Charles Thomas Cozens

He is a member of the Local 149 Toronto Musicians’ Association, Local 293 Hamilton Musician's Guild, American Federation of Musicians, SOCAN, ASCAP, ACTRA, a former member of the International Conductors Association, and the Worldwide Who's Who.

Labeled by High Fraser, formerly of the Hamilton Spectator, as “one of Canada’s premier arrangers”, Cozens works as a composer and arranger for Canadian orchestras, ensembles, and soloists in the genres of jazz, pop, country, Celtic, classical and crossover. Orchestras in North America and Europe have performed his orchestral arrangements.

In 2018, Charles joined the world-touring Canadian classical crossover ensemble Quartetto Gelato as their regular accordionist and the duo JoyRide with oboist Colin Maier. JoyRide has been invited to perform at the 2020 International Double Reed Society conference in Iowa.

Cozens' latest projects include the creation of The Burlington New Millennium Orchestra (BNMO is a 30 piece contemporary chamber orchestra specializing in a broad-based non-classical repertoire) and the recording of 16 CDs of Mozart for the Mozart Effect brand released in 2017. He joined the world-touring classical crossover ensemble Quartetto Gelato as their accordionist in 2018.

In 2013, Cozens was the first Canadian invited to Cuba to conduct. He continues to conduct Orquesta de Villa Clara from time to time.

In April 2013, he made his Cuban debut, guest-conducting the Orquesta de Villa Clara (Villa Clara Symphony Orchestra in Santa Clara, Cuba) in a program of orchestral dance music that included two of his own original compositions, Czardahora and Celtic Fantasia, and his compilation of works by Astor Piazzolla entitled Hommage à Piazzolla, for violin and orchestra.

Cozens also served as conductor for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards for Prince Philip (Toronto 2004). He also conducted a Command Performance of “Man of La Mancha” for the Governor General of Canada, The Right Honourable Ray Hnytashyn (Theatre Aquarius 1991). More recently in 2012, Cozens conducted the Charles Cozens orchestra for the 25th final presentation of Toronto's Fashion Cares evening, working with such stars as Sir Elton John and Grammy Award-winning singer Janelle Monáe.

Career highlights include being the arranger for a Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth II in 1984, (London, England) with the Ontario Youth Concert Band, conducted by George Houselander. Cozens was the also the arranger for the Hamilton Sesquicentennial Celebration for Prince Charles, broadcast by CBC Radio in 1996.

As an accordionist, Cozens twice won the Open Canadian Accordion Championship in 1968 and 1969, and subsequently represented Canada in the Coupe Mondiale in 1969 in New York City, where he placed among the top ten concert accordionists in the world (Category 4). As a pianist, he has performed many recitals in both classical and jazz genres, including symphonic pops concerts with Henry Mancini, Ertha Kitt, and Cab Calloway.