Gabriel Novak is a composer and pianist whose music synthesizes elements of jazz, blues and American vernacular with classical and modern sounds and sources.
Novak graduated with a B.M. from the Cleveland Institute of Music with a Double Major in Composition and Music Theory, studying with Keith Fitch, Steven Mark Kohn, and Diane Urista. There, he delivered his senior thesis, "Analytical Multiplicity and the Functional Passing Tone".
He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. at The University of Chicago, studying with Augusta Read Thomas.
Curriculum Vitae
I. Education
Ph.D., The University of Chicago, 2023
Composition, Minor in Music Theory
Augusta Read Thomas, composition
B.M., Cleveland Institute of Music, 2017
Double Major in Composition and Music Theory
Keith Fitch, composition
Diane Urista, music theory
Steve Kohn, electronic music
Marshall Griffith, piano
Lessons and Master Classes
Gunther Schuller, Augusta Read Thomas, Shulamit Ran, Bernard Rands, Joan Tower, Melinda Wagner, George Tsontakis, Stephen Hartke, Don Crockett, Rob Paterson, Paul Rudy, Michael Adelson, Don Freund, James Mobberley, Chen Yi, John Mackey, Robert Dick, Steven Zegree
II. Awards and Honors
2017 Listen to ‘em, commissioned and premiered by the Cleveland Chamber
Symphony
2016 The Hope and Stanley Adelstein Prize for Excellence in Composition and
Performance, awarded by the Cleveland Institute of Music
2016 The Maurice and Judith Kaplow Prize for Uncommon Creativity, awarded by
the Cleveland Institute of Music
2015 Theloniousphere, for solo flute, premiered at The Kennedy Center,
Washington, D.C.
III. Employment
2018 - present Faculty and Accompanist, Skyline Choirs, Interlochen Center for the Arts
2015 - present Faculty, Young Composers Program, Cleveland Institute of Music
2015 - 2018 Composition Department Assistant, Cleveland Institute of Music
2017 - 2018 Faculty, Wolverine Vocal Music Camp
2017 - 2018 Assistant Director, Euclid High School Theatre Department
2015 - 2018 Music Director, Euclid High School Theatre Department
2014 - 2017 Faculty, Vocal Arranging Instructor, Pioneer Choirs, Interlochen Center for the Arts
2016 Music Director and Pianist, Community Performance International
IV. Selected Works
2019 The Answer, for SSA+SATB Chorus, ca. 6' (commissioned by Skyline Choirs)
2018 Burgeon, for saxophone quartet, ca. 5'
Weary Tunes and Mellow Croons, for orchestra, ca. 6'
2017 Echoes of Blue Notes, for 11 musicians, ca. 9’
Listen to ‘em, for chamber orchestra, ca. 6’
2016 Dig, for solo bass, ca. 10’
2015 Theloniousphere, for solo flute, ca. 6’
Serendipity, for flute, clarinet, viola, cello, piano, ca. 9’
Simmer and Fault, for jazz trio, ca. 9’
2014 Serendipity, for solo piano, ca. 5’
2013 Sure On This Shining Night, for choir and piano, ca. 6’
V. Film and Dance Scores
2018 Presto, sound design and score
2017 360º of Sight + Sound, in collaboration with Cleveland Institute of Art and
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
2017 Inside the Edge, commissioned by Claire Crause, University of Michigan
2016 Another Bun Bites the Dust, commissioned by Dylan Kamalay
2016 Progress Report, commissioned by Anthony Zayas
2016 360º of Sight + Sound, in collaboration with Cleveland Institute of Art and
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
2015 Lifted, sound design and score
VI. Performance Experience
2014 - 2019 afterJazz Trio, pianist
2016 - 2019 Bluewater Kings Band, pianist
2016 Cleveland Insitute of Music New Music Ensemble, pianist
2015 Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra, pianist
2014 - 2017 Case Western Jazz I Ensemble, pianist
Pit and Rehearsal Pianist for productions of West Side Story, Footloose, Ragtime, Hairspray, Shrek, Seussical the Musical
VII. Selected Arrangements
2018 This Is The New Year, commissioned by Skyline High School, for SATB
2015 I Lived, commissioned by Slauson Middle School, for SATB
2014 Sink or Swim, commissioned by Pioneer High School Pioneers, for TTBB
2013 Home, commissioned by Slauson Middle School, for SATB
VIII. Musical Software Proficiencies
Pro Tools, Sibelius, Digital Performer, Melodyne, Omnisphere, iZotope RX
© 2019 by Gabriel Novak