Tymish Koznarsky

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About

Tymish Koznarsky is a jazz saxophonist, drummer, composer, and educator based in Toronto. A multi-instrumentalist proficient on alto saxophone, piano, and drums, he is known for his expressive tone, deep musicality, and command of bebop language. He graduated with honours from Humber College's Bachelor of Music program and has quickly established himself as a sought-after sideman on the Toronto jazz scene. Koznarsky is a featured soloist on vocalist Caity Gyorgy's Juno Award-winning album Featuring, and has studied with Harold Mabern, Terri Lyne Carrington, Kirk MacDonald, Pat LaBarbera, and Lorne Lofsky. In 2024, he was selected for the Aga Khan Museum's Solara Intercultural and Creative Music Fellowship, composing original works under the mentorship of Iranian-Canadian setar player Kiya Tabassian. He performs regularly at Toronto venues including the Rex and Jazz Bistro, and teaches at MJMS.

Trivia

Koznarsky won the Lou Williamson Outstanding Jazz Woodwind Player Award at MusicFest Canada in 2019, before completing his degree. He was selected for Canada's National Youth Jazz Combo the same year, directed by guitarist Lorne Lofsky. In addition to alto saxophone, he performs professionally and teaches on piano and drums — a rare triple-instrument proficiency in contemporary jazz. His debut album as a leader is expected in early 2026.

Early Life

Tymish Koznarsky is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He developed proficiency on saxophone, piano, and drums, and enrolled in the Bachelor of Music program at Humber College, one of Canada's most respected jazz education institutions. There, he studied under Kirk MacDonald, Pat LaBarbera, and Lorne Lofsky, and was already performing professionally as a sideman on the Toronto jazz scene during his studies. In 2019, while still a student, he won the Lou Williamson Outstanding Jazz Woodwind Player Award at MusicFest Canada and was selected for Canada's National Youth Jazz Combo directed by guitarist Lorne Lofsky. He graduated from Humber with honours, also receiving the Greg Wells Scholarship, the Kira Payne Memorial Bursary, and the Lionel C. Wooster Award.