Local StoriesAugust 29, 2022

Daily Inspiration: Meet Steve Kuzma

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Steve Kuzma.

Hi Steve, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

As a young boy, my mother provided guitar and violin lessons, and the opportunity to develop playing those instruments at age 7 and then at the Central High orchestra in Philadelphia.

There was always a choice between music and art and how to make a living. When I was at the Parsons School of Design in New York, I played, sang and jammed with my friends in the stairwells.I was very active as an illustrator in sports and love to paint nature and spiritual subjects.

As a result of living by the sea the joy and adversity contributed to writing songs on the guitar and playing the violin with depth and emotion.

There is a very strong music community and fellowship here . We all inspire each other greatly in our expression individually and collectively and uplift our communities along with all of our creative endeavors.

Following in the footsteps of the generations before us we are inspired too share our music uplift and to do our best.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Growing up in Philadelphia and challenging neighborhoods my mother paid from her hard earned money for me to have lessons. They are1st generation Ukrainians who had suffered a lot to leave their country and start new here.

This inspired me to do my best as an artist and a musician or anything in that matter.I became a successful illustrator in New York despite great odds then channeled the energy that inspires my artwork into music in a more tangible form .New York was also a difficult place to live and maintain one’s health to do the level of work required. I moved by the sea and was married to a wonderful musician. The loss of the marriage and hurricanes left me to much soul searching and again the music was a form of expression to help with this along with a very good cat!

A strong music community surfaced despite this and we had opened coffee houses and open mikes to take us through the winter musicians drove for hours to meet here.

Despite covid, we have been playing regularly and strongly .Surprisingly did not get sick with all of the exposure. I ran an open Mike at Enlightened Solutions which is a foundation dedicated to helping those struggling with addiction here in Atlantic City

The experience had a lot of depth since many of the musicians were in recovery. Recently, my country Ukraine has been invaded, and it’s very people their language and their art are threatened to be erased by a bully government in Russia.

This has recently awakened me to activate every bit of talent I have with being a musician and a fine artist to generate funds and send to the neediest places in hospitals I have done concerts in various different cities 4 in this area and One planned with a renowned Vibraphone player Harry Wilson in Fredrickburg with his quartet!

The support amongst musicians and artists is very moving .We have been able to raise money to actually help Ukraine directly. I have 2 more planned in Fredrickburg VA area . I support myself by selling my paintings at art shows where I also play music at my own shows.They are original and authentic concerts. The challenge is funding these endeavors and as it has takes stamina to balance with so many challenges.

As an individual with responsibilities I receive benefits through meditation and the grace of my spiritual teacher with the weight of the suffering I have witnessed there.

I also have an original song about this. above others has inspired me to do something here to help where they cannot.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

Previous to Covid, I was planning to tour with my music and art and RV. the music is soothing and focuses on peace inspiration vision and the connectedness with all life that that brings us together.

I’m told I have a soothing voice with these authentic tunes and suppose they are in a progressive folk genre.

I’m inspired to share this work and connect interpersonally with my audience

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

I would like to share the value of community and being involved musically in that community locally and then find it wherever you go and share it with as many musicians and people.

I have also done residencies where I would continue to look for open mikes and places to play with other musicians and encourage singing in a choir with others and for others.

Contact Info:

Instagram:Steve kuzma
Facebook:Artofkuzma

Image Credits
Susan Kulperger Will

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