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music/Maker with Tyler Kline
Ep. 025 - Independent Pathways in Music with Chris Opperman
On today's episode of music/Maker with Tyler Kline, Tyler is joined by Chris Opperman.
Dr. Chris Opperman wields a special array of expertise. He is a composer of wildly original music, a top orchestrator and arranger, a dedicated and visionary educator, and a trusted advisor for an incredible cross-section of the music industry.
Since starting his Purple Cow Records label in 1998, Dr. Opperman has released seven albums including 2023’s Still Waters, a solo piano album celebrating Winter, and 2010’s The Lionheart, an orchestral rock album. He has also released three EP’s including 2022’s Four Improvisations which feature studio-manipulated piano works, and two singles including “And If You Know” featuring Robert Martin.
Chris holds a Ph. D. In Music Composition and has taught undergraduate and graduate level courses on music theory and composition, popular and classical music history, music technology, and the music industry.
Chris is a fascinating musician who basically has one foot in the commercial music industry, and one foot in the contemporary concert world. In this conversation, he discusses the influence of Frank Zappa on his music, and his life. He and Tyler also talk about the variety of music that Chris makes and why that’s important to his creative ethos… and how he’s been able to forge his unique path throughout his career.
Learn more about Chris and listen to his music on his website: https://www.chrisopperman.net/.
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7. Ep. 035 - Introspection, Text, and Symbolism in Composition with Caterina Schembri
01:30:00||Season 2, Ep. 7On today’s episode of music/Maker with Tyler Kline, Tyler is joined by Italian-Colombian composer and producer Caterina Schembri.Caterina is based in Dublin, Ireland, where her music traverses harmonic exploration, literary inspiration, multidisciplinary intersections, and symbolic meaning. She recently released her debut album Sea Salt & Turpentine on Ergodos, and her works have been performed by ensembles such as Ficino Ensemble, Chamber Choir Ireland, Lumiere Quartet, and Spilliaert Trio.In this conversation, Caterina reflects on her path into composing, beginning music later in life, and navigating both academic and commercial pressures to find her personal voice. She and Tyler discuss how literature and text-writing have become central to her practice, how symbolism informs her musical decisions, and how introspection, identity, and creative discipline fuel her artistic life.Caterina and her music can be found online at https://www.caterinaschembri.com/....music/Maker episodes release every other Thursday!Listen and subscribe wherever you get podcasts, or at musicmakerpodcast.com.Subscribe to the Loose Leaf Transmissions newsletter for new episodes, behind-the-scenes updates, and ways to support the work:looseleaftransmissions.beehiiv.com/subscribeSupport us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/LooseLeafTransmissions.Follow along on Instagram @loose.leaf.transmissions.music/Maker is a production of Loose Leaf Transmissions: Made for All Ears.6. Ep. 034 - Letting the Story Lead the Music with Nicolás Lell Benavides
02:13:09||Season 2, Ep. 6On today’s episode of music/Maker with Tyler Kline, Tyler is joined by composer Nicolás Lell Benavides.Nicolás is a 2024–25 Guggenheim Fellow whose music has been commissioned by the LA Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Eighth Blackbird, West Edge Opera, and many more. His work spans opera, orchestral, and chamber music, often drawing on cultural history, folk storytelling, and regional memory. Upcoming projects include Dolores, an opera about civil rights icon Dolores Huerta premiering in 2025, as well as new commissions for Eighth Blackbird, the LA Phil, and an album with Friction Quartet and mezzo-soprano Melinda Martinez Becker.In this conversation, Nicolás reflects on why his music is rooted in curiosity and dialogue rather than autobiography. He shares stories of writing about cottonwoods and irrigation, sage grouse and New Mexican Catholic folk figures — and how that exploration connects to his own family and heritage. He also speaks candidly about the opera process, the challenge of revision, and how working with brilliant collaborators has helped him embrace humility, growth, and a sense of purpose in the work.Find out more about Nicolás and his work at https://nicolasbenavides.com/music/Maker episodes release every other Thursday!Listen and subscribe wherever you get podcasts, or at musicmakerpodcast.com.Subscribe to the Loose Leaf Transmissions newsletter for new episodes, behind-the-scenes updates, and ways to support the work:looseleaftransmissions.beehiiv.com/subscribeSupport us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/LooseLeafTransmissions.Follow along on Instagram @loose.leaf.transmissions.music/Maker is a production of Loose Leaf Transmissions: Made for All Ears.5. Ep. 033 - Embracing Humor and Mystery in Music with Graeme Shields
