Jack (Jacob) Kopstein was born in 1934 in Windsor, Ontario. He began clarinet studies at age 8, and later studied clarinet at the Teal studios and Wayne University in Detroit.
Jack was selected for the Ford Motor company band in Windsor and in 1953, and joined the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve. He attended military summer camps, and in 1958 was selected in audition for the Royal Canadian Regiment band. He also played clarinet with the London (Ontario) Symphony and the London Chamber Orchestra.
In 1970, he was selected for bandmaster training at the Canadian Forces School of Music and graduated in 1971. In 1974, he was posted to the Canadian Forces Central band in Ottawa, and in 1979 became the assistant director of music. In 1981, he was the band leader for the arrival of several heads of state. He held similar posts with the PPCLI band in Calgary, and the Vimy band in Kingston.
Jack retired from the military in 1988. His march, With Equal Pace, is the special services march for Base Gagetown, NB. He was the editor of the Millennium Project (300 years of Military music 1700-2000). He wrote 3 books in conjunction with his colleague Ian Pearson, including The Heritage of Canadian Military Music, and he has written numerous articles on military bands and military music. He lives in Chilliwack, British Columbia.