Charles Cozens is a true Renaissance Man of the Canadian music industry. Recently inducted into the BPAC Hall of Fame, he is highly acclaimed as an arranger, composer and orchestrator for major Canadian artists, ensembles, and orchestras, he is also an accomplished orchestral and theatrical conductor, pianist, accordionist, and CD producer.
He is well known for his compelling symphony shows, featuring his arrangements for full orchestra, performed by artists that include Sir Elton John, Randy Bachman, The Canadian Tenors, The Nylons, Quartetto Gelato, Mark Masri and many more.
With over 150 CDs to his credit as composer, arranger, performer, conductor and producer, Charles has been recognized by the International Conductors Guild as a leading expert on orchestral conducting in the recording environment.
In 2013, Maestro Cozens was the first Canadian in history to be invited to Cuba to conduct. Following his successful debut with the Orquestra de Villa Clara, he continues to conduct the orchestra on an annual basis.
Winner of the Established Performing Artist Award from the Mississauga Arts Council, Charles has also been nominated for the Dora Award (Most Outstanding Musical: Swingstep) and the Chalmers Award in Composition (Peter Pan: The Return). In 2006, his album Balance was nominated for a Juno Award for Instrumental Album of the Year.
Widely prolific, Maestro Cozens has over 150 CDs to his credit as conductor, composer, arranger, pianist and producer, for prestigious recording labels such as Universal, Sony, CBC SM 5000, Attic, Solitudes, Avalon, Reflections and Jazz Inspiration.
His special career highlights have included a Command Performance for HRH Queen Elizabeth as an Arranger and Composer (London, 1984), and as Conductor for The Duke of Edinburgh Awards, HRH Prince Philip.
Maestro Cozens’ latest project is the creation of The Burlington New Millennium Orchestra (BNMO) and the recording of 17 CDs of Mozart for the Mozart Effect brand, released in 2017.
For more information, please visit charlescozens.com
“The loud ‘n’ proud show, aptly titled Randy Bachman Symphonic Overdrive featured two full sets of the Winnipeg-born artist’s hits arranged by acclaimed Canadian conductor/arranger Charles Cozens, who also joined Bachman onstage on keyboard.
Many of the orchestral arrangements, arguably, were window dressing for the band, with a few exceptions being a stylized You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet, and lushly harmonized string sections during Let it Ride. Takin Care of Business now guised as a Texas shuffle also closed the two-hour show that also included Laughing, No Time and Undun.”
Holly Harris, Winnipeg Free Press
re: Randy Bachman’s Symphonic Overdrive
