All about Eva

MUSICIAN — VIOLIST — PILATES TEACHER — FRANKLIN METHOD EDUCATOR — ROLL MODEL METHOD PRACTITIONER

Music was always part of my house growing up. Some of my earliest memories were of writing songs with my sister; she played guitar and I sang. We had an upright piano that we tinkered with, and our parents exposed us to music from Tchaikovsky to Barry Manilow. My grandfather was a professional violinist who spent much of his career playing shows on Broadway. When it came time to choose an instrument in elementary school, it seemed logical to take up the violin.

From Violin To Viola

I liked my early violin studies a lot. It felt really good to take something that felt mysterious and make sense of it: where to put my fingers, how to hold the bow, how to make it all work together. My high school teacher noticed my general demeanor that suggested being a good fit for playing the inner voice, and also pointed out the greater chance at college scholarship money as a violist. Happy to read fewer ledger lines, I switched to the viola. 

I went to Purchase College, State University of New York for undergraduate, where I majored in music performance. Purchase was a perfect place for me because I felt immersed in a creative environment. The music building was right next to the dance building. Unlike the music building, the dance building had a vending machine that sold not only soda but juice. I found this very exciting, so I made regular trips into the dance building to get my juice and watch the beautiful movers before heading back over to the music building to practice. Meanwhile, I was developing repetitive strain issues in my arms and back from playing the viola. One of my viola teachers, Daniel Philips, suggested I try the Alexander Technique to help me move with greater ease and efficiency. This was the beginning of my fascination with movement techniques. I would later go on to learn about Feldenkrais, Iyengar Yoga, various workout regimens and Pilates. My other undergraduate viola teacher was Walter Trampler, who taught me about poise and stage presence. I got my Master’s degree from the Eastman School of Music, where my teacher, George Taylor, taught me through example the art of great teaching. 

Becoming a Professional Musician

For years music was my one and only profession. I gave recitals and taught master classes across the United States and Eastern Europe. I served on the music faculties of Eastern Michigan University, Bowling Green State University, Virginia Commonwealth University and Longwood College. I’ve been a member of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra since 2000, and I’m also a member of the Muse Ensemble with violinist Kyoko Kashiwagi and cellist Katri Ervamaa. I’ve previously been a member of the St. Louis Symphony, Richmond Symphony and Louisville Orchestra, and have spent years playing as a substitute musician with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. I’ve played with numerous chamber ensembles including the Chautauqua String Quartet, Michigan Chamber Players, Chamber Music Ann Arbor, Chamber Music at the Scarab Club and the American Romanian Festival. I’ve played on several orchestral and chamber music recordings, and even got a review! For my recording of works for viola, clarinet and piano released by Fleur de Son Classics, I was praised for having “a rich, juicy tone and an agile technique” (Ann Arbor Observer, Allmusic.com). All the while, I had the sense that one day I wanted to teach some form of movement as well. 

Inspired to Teach Pilates and More

While living in St. Louis, I spent a lot of time in the Pilates studio with my mentor Suzanne Ford, who ultimately inspired me to become a Pilates teacher. I completed my Comprehensive Instructor training with Balanced Body in 2017. I practice Pilates just about every day, and am insatiably interested in learning and deepening my understanding of movement. In 2021 I became certified as a Roll Model® Method practitioner of self-myofascial release. I also began studying and teaching the Franklin Method, an evidence based movement technique that uses imagery to help us learn our body’s design so we can move with greater ease. It works in combination with all other forms of movement, and is filled with pure gold for creative people.

Founding Forte Movement

The last few years have been a lot about finding my voice as a movement teacher. 

I decided my business of teaching workshops and classes for musicians deserved a different name from Eva Stern Pilates, et voilà here it is: Forte Movement. Forte = “strong” in Italian, and = something we’re very good at in English. However you like to interpret it, we all have the ability to be good at movement. In my mind, being good at movement ultimately means enjoying it.

I now live in Norfolk, Virginia, where I teach Pilates + Franklin Method both in person and online, as well as offering Forte Movement workshops for musicians across the country. I’m a faculty member at the Governor’s School for the Arts, where I teach Pilates and Franklin Method for Instrumentalists. I continue to play with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra during the summers and play chamber music any chance I get. When not engaged in something movement or music related, I’m probably doting on my cat.