~ As a musician in many forms, Rebekah Novinger’s work has filled the theater, concert hall, and studio. Coming from Rochester, MN, she went to Boston and earned a bachelor's degree at Berklee College of Music focusing in composition, film scoring, and conducting. During this time she had the great privilege to study under composers such as Elena Roussanova, Richard Carrick, Alla Cohen, and Marti Epstein. Her work at Berklee included premiers in collaboration with choreographers, dancers, film directors, and the Neither/Nor Ensemble. In addition to her collegiate education, she has been involved in numerous music collaborations from creating award-winning Shakespeare-derived musicals to releasing singer-songwriter albums, as well as composing music for film and commissioned concert works. She is an eight time winner of the MMTA (Minnesota Music Teachers Association) State Piano Contest participating in the MMTA Honors Concerts throughout her developing years.

Her recent concert premieres include Artemisia Gentileschi: Beauty and Pain a new art song composed as part of a series of works for an operatic singer in the Boston area (December 2022). This premiere featured the music of contemporary women composers creating works for the forgotten stories of women from history. Differing from this was her premiere of An Echoed Thought, a colorful piece that encapsulates the echoes that silence brings within our minds.

Rebekah has experience as a musical director for youth productions, a private music teacher, a hired studio teacher, an instructor in musical summer camps, and a classroom music teacher. She truly enjoys working with students of all ages to encourage their skills and crafts and to empower them through their gifts. Her background as a pianist, upright bass player, vocalist, composer, and songwriter has given her working knowledge of many instruments and teaching styles. She embraces a playful and diligent method of teaching to create a strong musical foundation while instilling the joy of learning. This is developed through student-led song choices and engaging at the heart of each student’s passion, including those beyond music! Teaching over the course of 6 years, with an extensive performance and accompanist background prior to this, Rebekah’s experience crosses into a variety of genres including classical music, jazz, worship music, folk, and pop.