JACOB PIPAK
Director of Bands | District Fine Arts Coordinator
Jacob Pipak is entering his fourteenth year as a music educator and his sixth year with Sunnyvale ISD. He served a total of eight years in Spring Hill ISD in the East Texas area. Mr. Pipak served as the Junior High band director and an assistant at the High School during his time spent with Spring Hill ISD.
Since Mr. Pipak has arrived in Sunnyvale - the Band Program has maintained its Sweepstakes Title for five consecutive years. Receiving 1st Divisions in Marching, Concert and Sightreading at UIL since 2019. Under the direction of Pipak - the Sunnyvale High School Band received 2nd runner up in the 4A State Finals of the TMEA Honor Band Contest in 2022 - also - the 2022 Sunnyvale High School Symphonic Band won 1st Place in the 4A State OPS Concert and March Category. In 2023 the Sunnyvale High School Symphonic Band won State Runner-Up in the 4A State OPS Concert Category.
In his time with Spring Hill ISD, the program received consecutive Sweepstakes ratings at the Junior High and High School in Marching and Concert Contests. The HS and JH placed in the ATSSB Outstanding Performance Series at the State level consecutively (Overall Winner at the JH in 2014). The High School Band advanced to the UIL Texas State Marching Band Contest in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018, finishing 5th place in the Finals in 2016.
After graduating from Hallsville High School in 2006 under the direction of Mrs. Sherri Morgan, he began studying Horn with Dr. Charles Gavin at Stephen F. Austin State University. While at Stephen F. Austin, Mr. Pipak was a member of the Wind Ensemble under the direction of Mr. Fred J. Allen. He also held a principle spot in several other ensembles, including the Orchestra of the Pines, Chamber Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, SFA Brass Choir, SFA Horn Choir, Roarin’ Buzzsaws, and the Lumberjack Marching Band. Mr. Pipak would be considered a brass specialist with experience teaching all brass instruments at all levels. He has also spent several years assisting with the Percussion program and classes. Mr. Pipak is an active member of TMEA, ATSSB, TBA, the International Horn Society the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society and the United States Golf Association. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with friends and family or playing horn, golf, exercising, watching sports or just being active in general.
REX NOVAK
Head MS Director | Jazz Studies
Mr. Novak currently serves as the Head Middle School Band Director and Director of Jazz Ensembles at Sunnyvale ISD. Previously, he distinguished himself as a saxophonist and educator in West Texas, notably as the Artistic Director of the El Paso Youth Jazz Ensemble. A graduate of Texas Tech University with degrees in Music Education and Saxophone Performance, he also holds a master’s degree in Jazz Studies.
As a performer, Mr. Novak has played a pivotal role in several notable groups. He was a core member of Jazz Alley, a longstanding ensemble based in Lubbock, and led his own groups in El Paso. His contributions include serving as the lead altoist in Marty Olivas’ Eklectic Jazz Group, being a member of the Big Bad Guiseppe Big Band, and as the Tenor Saxophonist with the El Paso Winds. His versatility spans diverse genres, from classical to jazz, pop, and rock. Beyond saxophone, Mr. Novak has showcased his talents as a multi-instrumentalist in musicals and pit orchestras. He currently holds the Auxiliary Clarinet chair with the Dallas Asian Winds and also serves as their recording engineer.
Mr. Novak is embarking on his 11th year of teaching and his 6th year at Sunnyvale ISD. During his tenure, he has led the Sunnyvale Middle School band to consecutive UIL sweepstakes awards, had three recordings judged in the state finals of the 2023 ATSSB OPS Competition, and won State Runner-Up in the 2C Concert category. Additionally, he has led the SHS Vale Jazz Orchestra to two back-to-back 1st place finishes at the TCU Jazz Festival in 2023 and 2024. He has served as an adjudicator for the Texas Tech Jazz Festival, ATSSB OPS Competition at all levels, and serves as the ATSSB Region 3 Jazz Coordinator. He enjoys sharing life with his wife, trombonist Dr. Joyce Hsu, and their cat, Katya.
MICHAEL NATION
Assistant Director | Percussion
Michael Nation comes to us from Natchitoches, Louisiana where he obtained a bachelors degree in music education from Northwestern State University. While attending NSU, Michael served as the drumline section leader and arranger for the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band. After graduation, Michael spent three years in the Dallas metroplex as a private lesson instructor where he taught and arranged for some of the best performing ensembles in the area. In addition to percussion, Mr. Nation also directs the Gold Band at SMS and teaches beginner low brass.
GENEVA LE
Assistant HS/MS Director
Raised in Dallas, Texas, Geneva Le began her band career on the Bb clarinet in sixth grade, finding joy in both ensemble and solo performing opportunities as was provided throughout her middle and high school years. At the end of her high school career and in pursuit of her passion of not only band, but leadership in the context of music, Ms. Le auditioned and was contracted as a Drum Major/Conductor for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps for the summer of 2019.
Upon returning from her first summer of drum corps, Ms. Le began her college education at Texas A&M University-Commerce in the Fall of 2019 where she pursued a degree in music education. After her first year there, Ms. Le transferred to Texas State University where she would finish this degree in the Spring of 2023. Throughout her years at university, Ms. Le performed with the Texas State Bobcat Marching Band, where she served as a Drum Major her junior year. Ms. Le also performed with the Texas State Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, and Clarinet Choir before student teaching and graduating in her last semester.
During the summers of 2020-2022, Ms. Le continued her time as a Drum Major/Conductor for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, where she served as Head Drum Major/Conductor for her final summer with the organization. From these experiences, Ms. Le uses her knowledge of the marching arts, peer leadership of large organizations, and marching band music to help high school marching programs as a drum major clinician both during and between marching seasons.
In her field observation and student teaching experiences, Ms. Le sought to increase her knowledge of middle school band pedagogy by deliberately choosing to teach and observe in different public schools in Austin ISD. There, she learned from remarkable cooperating teachers and administrators about the complexity of every band program that makes one unique from the next.
At the heart of her music education philosophy, Geneva Le cites the importance of using music as a tool to create more empathetic, communicative, and insightful individuals. Ms. Le hopes to work with and positively influence the band students of Sunnyvale ISD to see music as both a beautiful form of expression and a necessary communal experience.