Kalmen Opperman was an American clarinetist. He was a noted performer, teacher, conductor, mouthpiece

Mouthpiece (woodwind)

The mouthpiece of a woodwind instrument is that part of the instrument which is placed partly in the player's mouth. Single-reed instruments, capped double-reed instruments, and fipple flutes have mouthpieces while exposed double-reed instruments and open flutes do not.-Single-reed instruments:On...

 and barrel maker (which he made only for his students), composer, and writer of numerous clarinet studies.

A noted pedagogue, many of his students are currently working as soloists, recording artists, orchestral players and university teachers around the world.

For many years he was a performer in Broadway

Broadway theatre

Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...

 shows during what many call Broadway's "Golden Age".

He wrote over 10 highly acclaimed study books for the clarinet including his multi-volume Daily Studies and Velocity Studies.

He studied with noted clarinetists Ralph McLane

Ralph McLane

Ralph McLane was an American clarinetist.He was born in Lynn, Massachusetts.McLane is best known for his tenure as principal clarinetist of the Philadelphia Orchestra from 1943 until his death in 1951...

 and Simeon Bellison

Simeon Bellison

Simeon Bellison , born in Moscow, he was naturalised American after settling in the US in 1921.An early clarinet choir in the United States was established in 1927 by Simeon Bellison, then first clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic; from an initial eight members, the group's size grew by 1948...

 of the Philadelphia Orchestra

Philadelphia Orchestra

The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...

 and New York Philharmonic

New York Philharmonic

The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...

.

Most notably a private clarinet teacher in his studio in New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

, he has taught at such schools as Boston University

Boston University

Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...

, Hartt School of Music, and Indiana University

Indiana University

Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...

.

He also lead the Kalmen Opperman Clarinet Choir

Clarinet choir

A clarinet choir is an instrumental ensemble consisting entirely of instruments from the clarinet family. Typically it will include E♭, B♭, alto, bass, and contra-alto or contrabass clarinets, although some pieces are scored for a smaller set of instruments....

.

His handmade mouthpieces and barrels are highly sought after items for professional clarinetists for their quality workmanship and sound.