece.

    Kristen Flak, Glacier Creek Middle School

  • Osberg’s enormous creative energy positively electrifies everyone.

    Dr. David Koté, University of Indiana School of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance

Full Press & Interview Log

Living in Portland (2020 - Present)

How to evoke those kinds of imagery through sound: a conversation with composer Kimberly R. Osberg | Oregon ArtsWatch

MusicWatch Monthly: The eternal hourglass of existence, from Abronia to New Wave Opera to Takács Quartet | Oregon ArtsWatch

Beautiful and Invincible: Fear No Music puts Oregon composers front and center in outstanding concert | Oregon ArtsWatch

Funny and Less Serious: New Wave Opera at Raven’s Manor | Oregon ArtsWatch

A Soprano, a Mezzo, and a Composer Join Forces to Start New Wave Opera | Willamette Week

The Merian Ensemble delivers musical magic with all-women composers in “The Book of Spells” | Ear Relevant

Sonic explorations: Fear No Music’s Locally Sourced Sounds IX presented music by Portland-based women composers | Oregon ArtsWatch

‘Portland Protests’ Delivers Works with Purpose | Resonance Ensemble

Review: Aviary | The Flutist Quarterly, via Aerocade Music

Interview: Kim Osberg | Music Crush Podcast, with Flute New Music Consortium

‘Danny Boy,’ or ‘Londonderry Air’ with Kimberly Osberg | Melodology Podcast, with Arthur Breur

Clarinet trio shines in opening concert at Dallas’ Basically Beethoven Festival | Dallas Morning News

‘Commissions from Quarantine’: How composer Kimberly Osberg is treating her cabin fever | Dallas Morning News

Living in Dallas (2017-2020)

Review: Chamber Symphony and Conductor Richard McKay Scored Three Big Wins (excerpts) | Theater Jones

Bruce Wood Dance Presents an Evening Dance at Dallas Contemporary, Includes New Work by Rising Star | Bruce Wood Dance Press Release

What's the secret to being a great composer? Have your mom read you really scary stories | Dallas Morning News

Dallas Chamber Symphony Ushers in Spring With a Legendary Piece and an Emerging Composer | Paper City Magazine

​A Summer at Aspen (2017)

Aspen Music Fest: Women Composers Still Lack Opportunity | The Aspen Times

​Curated | Aspen Public Radio, All Things Considered

Living in Indiana (2014-2016)

Interview with Kimberly Osberg | Mixtape Preservation Society (36'20" - 43'05")

New play explores the struggle of being a modern day human beins... | Indiana Daily Student

Reflections from the Mirror of Macbeth  | George Walker, WFIU Public Radio

Music student uses eclectic style to compose, collaborate... | Indiana Daily Student

IU Theatre’s ‘Macbeth’ to open Friday | Indiana Daily Student

IU Students Bring Macbeth Back to Life | Herald Times, via 7th & Jordan

​A Composer Imagines 'The Scottish Play' | George Walker, WFIU Public Radio

New Voices Opera: Mystery and Macabre | George Walker, WFIU Public Radio

​IU students' operas form double bill... | Herald Times via New Voices Opera

Double Bill Announced | New Voices Opera 

Hammer and Nail | Indiana Daily Student

​Hammer and Nail | Indiana University Jacobs School of Music News

Living in Iowa (2010-2014)

Kimberly Osberg: Versatile composer | Luther Magazine

Music in the Shape of a Pear to Showcase Living Composers | Luther Magazine

Living in Wisconsin (2010 and earlier)

Keeping Up with Kim | Volume One Magazine
Swan Song | Volume One Magazine
Nineteen year old Eau Clairian composer to have commissioned work performed in New York City | Volume One Magazine