John Novacek
Biography

Four Winds proudly presents virtuoso pianist John Novacek. The New York Times has called John a "wise, nimble, sensitive artist." The Los Angeles Times has stated "Novacek is a commanding presence at the keyboard, not just because of a sterling technique, but also his virile, integrated playing." Harold Schonberg, noted critic and author writes of Novacek's performance on his newest Four Winds release Last Kiss : "By any standards this is superior piano playing and music making, with sonics to match... his playing is always animated by ideas that make the listener put a finger on the pause button and do a little thinking."

John has toured frequently across Asia, Europe, and North America both as a soloist and a much sought-after collaborative artist. He has performed in venues from the Kennedy Center to the Hollywood Bowl, from Suntory Hall (Tokyo) to the Theatre des Champs-Elysees (Paris). Novacek has won a number of international piano competitions including the Leschetizky, the Mannes Concerto, the Joanna Hodges, the Carmel Music Society, and the Etude Music Club. He has played with the likes of Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Leila Josefowicz, Emmanuel Pahud, Lynn Harrell, Julius Baker, and Kristina Cooper & Laura Frautschi. He has given numerous world premiers, and worked closely with composers John Williams, George Rochberg, and Lalo Schifrin. John studied piano with Peter Serkin, Bruce Sutherland, and Jacob Gimpel, chamber music with Jamie Laredo, and Felix Galimir, also often coaching with Gary Graffman and Isaac Stern.

Available from Four Winds:
John Novacek "Classic Romance II" (FW 3006)
"Immensely sophisticated and enormously sexy performances by the brilliant young American pianist John Novacek" - Jim Svedja, KUSC Radio

John Novacek "Great Mozart Piano Works" (FW 3013)
"He approaches all of this music with consummate control and grace and a tonal luminosity that serves the composer well." - American Record Guide

John Novacek "Last Kiss" (FW 3016)
"By any standards this is superior piano playing and music making, with sonics to match..." - Harold Schonberg, American Record Guide