​

​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