Gabriel Novak is a composer, performer, and educator whose work synthesizes elements from jazz, blues, rock, and American vernacular traditions with classical and contemporary music. His compositions explore the intersection of improvisation, form, groove, and expectation, pushing the boundaries of musical genre while also preserving a distinct connection to tradition. Novak’s recent collaborations with world-renowned musicians include Calapitter for The Grossman Ensemble, Spur for Axiom Brass, and languor | torpor for Quatuor Diotima. His music is characterized by a balance of subverting and confirming aural expectation, structural complexity, soaring melody embedded in intricate harmony, and the ability to invoke emotional immediacy, engaging both performers and listeners alike.

 

As an educator, Novak has taught at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, offering a wide array of courses in Composition, Music Theory, Jazz, Pop, and Electronic Music at institutions such as the Cleveland Institute of Music and The University of Chicago. His teaching philosophy focuses on connecting abstract theoretical concepts to students' tangible, creative work, encouraging them to explore diverse repertoires and musical traditions.

 

Currently finishing his PhD in Music Composition at The University of Chicago under the mentorship of Augusta Read Thomas, Novak continues to explore new compositional projects while contributing to the academic and musical communities through teaching and performance.