Smart, transcendent, and immersive, Kirsten Volness’ emotive soundscapes integrate electronics and modern composition techniques with jazz and pop influences. “Irresistible” (San Francisco Chronicle) and “nothing short of gorgeous.” (New York Arts), each of her compositions reveals “an exquisite sound world” (New Classic LA) inspired by nature, myth, spirituality, and environmental and sociopolitical issues. She received commissions from New Music USA, ASCAP/SEAMUS, BMI Foundation, Metropolis Ensemble, The American Opera Project, Third Angle New Music, Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble, as well as MacColl Johnson and RISCA Fellowships. She is 2027 OMTA Composer of the Year, writing a new work for pianist Kathleen Supové. Kirsten was 2025–26 Composer in Residence at All Classical Radio, where she audio engineers Thursdays at Three, a weekly live performance broadcast. She was also Composer in Residence at the 2024 Women Composers Festival of Hartford and the Music Mansion (2017). She co-directs and performs with new music collective Verdant Vibes and housing advocacy group Tenderloin Opera Company (Providence, RI). Kirsten holds composition degrees from the Universities of Michigan and Minnesota and has taught at Portland State University, Lewis & Clark, Reed College, the University of Rhode Island, Interlochen Arts Camp, Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Young Composers Project, and Boston Conservatory/Berklee's High School Composition Intensive.