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Jim Kozak 
Jim Kozak after his concert with
Trenton War Memorial
Möller
Theatre Pipe Organ
Photo: Tony Rustako June 25,
2006 A native of Berwyn, Illinois, Jim began piano lessons at the
age of 5. His best friend, Scott May, urged him to take up the
organ as his primary instrument at age 11. Jim eventually became
a student of Allen Day, a New Jersey native, who introduced him to
authentic theatre organ technique. Although most of his
practicing and lessons were on electronic instruments, he and his
teacher frequently visited theatres in the Chicago area which had major
Theatre Pipe Organs. These included the Oriental 4/20 Wurlitzer,
the Montclare 3/10 Grande Barton, and the Patio 3/17 Grande
Barton. It was on these fabled instruments that Jim honed his
skills
Jim served as staff organist at the Oak Lawn Roller Rink
and substituted for Tony Tahlman at the Elm Roller Rink for 10 years.
He was organist for many Illinois and Wisconsin state skating
competitions.
After moving to Houston, Texas, he was staff
organist at all three Pipe Organ Pizza establishments located in that
city, and played frequent concerts for the Houston Area Theatre Organ
Society on their 3/17 Wurlitzer hybrid organ in Houston Community
College. He has also been a featured organist at the Summer Film
Festival at the Jefferson Theatre in Beaumont.
Most recently,
Jim has concertized for the Chicago Area Theatre Organ Society and the
Joliet Area Theatre Organ Society on a broad range of Theatre Pipe
Organs.
Jim continues to reside in Houston, and is in constant demand in his other profession as a concert piano technician. 
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