Chris Errera

PRESS RELEASE, august 2022

Pianist Chris Errera shines a bright light with an impressive career and uplifting message

Born with rare diastrophic dwarfism, Chris has overcome daunting challenges,
emerging as an inspiring performer and personality

Acclaimed Chicago-area pianist Chris Errera, born 48 years ago with the exceedingly rare diastrophic dwarfism, and who stands a little more than four feet tall, is preparing to hit the road this year with a new series of concert appearances, speaking engagements, and a collection of new recordings.

There are two central themes to Errera’s life. The first is that, despite his many challenges, he has been truly blessed and has been fortunate to have found the way to make his dreams come true. The second is that he is not unique: in life, everyone has unique talents to offer and challenges to overcome. Errera is committed to sharing his story and his music so people will be inspired to make their life’s journey a positive one.

Among his career highlights, Errera toured Australia for the 2000 Summer Olympics and in 2013 performed at the White House for President Obama. He has been an honored speaker at the Air Force Academy and has dined with generals and American heroes such as Chuck Yaeger.

For years, he has won the hearts of audiences with his deeply personal musical stylings and his very engaging, funny, and thought-provoking personality. Simply put, Chris is an evolved person. He pursues a broader mission when he performs—he clearly speaks of hope, courage, and determination. “After they enjoy the music, I want them to return to their lives and face their fears, surmount their challenges, keep dreaming big and then, reach heights that may have seemed impossible. I know, because I have been in that place, and I know that the dream can become real.”

There is no question that Errera has overwhelmingly beaten the odds. Before the age of eighteen he had already survived more than seventeen reconstructive surgeries. “I really shouldn’t have been able to become a professional pianist—my body is so not built for it,” he declares. “But I was born with a musical gift, and I was fortunate to have the encouragement of my family, friends, and some incredible teachers and mentors throughout my life.”

The journey has not always been easy for Errera. He vividly remembers the time in his life when he reached rock bottom. It happened when, at the age of thirty, he began experiencing weakness in his legs and learned that he suffered from a relatively common affliction for little people: Spinal Stenosis. It is a narrowness of spinal cord openings which leads to chronic back pain, muscle spasms, numbness and weakness in the legs often requiring the person to walk with crutches. He was hopeful that surgery would alleviate the condition, but he was diagnosed too late, and his surgery could not reverse the symptoms.

Learning that it was going to be a permanent condition, he went into a deep depression. He had always been an active person, but now he was faced with a truly debilitating future.

“I sat in my back yard, totally and utterly despondent,” said Errera. “I cursed God—why me? Hadn’t I suffered enough? As a little person, I had already endured so many misfortunes: 14 surgeries, two times in a body cast, a lack of insensitivity from strangers and always feeling a bit different.”

After several days of self-isolation, he had an epiphany. “I realized that it was up to me to accept what I couldn’t control, and to really pursue what I did have control over. God had given me an enormous musical gift and it was my responsibility to take my music as far as I could go with it.”

Defining Moment

Looking back on that period, he views it as the defining moment of his life—a turning point. “Everything that happened before that I view as the Chris 1.0 era,” he said. “After that, I became Chris 2.0. I became extremely focused. I realized that everything had happened to me for a reason. It was my calling not only to become as good of a musician and composer as I could be, but also to share my story with everyone. I want to let people know it is possible to transcend even the most difficult circumstances. My self-esteem rose dramatically, and as I began to achieve amazing things professionally, I became quite oblivious to the misunderstanding and insensitivity of people who cannot abide my dwarfism.”

One person who admittedly had a phobia of little people was comedian and talk show host Rosie O’Donnell. Errera was invited to perform on her TV show in 2014, in part because she wanted to deal with her phobia. “It was an incredible experience,” said Errera. “I believe I touched Rosie’s heart and the hearts of the audience with my music. They realized that I am another human being like everyone else—with feelings, intelligence, talents, and the desire to connect with other people.”

Errera has appeared on numerous TV shows, including the major TV stations in the Chicago area. He was one of twenty-one people out of 7,000 applicants who were invited to perform at the White House for President Obama in 2012. Earlier, he performed at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Perth, Australia in front of an audience of 39,000. One of his biggest honors was being invited to speak at the Air Force Academy’s National Character and Leadership Symposium in 2013, joining luminaries including Chuck Yaeger. He spoke to several groups during the symposium, and as the word about him spread, his audiences became larger and larger, topping off at more than 1,000 people.

