Biography
Dr. Christina Novak is proudly celebrating her 27th year at Scottsdale Community College and is the Senior Faculty member in the Music Department. She possesses the rare combination of having high academic standards, compassion for her students, and enthusiasm for every subject she teaches. Dr. Novak received a D.M.A. in music education with a specialization in piano pedagogy from Arizona State University, a M.A. in music theory from Arizona State University, and a B.A. in piano performance and music theory from The Pennsylvania State University. She is a Residential Faculty member at Scottsdale Community College and instructs music theory, aural perception, class piano, private piano, and music history courses.
Dr. Novak served as the Music Department Day/Evening Chair from 2006-2017. She played an instrumental role in the establishment of the SCC DJ Program, the SCC Musical Theater Program, the music Dual Enrollment Program with Scottsdale Unified School District, the SCC Summer Music Institute, the SCC Music Department Advisory Committee, and the Honorary George Benson Scholarship. Prior to joining the faculty at Scottsdale Community College in 1999, Dr. Novak was a Faculty Associate at Arizona State University, and an Instructor at Marywood University, Dunmore, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Novak has been a three-time invited presenter at the Music Teacher’s National Association Conference, as well as at Arizona State Music Teachers Conference, and the Arizona Music Educators Association Conference. She has been a guest clinician at Arizona State University, Mesa Community College, Grand Canyon University, the East Valley Music Teachers Association, and the Desert Valley Music Teachers Association. Dr. Novak was a faculty Fellow at Wuyi University in China where she was a guest artist and clinician. She was selected to attend the Maricopa Community College District Faculty Global Engagement Program in Prague, Czech Republic.
Dr. Novak served on the board of the Arizona State Music Teachers Association as the 2nd Vice-President and Chair of the Arizona State Performance and Composition Competitions. She has served as an adjudicator for the Arizona State Music Teachers Association Piano Competitions, Phoenix Young Artist Piano Competition, the East Valley Music Teachers Association Piano Competition, and the Arizona Study Program. Dr. Novak is a graduate of the nationally renowned Scottsdale Leadership Program, Class 23.