Richard Novak

Education

University of North Texas, DMA
Stephen F. Austin State University, MM
Stephen F. Austin State University, BM

Courses Taught

MUSI 10171 - Diction for Singers
MUSP 10110 - Lower Division Secondary Voice

About

Dr. Richard Novak is a professional tenor who is equally at home singing opera, oratorio, cantata/sacred, concert, and recital repertoire. He has performed across the United States, Italy, Germany, Poland, Thailand, Japan, Scotland, and Mexico. Among Novak's 33 opera roles are Rodolpho (La Boheme), Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly), Werther (Werther), Alfredo (La Traviata), Don Jose (Carmen), Cavaradossi (Tosca), Nemorino (L'Elisir d'amore), Ernesto (Don Pasquale), Eisenstein (Die Fledermaus), Tamino (Die Zauberflote), and Romeo (Romeo et Juliette). Training programs include Chautauqua Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Wichita Grand Opera, Wesley Balk Institute, and the Evelyn Lear/Thomas Stewart Emerging Singers Program with the Wagner Society of D.C. In 2005 & 2006, Novak won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (Tulsa District).

Dr. Novak holds a Bachelor's & Master's (Vocal Performance) from Stephen F. Austin State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance (related field: Opera) from the University of North Texas. Dr. Novak is currently an Adjunct Instructor of Voice at TCU, where he teaches Applied Voice, Lyric Diction, and Opera Literature. Before coming to TCU, Dr. Novak served on the music faculties of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Texas State University, the University of the Incarnate Word, Trinity University, George Mason University, Oklahoma State University, the University of Louisiana-Monroe, & Angelina College. Dr. Novak has also served on the faculties of the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, the Interharmony International Music Festival (Italy), and the Sulzbach-Rosenberg International Music Festival (Germany).

In 2019, Novak made his Carnegie Hall debut (Weill Hall) singing a recital of songs by Jewish composer, James Simon. (Simon was murdered at Auschwitz in 1944, and his music has recently been rediscovered.) Novak has been honored to premiere new music in recent years. He was the driving force behind the creation of Kevin Salfen's dramatic song cycle "Stations of Mychal." This tour de force of a song cycle for tenor, viola, and piano honors the life, ministry, and death of Fr. Mychal Judge (who perished on 9/11). In 2021, Dr. Novak was deeply honored to be asked by the FDNY to perform "Stations of Mychal" in NYC for the 20th Anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. Novak has performed this powerful song cycle 18 times worldwide, and a professional recording is available on Centaur Records and on most major streaming platforms. Furthermore, Dr. Novak premiered the role of 'Dr. Mengele in Thomas Yee's Holocaust Remembrance Opera "Eva and the Angel of Death" in 2022.

Dr. Novak is also an active church musician and choral director. He has held church positions/led choirs in Texas, Virginia, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. Novak currently serves as the Choir Director at First United Methodist Church in Temple. He is delighted to be joining Ft Worth Opera as Chorus Master for "Madama Butterfly" in the Spring of 2026.

Dr. Novak's proudest accomplishment is his amazing family. His wife, Laura, will be joining TCU in 2026 as a Professor of Occupational Therapy (she is also a wonderful pianist who frequently accompanies her husband and children). Rick and Laura have three amazingly talented three children (Derek, Ava, and Liam), a beautiful granddaughter (Kayla), and a rather spoiled Pointer-mix dog (Barley).