About
Mark Oppenneer is a singer/songwriter from Saratoga Springs, New York. For over 35 years, he has performed soulful piano and vocal music with searching, honest lyrics. His songs are confessional, comfortable like a cardigan, and instantly familiar. Mixing elements of contemporary folk, gospel, and blues, Mark’s style honors influences such as Elton John, Marc Cohn, and George Winston.
Mark frequently plays Caffe Lena’s open mic nights and gallery openings at Saratoga Arts in downtown Saratoga Springs and other venues. He has promised his wife he won’t become a touring musician again. He really wants to keep his promises. Especially to his wife. But dang, it can be really hard.
He is a maker of things: music of course, but also bread, stories and poems, stained glass windows, etc.
He has several very useful degrees such as an MS in Communication & Rhetoric from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, an MA focusing on Mythology & Oral Traditions from Empire State College, and a BA in English Education from the University at Albany.
His illustrious resume includes (in no particular order): ditch digger, camp counselor, house painter, conference keynote speaker, children’s performer, security guard, web developer, professional musician, Army Infantry veteran, festival organizer, pizza chef, graphic designer, mail room worker, English teacher, summer camp program director, cookbook editor, radio show host, National Guardsman, high school dropout, assistant cobbler, non-profit board member, storyteller, dishwasher, entertainment manager, bread baking instructor, researcher, and university IT director. He has yet to become a bee keeper. Please get on him about that. He is somewhat of a slacker.