“It was the honor of my life,” said Errera. “I said to them, ‘You're doing the job I physically cannot do. You're protecting the land I love, taking this job that I cannot do and doing it for me. I salute you. And that is why I'm here.’ Tears rolled down my face.”

Having a dedicated support network has been important to Errera. “My parents were always terrific—they treated me as a normal person, not a disabled one, and they were my biggest fans. My father knew from the very beginning that I would have a life in music, and he always encouraged me to pursue a musical career. When he was on his deathbed a few years ago, I promised him that I would continue to reach for the heights. My namesake is particularly important to me, and I want to leave a legacy in tribute to him. Memories are forgotten but legacies live forever.”

An Unexpected Musical Journey

Errera began playing the piano at age four, learning by Suzuki method, and took to it instantly. His teacher, the acclaimed American Suzuki method pioneer Julian Leviton, worked with him until he reached the age of sixteen. He then began his study of performance and composition with Grammy nominee and Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Ian Winstin. Errera considers Leviton and Winstin to be major influences in his music and in life—he deeply values the steady encouragement he received from them over the years.

He took his talent and creativity to a new level in college, where he earned music performance scholarships at Northern Illinois University, with its renowned jazz program, and then at DePaul University in music composition and production.

After college, Errera devoted the next few years performing in several bands, building his network of musical peers, and developing his compositional, arranging and production skills. When he was twenty-one, he had the opportunity to perform in Germany as a member of the Schaumburg Symphony Orchestra. Over the years, he has built a strong career and reputation in the music business, not only as a concert performer and composer but also as a sought-after arranger and producer, teacher, and motivational speaker.

In the Midwest, he has performed at the Prairie Center for the Arts, the Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards, the East Lansing Independent Film Festival, the Illinois Governor’s Awards Ball, the Milwaukee Partners in Philanthropy Awards, and at numerous other events.

An acclaimed documentary film about Errera debuted in 2011

Another key person in his career is his longtime friend and manager, David Slania. “I owe him a lot,” said Errera. “He taught me how to be a true professional in this industry—how to be a spokesman and ambassador for issues that are important to me—and the importance of being honest with people.”

Slania and Errera met in 2011 during the making of the acclaimed documentary feature film about Errera titled Composed. It is the story of Chris and his life. Led by director Charles Rivkin, a camera crew followed Errera around for ten months and from that footage the film was put together, including an original score composed by Errera.

The film debuted at the Sedona International Film Festival in 2011 and has been awarded [award names]. Errera attended all the film’s screenings at the festival, answered questions and performed after each one. He then was invited to perform at the film festival’s closing ceremony.

“When I sat in the audience at the film’s screenings I had not been introduced in advance, so I had the opportunity to watch the audience’s reaction to the film without them knowing I was there. As I observed them, I realized that my life is, in fact, interesting and my story resonates. They even laughed at my jokes. I knew then that I have a responsibility to share my story, because it may inspire others to overcome their challenges, whatever they are.”

“My music just relaxes you,” he said during an interview previewing the film. “It puts you in a different mind frame. It lets you realize everything is okay. Life is an adventure. It’s a long road. There are a lot of twists, there are some valleys, there are even some pitfalls and even some potholes. But you keep driving down that street. I tell people, ‘Don’t keep looking behind you because if you look behind you, you’re going to walk yourself into a wall.’ You’ve got to dodge obstacles in front of you…dodge, move, weave. If you keep looking behind you, you will be smacked right in the face.’”

“Yes, I have a disability,” he declares, stating the obvious. “To people with disabilities I say, ‘Don’t sell yourself short.’ Everybody should be given a chance—everyone has something positive to give to life for humanity. We all have something to bring to this table called ‘life.’”

Errera is emphatic that he doesn’t want to be judged—or pitied—based on what he looks like. “Don’t feel sorry for me—because I never feel sorry for myself. I’m here to help change how people with disabilities and other challenges are perceived. Everybody is given a talent. Sure, it is up to each of us to discover that talent one way or another. If you don’t want to find your talent, that’s okay—it’s your freedom of choice—but please don’t discourage or criticize the people who have recognized their gift and want to pursue their dream.”

Errera now is emerging from the slow-down period brought on by the pandemic. “The pandemic was a time for me to lay low and work on my music production, arranging and teaching career,” said Errera. “Now, my vision is fresh, and I am releasing a new collection of original music. I am ready to do what I love most: perform and share my story with my amazing fans.”

For more information about Chris Errera, please visit https://chriserreramusic.com or send an email to chriserrera@kurman.com.

