After 35 Years, ASO Musician Proud to Call Birmingham Home

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2016/09/Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1920;s:6:"height";i:1206;s:4:"file";s:33:"2016/09/Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:13:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1-336x211.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:211;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1-771x484.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:484;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1-768x482.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:482;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:34:"Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1-1536x965.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:965;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1-495x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:495;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1-422x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:422;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Mary Scott Hodgin
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:1541621;s:14:"optimized_size";i:354440;s:7:"percent";d:77.010000000000005;}s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/09/Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:1318271;s:14:"optimized_size";i:195117;s:7:"percent";d:85.200000000000003;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:69:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/09/Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1-336x211.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:18744;s:14:"optimized_size";i:14113;s:7:"percent";d:24.710000000000001;}s:5:"large";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:69:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/09/Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1-771x484.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:70793;s:14:"optimized_size";i:46757;s:7:"percent";d:33.950000000000003;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/09/Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:3464;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3452;s:7:"percent";d:0.34999999999999998;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:69:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/09/Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:43496;s:14:"optimized_size";i:29279;s:7:"percent";d:32.689999999999998;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:69:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/09/Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:25695;s:14:"optimized_size";i:19437;s:7:"percent";d:24.350000000000001;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:69:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/09/Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1-495x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:34334;s:14:"optimized_size";i:25982;s:7:"percent";d:24.329999999999998;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:69:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/09/Kevin_KozakIMG_1283_1-422x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:26824;s:14:"optimized_size";i:20303;s:7:"percent";d:24.309999999999999;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1636109648 
1473870595

The Alabama Symphony Orchestra features 53 full-time musicians from all over the world, each with a unique story. Kevin Kozak moved to Birmingham 35 years ago to join the group and currently plays 2nd horn. Mary Scott Hodgin speaks with Kevin about his journey to Alabama and why he has remained with the ASO for over three decades.

Kevin Kozak remembers the moment that would shape his career. He was a young student, taking piano lessons at the time, when he discovered a new sound. “One time they brought a brass quintet in and they demonstrated their instruments, and I remember really liking the horn,” Kozak recalls. What started out as a full-blown hobby would become his life. “I decided that it was this great dream of mine to play professionally in an orchestra.”

After freelancing for a year in New York City, Kozak auditioned with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Despite having no connection to the area, he accepted an offer with the ASO in 1981 and relocated to Birmingham. He has been here ever since. Kozak says, over the years, by living and performing in the same place, he has found a deeper meaning by bringing music to his community. He even remained in the area when the symphony went bankrupt in 1993. During this time, Kozak performed throughout the US to pay the bills, but it wasn’t the same. “That really felt funny,” he says, “to be playing these wonderful concerts around the country, but they were not for my city, my community. So to be on a stage again, to play for the people that, you know my home, that was very gratifying and remains so.”

The ASO started back up again in 1997 and Kozak eagerly returned to the stage. It has now been 35 years since he first started and he says, today, things are different. People can stream concerts online and watch them on a cell phone or computer. But despite future challenges faced by groups like the ASO, Kozak says a community symphony offers something that is not so easily replaced. “I think the symphony orchestra is an instrument, like a piano of 88 keys,” says Kozak. “You know the combination of how they’re used and the colors that are produced, that’s an instrument, and a symphony orchestra is an instrument. And it’s made up of human beings in your community who are all striving to collaborate with you to produce a beautiful experience.”

In Birmingham, that experience kicks off this weekend with the beginning of the ASO’s Masterworks series for the 2016-17 season.

 

Elon Musk’s $1 million-a-day voter sweepstakes can proceed, a Pennsylvania judge says

Common Pleas Court Judge Angelo Foglietta in Pennsylvania — ruling after Musk’s lawyers said the winners are paid spokespeople and not chosen by chance — did not immediately explain his reasoning.

Puerto Rico holds general election that promises to be historic

Puerto Rico is holding elections that will be historic regardless of which of the top two gubernatorial candidates wins.

Boeing machinists approve contract, bringing an end to a bruising seven-week strike

Striking machinists voted to approve an agreement that will hike wages by 38%. The deal was endorsed by union leaders, who warned that Boeing’s next offer might be worse.

States and cities beef up security to prepare for potential election-related violence

Washington state's governor activated the National Guard to stand by to help local law enforcement as needed. Meanwhile, extra security is in place at locations across Washington, D.C.

When will mail-in and absentee ballots be counted?

Various state rules regarding when election officials can process and count mail ballots means it will likely take some time after Election Day before the results from these ballots are fully known.

When do polls close in every state? Here’s a timeline

The Associated Press can't call any races until polls close in their respective state. Here's a breakdown of when that will happen.

More Arts and Culture Coverage