01:55:05||Season 2, Ep. 5On today’s episode of music/Maker with Tyler Kline, Tyler is joined by Canadian-American composer and organist Graeme Shields.Graeme’s work blends elements of the Lutheran music tradition, the avant-garde, and old-world folk influences, often infusing humor, repetition, and audible process into his music. He is also the co-founder of the Vital Organ Project, a nonprofit promoting new music for the organ and providing interactive educational opportunities for audiences.In this conversation, Graeme reflects on how his creative voice has evolved, how his work as a church musician has shaped his priorities as a composer, and how community and humor have become throughlines in his artistic practice. He and Tyler also dive into the world of organ improvisation, the ways old music continues to inform new work, and why eccentricity can open doors for audiences.music/Maker episodes release every other Thursday!Listen and subscribe wherever you get podcasts, or at musicmakerpodcast.com.Subscribe to the Loose Leaf Transmissions newsletter for new episodes, behind-the-scenes updates, and ways to support the work:looseleaftransmissions.beehiiv.com/subscribeSupport us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/LooseLeafTransmissions.Follow along on Instagram @loose.leaf.transmissions.music/Maker is a production of Loose Leaf Transmissions: Made for All Ears.4. Ep. 032 - Building Confidence through Creative Growth in Composition with Yue Song
01:13:29||Season 2, Ep. 4On today’s episode of music/Maker with Tyler Kline, Tyler is joined by composer and pianist Yue Song.Yue Song is a Chinese composer and pianist based in Dublin, Ireland. Her music spans opera, orchestra, chamber, choral, and electronic works, and has been performed internationally by ensembles such as Crash Ensemble, ConTempo Quartet, Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland.In this conversation, Yue reflects on her creative path from studying composition in China to finding her artistic voice in Ireland. She and Tyler discuss how nature, emotional honesty, and experimentation shape her music; how she balances theory and intuition; and how collaborative projects — including her growing body of opera work — continue to expand her practice.Learn more about Yue and listen to her music at yuesongusic.com./////music/Maker episodes release every other Thursday!Listen and subscribe wherever you get podcasts, or at musicmakerpodcast.com.Subscribe to the Loose Leaf Transmissions newsletter for new episodes, behind-the-scenes updates, and ways to support the work:looseleaftransmissions.beehiiv.com/subscribeSupport us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/LooseLeafTransmissions.Follow along on Instagram @loose.leaf.transmissions.music/Maker is a production of Loose Leaf Transmissions: Made for All Ears.3. Ep. 031 - Archiving Life through Experimental Film with C. Jacqueline Wood
02:11:00||Season 2, Ep. 3On this edition of music/Maker with Tyler Kline, Tyler is joined by C. Jacqueline Wood. Filmmaker and visual artist C. Jacqueline Wood creates intimate, deeply personal work across moving image, installation, and documentary forms. Her work has screened nationally, including at the Athens International Film and Video Festival, and she was the founder of The Mini Microcinema — a non-profit space dedicated to showcasing independent and experimental film.In this episode, Jacqueline reflects on the emotional honesty at the core of her creative process. She and host Tyler Kline discuss the role of light and duration in her work, and how her latest film became a meditation on unfinished projects, infertility, and creative loss. She reflects on navigating the tension between analog and digital media, processing personal experience through film, and embracing artistic freedom outside traditional systems.Jacqueline's work can be viewed online at https://www.projectplane.com/Listen to music/Maker with Tyler Kline wherever you get podcasts, or at musicmakerpodcast.com.Subscribe to the newsletter for weekly episode details and more, at https://looseleaftransmissions.beehiiv.com/subscribeSupport Loose Leaf Transmissions on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/LooseLeafTransmissions. Follow us on social media @LooseLeafTransmissions.music/Maker with Tyler Kline is a production of Loose Leaf Transmissions: Made for All Ears.2. Ep. 030 - How Fun Can Fuel a Composing Career with Marc Mellits
