Violinist Evan Pasternak joined the San Diego Symphony in summer 2022. A graduate of Yale College with a BA degree in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Mr. Pasternak completed his graduate degree at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music under the tutelage of Grigory Kalinovsky. In college, Evan also interned at the National Institutes of Health where he did research on the design of HIV diagnostics and cancer drugs but ultimately ended up choosing music as a full time career.

 

1. Tell us about your journey to the San Diego Symphony

I started the violin when I was five. My first memories of orchestra are from my time at the New Jersey Youth Symphony, where I fell in love with the collaborative and synergistic aspects of large ensemble playing. Though I attended Manhattan School of Music’s pre-conservatory training program during my high school years, I believed that I would actually pursue medicine instead. I applied to Yale, where I majored in biochemistry but I never stopped playing chamber music or performing in orchestra. Eventually, I came to the realization that music, and specifically orchestral playing, was my true passion.

I completed my master’s degree at the Jacobs School of Music (Indiana University), studying with renowned pedagogue Grigory Kalinovsky.  I took my audition for the San Diego Symphony during my second year of graduate school, and the rest is history!

      2. What is your favorite San Diego Symphony memory so far? 

Hands down: accompanying Yo-Yo Ma for the Elgar Cello Concerto with my colleagues here at the San Diego Symphony last May. One of the privileges of this job involves the constant opportunity we have to share our stage with great soloists. Not only do we get to watch their artistry up close, but we collaborate with them. Out of the many soloists that have performed with us since I joined the symphony, Yo-Yo Ma was one of the few that fully embraced that collaborative role.

From the moment he stepped on stage at the first rehearsal, it was apparent that he was ready to embark on a musical journey with us. The level of respect and collegiality he exuded is rare.  For concerto accompaniments, the orchestral strings must play quietly so that the soloist can be heard. But in this performance, I felt that the quietest of dynamics was achieved because Yo-Yo Ma was inspiring us to find those colors. His artistry was bringing out the best in all of us. These moments remind me why I went into this profession: to be inspired and to demand more of myself than I believed was possible.

      3. How do you like to spend your free time when not performing? 

I live near Mission Trails Park, so I enjoy getting outside, whether it’s on a nice long walk or a run. Other than that, I spend my free time reading about history and cooking Italian food, though I’ve been branching out lately to other types of cuisines. One fun fact that might surprise some people is that I did equestrian for a few years in high school!

      4. What work are you looking most forward to performing this season at Jacobs Music Center and why?

I may be bucking the tide with this answer, but Dvořák Symphony No. 8. This season is filled with many deep, profound works of art (including Mahler’s Third, Bruckner’s and Shostakovich’s Seventh) and it’s always a treat to perform these meaty works, but I personally have a soft spot for late Dvořák symphonies, particularly his Seventh and Eighth.  Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 holds a special place in my heart, as it was one of the first works that I ever performed as an orchestra member. The symphony is lyrical, tuneful, and quite worldly in nature. It does not aspire to be a sublime piece of art music, but is meant to be enjoyed and savored. I find the work’s good and occasionally boisterous nature to be infectious, and I look forward to sharing this experience with our audiences in early May.

      5. What is an interesting fact about yourself that you’d like to share? 

During my first two summers in college, I interned at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). While I was there, I had the opportunity to conduct research on the design of HIV diagnostics and drugs to target various forms of cancer. While I ultimately chose a different path for myself, I remain grateful for the experiences I had working in a laboratory, as well as the wonderful postdoctoral fellows who generously passed down their knowledge to me.

 

Evan performing

Evan and his mother


Evan and fellow musician friend