Kalmen Opperman
Master Clarinetist & Teacher
In Memoriam
PAGE ONE
In no particular order
Notes, emails, messages to Louise,
whatever is on your mind
Chloe & Alan Kramer
Chloe & I are quite saddened by the loss of Kal.He was a great fighter, but unfortunately, we only get so many rounds.Louise, if there is anything we can do to soothe the pain, please let us knowOlando Tognozzi "Toggy"
I met Kal in 1949 during the Peter Pan Show in Cincinnati, OH. His playing was incredible, we talked after the show and said I had heard Ralph Mcclain with the Philly Orchestra and would love to study with him. He told me Mcclain was gone but he would be happy to share the Mcclain legacy with me if I came to New York. I did that a year later and spent 58 years of lessons, phone calls and letters. Kal was completely devoted to his students both in the studio and in the hard world of getting work. I have lost a not only a mentor but as good a friend one can possibly encounter in a very difficult business. I will share his legacy and keep trying to reach his very high standard.Al Regni
My sincere and deep sympathy to Louise and to the family of Kal Opperman.
The clarinet family as well as the entire music community mourns the death of this legendary artist.
I had the honor and priviledge to have worked with him on many occasions over the period of some 30 years.
My experiences with Kal were always on the highest musical level and he managed to keep an air of relaxation always interjected with a playful sense of humour.
Kal was the consumate artist, constantly willing to share his immense knowledge while forever remaining a true mensch.
I will never forget Kal's proud twirl of a mouthpiece or barrel from his hands to his masterful eyes. We will all miss the magic of his musicianship and workmanship.Salvatore & Joseph Lettiero
When a person leaves us, it is no longer here and we can not touch, or hear his voice ... it seems gone forever. But a sincere love will never die. The memory of people who were dear to live forever in our hearts, stronger than any embrace more important than words.Ken Shaw and Mary Vinquist
Mary and I send our deepest condolences on Kal's passing. He was a
giant player, teacher and personality, who lives on in his students
and friends. He had a unique ability to speak central truths about
music and clarinet playing, and I will always carry them in my head
and heart.Nancy Blum
I was 18 when I began studying with Kalmen. At first, I was scared to death of him. Our lessons were intense but he had wonderful, encouraging things to say about my playing. It was only later that I realized how much pride I should have had having received such comments from him. I think of him each day as I use his studies and pass on his fundamentals of teaching to my own students - along with amusing stories from my years with him.Dr Paul Sheldon
Kal was a first class gentleman with a heart of gold. He was instrumental to me in my career as one of his subs and as a friend. With all my degrees and professional experiences I learned more from a handful of lessons with Kal, and from just spending time together, than from my 8 years at Juilliard or my doctoral studies. He will be missed by all of us and by the profession itself.Kathleen Crotty
There's not a day that goes by that
Kal's methods are not on my music
stand and practiced. And on those
other days, I can still hear Kal say
"Why aren't you practicing!".... Kal
helped me find my "voice" on my
clarinet and gave me so much that
I practice and pass on to my students
daily. Rest Kal and know that I'll
miss you.Dennis Anderson
I did not know Kal that well but he was indeed an inspiration to many young woodwind players
Many of my clarinet colleagues studied with him for many years---they still
sing his praises. My sincere condolences to the Opperman family.May Kal Rest In Eternal Peace.
Adam Alter
I am sorry to hear about Kal. We played together in the Goldman Band in the early 90's and although I did not know him very well he was always very helpful, knowledgeable and fun to talk to. He was a legend and will be sorely missed.Harold Emert, Rio De Janeiro
Goodbye Kal Opperman and yes - before I forget - thanks for everything!
You came across as a tough as nails guy but as I grew older and tried to get wiser, I discovered that underneath that tough veneer and language, you were really a softie with a good heart. You wanted those who surrounded you to know how things were in the tough musical world and not how they would like it to be!
You wanted to wake us out of our dream world, vanities and ego massages to see and hear the real truth in a real and artistic world full of phonies and phoniness.
When I lived and studied on an island called Manhattan - my birthplace - you resided a few blocks away. But experts, they say, always come from out of town.
As I continued to reside abroad, I began to hear only praises in various parts of the world for you as a teacher, craftsman, and most recently author of Clarinet methods, all the results of hard work, dreams, and unfailing energy.
Hopefully those who will meet up with you in another world will also discover that the tough soul they are encountering is the real article...rather many of the usually false entities we know on earth.
Amen!Amanda Hetric
I am so sorry to hear this. Please give my condolences to his family.Mitchell Estrin
Kal Opperman was a one-of-a-kind artist, teacher and human being. Growing up, I heard many wonderful stories about Kal, as my late father, Harvey Estrin, had the pleasure of sitting next to Kal in the pit for several Broadway shows. I marveled at the stories about ???Oppy??? (as my father affectionately referred to him), including how he could craft a perfect clarinet reed in 3 minutes from a blank using only a reed knife. I also heard about Kal???s rich tone and amazing facility on the clarinet. Kal crafted a magnificent bass clarinet mouthpiece for my father which, to this day, is the finest bass clarinet mouthpiece I have ever played. Early in my career, I was extremely fortunate to have studied reed making with Kal. He was a very generous and gracious person, as well as a remarkable teacher. His great legacy will live on through his family and his many distinguished pupils, and his pedagogical method books will be used as long as anyone plays the clarinet.
Rest in peace, Kal.Diane Barger, Professor of Clarinet, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Dear Friends, Family and Students of Mr. Opperman,While I never had the pleasure of working with Kalmen Opperman or even meeting him, I still consider him to be an influence on my musical career, and I was so saddened by the news of his passing. I have very close friends who had the pleasure of working with Mr. Opperman as students, and I always enjoyed their stories of their intense lessons and of the man whom they so admired. His legacy lives on in the lives of his students and in the lives of those who take the opportunity to learn from him through his numerous method books and past articles in The Clarinet. You shall be missed, Mr. Opperman, by so very many whose lives you have influenced in one way or another.Eva Wasserman-Margolis
Please send them my condolences. I never met his family. I would come but I am living in Israel! Kal always told me stories about how he loved this country and how he donated to the Israeli Army. He will truly be missed as a clarinetist , legendary pedagogue and supporter of Israel.John J Moses
Karen Bailey
I was returning from my first lesson during the winter months and ran into a bad snow storm. Kal called my father to see if i had arrived home ok, but my dad explained to Kal that i would probably be delayed a few more hours as upstate snow is a bit more. I left for the clarinet lesson at 4:30 am and arrived at 5 am the next day.
A few hours later, I received a call from Kal asking me if the dog sled ride was OK and proceeded to walked me though a practice session which I never forgot. As I struggled to get to the phone I can clearly remember the fatigue quickly passing as he started to speak...and I found myself ready to endure such a journey with such an artist. I knew right there and then that I had found the very best in the art of clarinet and a wonderful person. The team of Kal and Louise Opperman are simply the best.
Thank you Louise for all you have done and my prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Peace and Music.Mary Jewell
Hi Louise:I am sorry that I did not get to speak with you yesterday at the funeral service. Hope to speak with you sometime soon. Call me anytime.Love, Mary- Jim AlberinoListening to the new WQXR this morning and they playeda piece from Bizet's Carmen by Kalmen.Pure genius and stopped me with coffee cup inhand, which I badly needed, but just listened andwaited till Kalmen finished to take a sip.A master is gone.
Bryant Hayes
I am in North Yorkshire, England, but my heart is with you all in our collective loss.
Copyright 2010 Kalmen Opperman. All rights reserved.