Anna Kozak

Violin I

Anna Kozak joined the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra’s First Violin Section in 2001, after winning an international audition.

She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from University of Toronto and a Master of Music Degree from University of Calgary.

Anna’s career as an orchestral musician has not only given her an outlet to share the love of live music but also feed her passion for travel. Notably, she has been on tour with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, performing in most prestigious concert halls of Europe, and in New York performing at the Carnegie Hall with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.

Anna believes that musician’s life would not be complete without the connectedness one feels when collaborating with other musicians. It is that belief that has made her an active and sought-after chamber musician; from being a founding member of numerous chamber groups, including Onyx Sting Quartet, to collaborating with musicians like Linda Perillo, Edmond Agopian, and Leanne Regehr, and being a part of chamber groups such as Kensington Sinfonia, among others. Currently, in addition to the ESO, Anna is part of the Alberta Baroque Ensemble, where she performs as the Associate Concertmaster, chamber musician, and soloist. She is also one of the founding members of the Chamber Orchestra of Edmonton, where she is the Principal Second Violin and a member of the Board.

Recently, she has taken some time off the ESO’s busy schedule to pursue professional development projects. One of those projects was discovering and gaining repertoire of Ukrainian violin and piano music. In that search, she discovered many hidden gems rarely played in Canada. With the help of a grant from Edmonton Arts Council, she and pianist Leanne Regehr have completed an independent residency in Calgary and presented a concert titled “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” featuring a few of those compositions. In the future, Anna intends to bring this concert to a much wider audience across Canada.

Alongside performing, Anna finds it fulfilling to share her passion and knowledge with her students. She has a small private studio, teaches at the annual Wye String Camp and, on occasion, leads coaching sessions for local amateur groups.

Outside of music, Anna loves dogs and to travel. Together with her husband, she raised three Great Danes and travelled to over 25 countries; discovering exciting architecture, food, and diverse approaches to everyday life, a subject she finds very fascinating.

Anna has the privilege to perform on a violin made in Florence in 1770 by Giovanni Battista Gabrielli. Additionally, Baroque music has always had a special place in her heart, and recently she had an opportunity to be a participant at the Tafelmusik Summer Institute, a two-week intensive course in Baroque repertoire and performance practice in Toronto.