Stefan B. Kozinski ’76

Stefan died Dec. 11, 2014, of a heart attack in Bremen, Germany. Raised in Wilmington, Del., Stefan was a child prodigy whose First Suite, which he composed at age 9, was performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra.

He came to Princeton from Tower Hill School. Stefan entered with the Class of 1975 and majored in music, graduating with highest honors in 1976. He played the viola in the University Orchestra, and also played the piano, organ, and violin. During a year off, he studied composition with Nadia Boulanger in Paris.

Following graduation, Stefan received a master’s degree in music composition from the Juilliard School. After winning select positions with Sir George Solti, Erich Leinsdorf, and at Tanglewood, he coached at the American Opera Center and served as conductor for the Hannover State Opera House in Germany from 1982 to 1985.

From 1985 to 1995, he was associate conductor of the Spokane Symphony, where he developed the SymFunnies Family Concert Series. His composition Maloney Rag is frequently played on Canadian television. In 2008, Stefan settled in Germany, where he worked with Musiker and Theater Bremen.

The class sends deepest sympathy to his brother, David P. Kozinski; his goddaughter, Mia Vogel; and executive director of his archives, Francena Chalfant.