About

Photo by Tim McGuire

A native of Saint Paul, MN, Karen Kozak (née Krueger) has been hard at work for over 10 years teaching and performing regionally. Currently she is a McNally Smith graduate student studying violin performance with Randy Sabien while also applying her work to the viola. She received her bachelor of music from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point where she studied violin with Steve Bjella and viola with Dee Martz. She can be found performing with a number of local groups including i like you., One Fast Move…, and The Minnesota Bluegrass Band. In addition, she is the founding violist of the Supertet string quartet and has held the position of principal viola in both the Mississippi Valley Orchestra and Kenwood Symphony. Her ability on both instruments and in many different styles make studio sessions and guest appearance a highlight of her creative career.  By day she is tackling her seventh year as a teacher in the Robbinsdale School District and enjoys her dream job of teaching beginning orchestra to the students of Meadow Lake, Sonnesyn, Noble, and Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion Elementary Schools as well as being the assistant director of the All District Orchestra while being a freelance private violin and viola teacher at home.