International concert pianist, John Novacek is the winner of the Leschetizky and Joanna Hodges International piano competitions in addition to numerous national competitions. He divides his solo work between recitals and concertos with orchestra. Venues include Kennedy Center, Avery Fisher hall, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Los Angeles Music Center, Hollywood Bowl, UCLA's Royce Hall, Irvine Meadows Amphitheater, Ambassador Auditorium (Pasadena), the 92nd St. Y (New York), Ravinia Festival and Tokyo's Suntory Hall. He has performed on many television and radio programs, and is often heard on syndicated programs such as NPR's "Performance Today," "The Record Shelf," "First Hearing," and "St. Paul Sunday." A much sought-after collaborative artist, Novacek has performed with Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Leila Josefowicz, Julius Baker, and Lynn Harell, and the Colorado String Quartet. He has given numerous world premiers and worked closely with John Williams, George Rochberg, and Lalo Schifrin.

John Novacek has composed many original ragtime pieces for piano, and for piano and violin, and piano and guitar duo. He has written arrangements for the Three Tenors, Kiri Te Kanawa, and pop singer, Diana Ross. Novacek has recorded twenty CDs, encompassing solo and chamber music by most major composers from Bach to Bartok, and many contemporary and original scores. His solo recordings on the Ambassador label include "Novarags" ("superb contributions to this literature," The Seattle Times) and "Spanish Rhapsody" ("a splendid recital," Fanfare Magazine). He also records for Phillips Classics, Koch International, Atlantic, Arkay, Four Winds, Virtuoso, and EMI Classics.

"Novacek is a commanding presence at the keyboard, not just because of a sterling technique but also his virile, integrated playing. Throughout the high-velocity runs, to which he brought a diamond-hard brilliance, there was always more substance than showiness. And in the lyric sections he revealed uncommonly poetic depths."
Los Angeles Times

"…immensely sophisticated and enormously sexy performances by the brilliant young American pianist John Novacek …this is the best Joplin playing I've ever heard, but Novacek can not only play piano rags, he can really compose them! …Don't wait, Novarags is as entertaining an album of piano rags as have ever come down the pike!"
Jim Svejda, KUSC Radio, The Record Shelf Guide

Steven Novacek's extensive touring schedule throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe has resulted in unanimous critical acclaim and an enthusiastic international following. Known for his expressive interpretations, superb tone quality and technical precision, Mr. Novacek demonstrates a performance versatility unique among guitarists.
Steven Novacek has been awarded, in two successive seasons, the prestigious "Solo Recitalist Fellowship" by the National Endowment for the Arts, and performance grants from the Washington State, King County and Seattle Arts Commissions. He has appeared at numerous festivals and concert halls in North America and Europe including Merkin Hall (New York), Meany Theater (Seattle), Recountres Internationales de la Guitare (France), the Guitar Foundation of America (Denver), Colorado Music Festival, the Abbey Bach Festival (Oregon), EXPO '86 (British Columbia), and the American Guitar Society (Los Angeles). As featured guest artist, Mr. Novacek has appeared with symphony and chamber orchestras and choral ensembles in all the western states. He records for the Ambassador, Overture, Naxos, and Klavier labels.

"…an internationally respected guitarist whose fame should be enhanced by this well-chosen and beautifully played disc, Guitar Music of the Americas. Even Novacek's fans may be surprised by the variety of performance styles and techniques employed here, and by the brilliant array of sounds he draws from the guitar. This is an impressive achievement."
Melinda Bargreen, the Seattle Times

"…Playing of this quality is certainly a rare delight."
Bara Boydell, the Irish Times

"Novacek's playing is at once suave and affecting, but most to the point, projects the varying idioms of each of the pieces, adding up to a recital that is at once kaleidoscopic and unified. The recording is just about ideal - conveying a most thoughtfully selected program played by an extraordinary musician."
William Zagorski, Fanfare