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Chris Koza

Singer/songwriter Chris Koza is an internationally-recognized artist who has released a dozen albums over the past several years. He performs regularly as a solo artist and with his band, Rogue Valley, at top Twin Cities’ venues (First Avenue, The Fitzgerald Theater) and festivals (Basilica Block Party, MN State Fair, Iceland Airwaves), and has extensively toured the US, sharing the stage with artists like Andrew Bird, The Jayhawks, Lucinda Williams, Mason Jennings, Nellie McKay, Brandi Carlile, and Tift Merrit, among others. Koza’s compositions have been featured on television for ABC, MTV, and CBS as well as numerous local and national commercials. His song, The Wolves and the Ravens, was featured in 20th Century Fox’s feature film, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Paste Magazine calls Rogue Valley one Minnesota’s best bands, and Koza continues to receive extensive critical-acclaim from both local and national press.  

Sleepwalkers part 1 is Chris’s 7th solo release, following Exit Pesce (2004), Patterns (2006), A Friend of a Friend EP (2006), The Dark Delirious Morning (2008), In Real Time (2014) and Beyond the Divide: A Film Soundtrack (2014). Additionally, Chris has also released 5 albums with his band Rogue Valley and 2017’s electro-pop collection Off The Screen under the moniker Nobody Kid. In addition to releasing and producing his own music, Chris is also involved with other projects including performing with Minnesota-based artists The New Standards and Little Fevers. Chris also records and produces other artists, most recently 2 EP’s for buzzworthy rockers Early Eyes.

The music Chris produces is rooted in Americana but heeds its own spirit. Born out of folk, country, storytelling and rock ’n roll, Chris both honors and builds on Americana traditions by incorporating a unique pop-music sensibility, subtle synthesizers, rich harmonies, and imaginative production choices. But despite late-night deep dives in the studio, Chris never strays from the core of the song itself and isn’t afraid to let a raw vocal and woodsy acoustic guitar deliver the story. Chris performs solo, as a duo, and with a band of almost any other configuration.

AVAILABLE FOR PERFORMANCE AND RESIDENCY ACTIVITIES

Chris Koza is committed to designing community engagements and educational offerings that provide immersive opportunities to engage more deeply in communities, and partner more meaningfully with presenters. He is a previous recipient of Minnesota State Arts Board Arts on Tour, Arts Learning, and Artist Initiative grants in recognition of his artistic excellence and commitment to arts education.

Such past opportunities have included:

  • Community Storytelling / Songwriting Workshops for all abilities

  • Instrumental and vocal music Master Classes

  • Collaborative Performance Opportunities for Band, Orchestra & Choir students

  • Music Career Development Workshops

  • And many others!

"Dawson­/Boyd Arts Association has been programming artists and coordinating residencies for nearly 20 years. Rarely in that time has our community experienced such a rich, integrated artist residency with community members of all ages as we did with Chris Koza and his band. From kindergarten ­age to high school students to senior residents at our local Care Center, the musicians were generous with their time, their music and their openness to making connections in the community. They were inspiring, flexible partners with our music faculty and so adept at connecting with our students." ­

Luanne Fondell, Memorial Auditorium

“Chris Koza brought not only his wonderful music to share with our high school students, but an interesting look into what it means to be a songwriter and professional musician. Chris and I arranged eight of his original songs prior to his time with the orchestra, and the students got a chance to see how music changed throughout the process to achieve the best results. Additionally, students were motivated by a desire to perform to best of their abilities as Chris had shared his music with them and they had become “a part of the band.”   

Andy Bast,  Hopkins High School Orchestra Director

SELECT RESIDENCY PARTNERS HAVE INCLUDED:

Hopkins High School, Northfield Arts & Culture Commission, Arcadia Charter School, St. Olaf College, Holmes Theater, Detroit Lakes, MN, Northfield Senior Center, Backus Community Center, International Falls, MN, Falls Elementary and High Schools, Lake Park Audubon Elem, Jr & Sr HS, Kelliher High School, Indus School, Perham High School, The Reif Center, Grand Rapids, MN, The Edge Center, Bigfork, MN, Washburn High School, among many others.