Novacek was an excellent violinist who studied with Dont in Vienna and Schradieck and Brodsky at the University of Leipzig. He not only played in the Gewandhaus Orchestra but also the Brodsky Quartet which he reformed in the United States after his migration there. Playing with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and as the principal violist for the Damrosch Orchestra in New York, Novacek was forced to retire early due to ill health. His compositions included a piano concerto, eight caprices for violin and piano, string quartets and songs arranged for texts by Tolstoy. ~ Keith Johnson, All Music Guide