Dave Kosmyna

Hailing from Toledo, OH, Dave Kosmyna is the cornet player for Ray Heitger’s Cakewalkin’ Jass Band, Alex Belhaj’s Crescent City Quartet, Pete Siers’ Kerrytown Stompers, his guitar/cornet duo Creole Jazz and is leads his Downhome Jass Band which specializes in the music of Louis Armstrong and the Hot 5 &7. For 20 years, Dave was the cornet player with the famous Climax Jazz Band of Toronto, Canada. With Climax Dave also worked with Clint Baker, Hal Smith, Chris Tyle, George Probert, Brian Ogilvie, Jeff Barnhart, Katie Cavera, Colin Bowden, George Webb, Steve Mellor, Brian Towers, Andy Maynard, Sarah Spencer, Roy Rubenstein and more. Currently Dave works throughout the US with various ensembles led by Jeff Barnhart, Hal Smith, TJ Müller, Andy Schumm, Jonathan Stout, Michael Gamble, Josh Duffee, Charlie Halloran, Jonathan Doyle, Matt Tolentino, Jake Sanders, Naomi Uyama, Tyler Thomson and Kris Tokarski. Dave is also a multi-instrumentalist and plays piano for the late James Dapogny’s Ann Arbor-based ensemble, Phil Ogilvie’s Rhythm Kings (P.O.R.K.). Starting in 2026, he’ll be joining Banu Gibson on faculty for her Traditional Jazz Camp in New Orleans, LA.

Dave’s “side job” is Professor of Music at Ohio Northern University. He’s a Centaur Records Performing Artist on Pity Paid: The Music of Jeffery Stadelman, and SHREDS: 21st Century Music for Trumpet and Percussion. Dave’s recorded with the Cincinnati Pops under Erich Kunzel: Classics at the Pops TELARC©. He maintains an active schedule as a performer, guest conductor, clinician and remains deeply committed to Music Education.