PERFORMER, COMPOSER, ARRANGER, PRODUCER, INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER, TEACHER, MENTOR, MEDIA PERSONALITY

FACT SHEET

Artist name:
Chris Errera

About the artist:
For years, Chris has won the hearts of audiences with his deeply personal musical stylings and his very engaging, funny, and thought-provoking personality.

Chris pursues a broader mission when he performs—he clearly speaks of hope, courage, and determination. “After they enjoy the music, I want them to return to their lives and face their fears, surmount their challenges, keep dreaming big and then, reach heights that may have seemed impossible. I know, because I have been in that place, and I know that the dream can become real.”

Musical skills:
Performer, composer, arranger, producer, teacher, mentor, media personality

Instruments:
Acoustic piano, electric piano, synthesizer, digital production tools

Website:
https://chriserreramusic.com

Resides in:
Schaumburg, Illinois

Notable performances:
The White House (Obama administration); 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney Australia; US Air Force Academy; Prairie Center for the Arts; the Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards; the East Lansing Independent Film Festival; the Illinois Governor’s Awards Ball; the Milwaukee Partners in Philanthropy Awards

Discography:
Single: Voyages (release date August 12, 2022)
CD: Enter The Twilight (2011), CD not in distribution at this time

Film score:
In Flames (2017), directed by Carissa Kacmarek

Honors:
Featured speaker at National Character and Leadership Symposium, Air Force Academy, 2013

Media appearances:
Rosie O’Donnell Show (national TV), numerous local television news broadcasts

Documentary film:
Composed (2011): documentary film about Chris Errera, directed by Charley Rivkin – premiered at Sedona International Film Festival; Official Selection at the 2011 Long Island International Film Expo and the 2011 Sedona International Film Festival; 2011 Winner of the Silver Ace Award at the Las Vegas International Film Festival; 2011 Official Representative film, Little People of America

Community involvement:
Chicago Musicians Care

Musical education:
Piano instruction via Suzuki Method beginning at age 4
DePaul University (Chicago) and Northern Illinois University (Rockford, IL)
Private instructors/mentors: Julian Leviton, Robert Ian Winstin

Disabilities Chris has overcome:
Diastrophic dwarfism and spinal stenosis, 17 surgeries from age 2-18

Media and booking contact:
Kurman Communications, Inc.
Cindy Kurman and Lee Barrie
(312) 543-3928 or (312) 286-7643
team@kurman.com

General contact email:
chriserrera@kurman.com

CHRIS ERRERA'S BIOGRAPHY

For years, Chris has won the hearts of audiences with his deeply personal musical stylings and his very engaging, funny, and thought-provoking personality.

Chris pursues a broader mission when he performs—he clearly speaks of hope, courage, and determination. “After they enjoy the music, I want them to return to their lives and face their fears, surmount their challenges, keep dreaming big and then, reach heights that may have seemed impossible. I know, because I have been in that place, and I know that the dream can become real.”

His musical talents have earned him praise around the world. Chris toured Australia for the 2000 Summer Olympics and in 2013 performed at the White House for President Obama. He has been an honored speaker at the Air Force Academy and has dined with generals and American heroes such as Chuck Yaeger. He as appeared on numerous television shows, and was featured nationwide on the Rosie O'Donnell Show.

Chris was born to be a musician. He began playing the piano at age four, learning by Suzuki method, and took to it instantly. His teacher, the acclaimed American Suzuki method pioneer Julian Leviton, worked with him until he reached the age of sixteen. He then began his study of performance and composition with Grammy nominee and Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Ian Winstin. Errera considers Leviton and Winstin to be major influences in his music and in life—he deeply values the steady encouragement he received from them over the years.

He took his talent and creativity to a new level in college, where he earned music performance scholarships at Northern Illinois University, with its renowned jazz program, and then at DePaul University in music composition and production.

After college, Errera devoted the next few years performing in several bands, building his network of musical peers, and developing his compositional, arranging and production skills. When he was twenty-one, he performed in Germany as a member of the Schaumburg Symphony Orchestra. Over the years, he has built a strong career and reputation in the music business, not only as a concert performer and composer but also as a sought-after arranger and producer, teacher, and motivational speaker.

In the Midwest, he has performed at the Prairie Center for the Arts, the Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards, the East Lansing Independent Film Festival, the Illinois Governor’s Awards Ball, the Milwaukee Partners in Philanthropy Awards, and at numerous other events.

Sample Tracks

1

Gears of Time excerpt 2:31

0:00/2:31
2

Not Coming Home excerpt 2:06

0:00/2:06
3

Sirus excerpt 2:16

0:00/2:16
4

Voyages excerpt 1:26

0:00/1:26