# Chris Opperman

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**Chris Opperman** (born November 20, 1978[1]) is a [composer](/source/Composer). Opperman is known mostly for his work orchestrating the music of guitarists [Steve Vai](/source/Steve_Vai) and [Mike Keneally](/source/Mike_Keneally) for their respective performances with Holland's [Metropole Orkest](/source/Metropole_Orchestra). Opperman also performed on Steve Vai's first round of orchestral concerts and the song "Lotus Feet" was nominated for the [2006 Grammy Award](/source/48th_Grammy_Awards) for [Best Rock Instrumental Performance](/source/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Rock_Instrumental_Performance). "[The Attitude Song](/source/The_Attitude_Song)" from Vai's *[Sound Theories Vol. I & II](/source/Sound_Theories_Vol._I_%26_II)* album was nominated for the [2008 Grammy Award](/source/50th_Grammy_Awards) for [Best Rock Instrumental Performance](/source/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Rock_Instrumental_Performance).

Opperman has also worked with AWR Music Productions since 2011, a company organized by composer [Arnie Roth](/source/Arnie_Roth).

## Biography

Raised in [Clifton, New Jersey](/source/Clifton,_New_Jersey), Opperman graduated in 1996 from [Clifton High School](/source/Clifton_High_School_(New_Jersey)) where he participated in the school's marching band on the coronet.[2]

Opperman has several albums of his own music. His style is described as a cross between 1990s [alternative rock](/source/Alternative_rock) and his favorite 20th-century composers ([Schoenberg](/source/Arnold_Schoenberg), [Stravinsky](/source/Igor_Stravinsky), [Webern](/source/Anton_Webern), and [Zappa](/source/Frank_Zappa)). His main instrument is the [piano](/source/Piano). He has also been known to play the [trumpet](/source/Trumpet) and the [guitar](/source/Guitar) on at times, and will occasionally sing. Opperman lived in [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles), [California](/source/California), from 2000 to 2008, when he moved back to New Jersey, where he earned a master's degree in music theory/composition from [Montclair State University](/source/Montclair_State_University) in May 2010.[3] He earned his Ph.D. in Music Composition from the [Mason Gross School of the Arts](/source/Mason_Gross_School_of_the_Arts) at [Rutgers University](/source/Rutgers_University).

In 2019, Opperman ran a successful Kickstarter campaign for his sixth album *Chamber Music from Hell*. The album was produced by longtime bass player for [Dweezil Zappa](/source/Dweezil_Zappa), Kurt Morgan.[4] It is a contemporary classical concept album about a posthuman civilization and the music that follows. One of the pieces, "Are We Living in a Computer Simulation?" was inspired by the paper by philosopher [Nick Bostrom](/source/Nick_Bostrom) and was featured in Prog Magazine UK.[5]

In 2020, Opperman collaborated with composer/conductor Eric Roth and the Fifth House Ensemble on a tour and album of chamber music from the videogame *[Undertale](/source/Undertale)* by [Toby Fox](/source/Toby_Fox) called *Undertale LIVE*.[6]

## Discography

### Solo releases

1. *[Oppy Music, Vol. I: Purple, Crayon](/source/Oppy_Music,_Vol._I:_Purple,_Crayon)* (1998)
1. *Klavierstucke* (2001)
1. *Concepts of Non-linear Time* (2004)
1. *Beyond the Foggy Highway* (2005)
1. *The Lionheart* (2010)
1. *Aphrodite Nights* - Single (2011)
1. *Studio House* - EP (2013)
1. *And If You Know* - Single (2020)
1. *Chamber Music from Hell* (2020)[7]
1. *Four Improvisations* - EP (2022)
1. *Still Waters* (2023)

### With AWR Music Productions

1. *Undertale Live* (2020)
1. *Distant Worlds VI: More Music from FINAL FANTASY* (2023)
1. *A New World III: intimate music from FINAL FANTASY* (2024)
1. *Distant Worlds VII: More Music from FINAL FANTASY* (2025)

### With Steve Vai

1. *[Real Illusions: Reflections](/source/Real_Illusions:_Reflections)* (2005)
1. *[Sound Theories Vol. I & II](/source/Sound_Theories_Vol._I_%26_II)* (2007)
1. *Playlist: The Very Best of Steve Vai* (2009)
1. *Naked Tracks, Vol. 5* (2008)
1. *Naked Tracks, Vol. 6* (2013)

### With Mike Keneally

1. *Dancing* (2000)
1. *Dancing with Myself* (2000)
1. *The Universe Will Provide* (2004)
1. *Parallel Universe* (2004)
1. *Dog* (2004)
1. *Guitar Therapy Live* (2006)
1. *Wine and Pickles* (2008)
1. *You Must Be This Tall* (2013)
1. *Live at Lynagh's - Lexington, KY - May 18, 2001* (2024)
1. *Nonkertompf Live - Groningen, The Netherlands - October 19, 2001* (2024)

## Album Reviews

- [ Klavierstücke]
- [ Concepts of Non-Linear Time]
- [ Beyond the Foggy Highway]

## References

1. Westergaard, Sean [ Chris Opperman at AllMusic.com]

1. Gabriele, Michael. ["Oppie ambles on an eclectic musical trail"](https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/498891863/), *Clifton Journal*, August 1, 2014. Accessed May 24, 2021, via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com). "As a member of the Clifton Community Band, Chris Opperman was one of 80 musicians who squeezed on the stage at Main Memorial Park.... A member of the CHS Class of 1996, Opperman played coronet in the Mustang Marching Band, but his main instrument was piano."

1. Cowen, Richard. [Writer delivers 'can do' message to MSU's largest graduating class](https://web.archive.org/web/20100523055619/http://www.northjersey.com/news/education/052110_Writer_delivers_can_do_message_to_MSUs_largest_graduating_class.html). The Record, May 22, 2010.

1. ["Amazing strangely beautiful artistry Chris Opperman and Kurt Morgan - Chamber Music from Hell"](https://contemporaryfusionreviews.com/amazingly-strange-beautiful/). 9 August 2020.

1. ["The Greatest Prog Musician Ever unveiled in the new issue of Prog, on sale now"](https://www.loudersound.com/news/the-greatest-prog-musician-ever-unveiled-in-the-new-issue-of-prog-on-sale-now). 25 September 2020.

1. ["Review: Undertale Live Provides Fantastic Interactive Live Experience"](https://thirdcoastreview.com/2020/01/12/review-undertale-live/). 12 January 2020.

1. ["A Musical Life: Chris Opperman"](https://www.kmuw.org/post/musical-life-chris-opperman). 11 September 2020.

## External links

- [2011 interview with Chris Opperman part 1](https://www.finalemusic.com/blog/finale-spotlight-on-composerpianist-chris-opperman/), [part 2](https://www.finalemusic.com/blog/finale-spotlight-on-composerpianist-chris-opperman-part-2/)
- ["A Musical Life"](https://www.npr.org/podcasts/494211600/a-musical-life), 2020 interview with Chris Opperman by KMUW, an NPR affiliate

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chris Opperman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Opperman) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Opperman?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.