KIM D. SHERMAN composes for the theater, opera, the concert stage, and film. Her music has been described as “rhapsodic and lush” as well as “craggy and leap-about.”  She embraces lyricism and dissonance as equal partners in conveying dramatic musical landscapes. 

Recent premieres and publications include: UNFATHOMABLE THINGS, a book of piano solos performed and recorded by Donna Weng Friedman and Kimberly Grigsby. UMBRELLA, (lyric by Stacey Luftig) for soprano and piano, recorded by Kate Baldwin and Georgia Stitt. A PRAIRY DIARY (texts by Darrah Cloud and Willa Cather) a song cycle for soprano, piano and cello, recorded by the ARK trio and released on the Navona label. THE CLARA CYCLE (text by Royce Flippin) for soprano, violin and piano, premiered by Allison Charney, Kelly Hall-Tompkins and Donna Weng Friedman.

Selected chamber and choral works include SUMMER, 1976, (text by Daniel Neer) a song cycle for lyric baritone and string quartet, premiered at The Opera Center in New York City in 2016.  THE SONGBIRD AND THE EAGLE, (libretto by Rick Davis) for soprano, strings, piano, flute and percussion, premiered by San José Chamber Orchestra and soprano Allison Charney. GRAVESIDE, (text by Eric Ehn) her a cappella choral work, recorded by Musica Sacra and performed throughout the US and Europe.

Her music-theater works include LOVE’S COMEDY (a chamber opera based on the play by Henrik Ibsen with libretto by Rick Davis,) and several musicals, among them: HEARTLAND (book and lyrics by Darrah Cloud) O PIONEERS! (book and lyrics by Darrah Cloud) HONOR SONG FOR CRAZY HORSE (book and lyrics by Darrah Cloud) and THE TWO ORPHANS (book by Theresa Rebeck and lyrics by Theresa Rebeck and John Sheehy) 

On Broadway, she wrote incidental music for Paul Rudnick’s hilarious play I HATE HAMLET. She has written incidental music for many plays in regional theaters throughout the United States.

Currently under construction are two operatic works: ADA, the spectacular story of computer pioneer Ada Lovelace, and BLUESTEM, based on two stories by Willa Cather. Also in development is MY DEAR SUSY CLEMENS, a musical theatre work based upon a letter written by Samuel Clemens to his daughter Susy.

From 2016-2023, she was the composer in residence with Still Waters In A Storm, working with Stephen Haff (Founder of Still Waters) and a group of immigrant children in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Together, they adapted Don Quixote into The Traveling Serialized Adventures of Kid Quixote, a play with songs.  

Ms. Sherman studied piano and composition at Lawrence University, and composition and orchestration with composer Thea Musgrave. Her career started in Minneapolis, where she was awarded two Kudos Awards for her work in the theatre. She has enjoyed residencies at The MacDowell Colony and The Banff Centre. A New Yorker since 1983, she is a regular volunteer composer and mentor for The 52nd Street Project.