01:58:45||Season 2, Ep. 2On this edition of music/Maker with Tyler Kline: Composer Marc Mellits is one of the most frequently performed living American composers, known for his rhythmically vibrant, vividly orchestrated, and viscerally engaging music. His works have been commissioned by Kronos Quartet, Bang on a Can All-Stars, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and many more, and are performed around the world.In this episode, Marc traces his creative path from improvising at the piano as a kid to becoming a leading voice in contemporary music. He and host Tyler Kline discuss the value of beautifully engraved scores, why writing music that’s fun to play has fueled his success, and how his connection to Romania has shaped both his personal and artistic life.For more on all things Marc, visit marcmellits.com....music/Maker episodes release every other Thursday!Listen and subscribe wherever you get podcasts, or at musicmakerpodcast.com.Subscribe to the Loose Leaf Transmissions newsletter for new episodes, behind-the-scenes updates, and ways to support the work:looseleaftransmissions.beehiiv.com/subscribeSupport us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/LooseLeafTransmissions.Follow along on social media @Loose.Leaf.Transmissions.music/Maker is a production of Loose Leaf Transmissions: Made for All Ears.1. Ep. 029 - How I’ve Found My Way as a Composer (So Far)
01:38:53||Season 2, Ep. 1Season 2 of music/Maker with Tyler Kline kicks off with another solo episode, where Tyler reflects on his own creative practice and artistic journey.This time, he turns the tables on himself and answers the same questions he usually asks his guests: What is your first artistic memory? What are the pillars of your creative practice? What artistic artifacts changed your creative world? Tyler explores these questions and more in a candid, personal conversation to open the new season.Tyler can be found online at tylerklinemusic.com....music/Maker with Tyler Kline on the web: https://www.looseleaftransmissions.com/musicmakerFollow us on social media!FB: https://www.facebook.com/loose.leaf.transmissions/IG: https://www.instagram.com/loose.leaf.transmissions/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBWbwqDqI2iAqnPwHh3p0ZgSupport music/Maker and Loose Leaf Transmissions at https://patreon.com/LooseLeafTransmissionsSign up for our newsletter: https://looseleaftransmissions.beehiiv.com/subscribeTrailer: music/Maker Season 2
02:38||Season 2, Ep. 0music/Maker is back for Season 2 — a podcast featuring longform, unfiltered conversations with composers and other artists about how they think, how they work, and how they live. Hosted by composer Tyler Kline, the show dives into the heart of creative practice, exploring craft and process, philosophy and inspiration, and the honest, often messy parts of being an artist — from uncertainty and doubt to purpose and persistence. New voices, new stories, and a deeper look into the creative life. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.New episodes debut Thursday, May 15, 2025 – and release every other Thursday.music/Maker is online at musicmakerpodcast.com.music/Maker with Tyler Kline is a production of Loose Leaf Transmissions: Made for All Ears. Online at www.looseleaftransmissions.com.Support Loose Leaf Transmissions! Visit https://www.patreon.com/LooseLeafTransmissions to find out how.28. Ep. 028 - Craft and Artistry in Film Scoring with Austin Hammonds (Part 2)
01:17:23||Season 1, Ep. 28On today's episode of music/Maker with Tyler Kline, Tyler continues his conversation with film composer Austin Hammonds.In Part 2 of this conversation, Austin shares his thoughts on craft versus artistry and discusses the role of the Jurassic Park film score along his artistic journey.Listen to Part 1 here.Find out more about Austin on his website, https://www.austinhammonds.com/....music/Maker with Tyler Kline on the web: https://www.looseleaftransmissions.com/musicmakerFollow us on social media!FB: https://www.facebook.com/loose.leaf.transmissions/IG: https://www.instagram.com/loose.leaf.transmissions/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBWbwqDqI2iAqnPwHh3p0ZgSupport music/Maker and Loose Leaf Transmissions at https://patreon.com/LooseLeafTransmissionsSign up for our newsletter: https://looseleaftransmissions.beehiiv.com/subscribe