At the age of 12 he began singing on the radio and performing as a church soloist; pursuits he was actively involved in from 1918 to 1950 in Toronto.
At the age of 18 he entered the Toronto Conservatory of Music where he was a voice and conducting student of Francis Combe from 1924 to 1929.
During the Great Depression, Cozens and his wife, singer Winnifred Pitman, founded and directed the Toronto's Council Choir.
He held the post of chief of protocol for the Ontario government from 1960 to 1972 and later worked in a similar capacity for the Canadian National Exhibition.
He was named an Honorary Life Member of the Royal School of Church Music in 1987.