Born in 1958 in Omdurman, died in 2017 in Cairo. Sudanese  composer, later resident in Egypt, of mostly orchestral, chamber and vocal works that have been performed in Europe and  the Middle East.

Osman began as a rock musician in 1971 and taught himself  drum kit and guitar. He studied double bass with Rodney Slatford at the Conservatoire of the Academy of Arts in Cairo from  1978–82, where he earned his diploma and where he also studied composition with Gamal Abdel-Rahim from 1979–86 and  earned his BMus in composition and music theory with distinction and his MMus in arts. He then pursued postgraduate studies  in analysis, counterpoint and music history with Awatif AbdelKarim there from 1986–90 and earned his MMus. He later earned  his PhD at the Conservatoire of the Academy of Arts in Cairo  in 2009.

His honours included the 3rd Prize in the Abu Bakr Khairat  Competition of the Ministry of Culture in Cairo (1995, for Song  for Chamber Orchestra) and a scholarship from Pro Helvetia  (2000). His music has been performed in Austria, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK.

He served as assistant conductor of the Light and Hope Orchestra  in Cairo from 2001 to 2017. As a researcher, his specialty was  music from Sudan. As a writer, he contributed numerous articles  to publications in Egypt and co-wrote with Samha El-Kholy and  other scholars the series of books Egyptian Contemporary Music  (2000–03, Ministry of Culture, Cairo). He lectured on analysis,  composition, counterpoint, and harmony at the Conservatory of  the Academy of Arts in Cairo from 1990–2017 and at the Higher  Institute of Arabic Music of the Academy of Arts in Cairo from  1999–2017. He lived in Egypt from 1978–2017.

Selected works: Argument for piccolo, tuba, snare drum with  optional suspended cymbal (1983), Aria for clarinet and piano  (1983), Aria for trumpet and piano (1983), Five Little Pieces for clarinet and piano (1983), Invention for clarinet and piano (1983),  Mawal Masri – Egyptian Mawwal (vocal improvisations) for clarinet and piano (1983), String Quartet (1983), Suite for double  bass (1983), Question no. 1 for piano (1983), Fugue for oboe and  piano (1984), Fugue for flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon (1984),  Quintet for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon (1984), Sonata for violin and piano (1984), Vocalise for soprano and piano  (1984), A Day in the Life of a Shepherd in the Sudan, tone poem  (1986), Four Little Pieces for piano (1987), Two Two-Part Inventions for violin and cello (1987), Two Three-Part Inventions for  violin, viola and cello (1987), Dance for symphonic band (1992),  Fantasy for symphonic band (1993), Shepherd Song for violin and  string orchestra (1993), Song for Chamber Orchestra (1993),  Shepherd Song for oboe and piano (1993), From the South for  flute, marimba and string orchestra (1994), Rhapsody for flute,  oboe, violin and string orchestra (1994), Shadows for flute, piano  / celesta and string orchestra (1994), A Trip on the Nile from South  to North, tone poem (1994), From the South for flute and piano  (1994), Rhapsody for violin and piano (1994), Do not depart for  flute, oboe, clarinet and string orchestra (1995), Images from Gaza  for flute, oboe, clarinet and string orchestra (1995), Do not depart  for soprano and piano (1995), Images from Gaza for soprano and  piano (1995), Question no. 2 for piano (1995), Symphonic Dance  for symphonic band (1996), Dance for small orchestra (1999),  Rhythmic Waves for flute, clarinet, piano, four percussion and  string orchestra (1999), Sad Vibrations, vocalise for soprano,  oboe, harp, two percussion and string orchestra (1999), An Hour  in Boswil for flute, oboe, two percussion and string orchestra  (2000), Duo for flute, oboe and riq (2000), Trio for clarinet, cello  and piano (2000), El-Maqamas el-Masri – Egyptian Maqam for  piano (2000), El-Maqamas el-Masri for harpsichord (2000),  La-yaly, improvisational text for soprano, three clarinets, bass  clarinet, oud, and tablā / riq (2001), Three Songs for flute, oboe,  clarinet and string orchestra (2002), Dance of the Elephants for  eight double basses (2002), Atmospheres, vocalise for soprano,  four recorders, tablā and riq (2002), Three Songs for soprano and  piano (2002), My Bohemian Existence for baritone, tuba, guitar,  electric guitar and percussion (2003), Sufi Hymns, vocalise for  alto, clarinet, viola and piano (2003), Afro-Arab Blues for piano  (2008).