B i o g r a p h y
ABOUT
Eva Wasserman-Margolis is a clarinetist whose soulful artistry, pedagogical brilliance, and passionate advocacy for underheard music have left a profound mark on the global clarinet community. Born in the sun drenched Key West, Florida Keys, her musical journey began with simple songs sung in her parents’ garden her father a concentration camp survivor, her mother born in India whose stories of resilience and wanderlust deeply shaped her spirit and artistry.
In 1980, she completed her Master of Music in Performance at the University of Illinois and in that same year, at just 23, she accepted the role of Principal Clarinet with the Haifa Symphony in Israel. Her move to Israel not only advanced her performance career, but also nurtured her love of musicology: at Bar Ilan University she became deeply interested in researching and revitalizing works by lesser known composers.
Eva Wasserman-Margolis's dedication to her art is matched by her devotion to teaching. For decades, she served as the principal clarinet instructor at the Conservatory in Givatayim (1984–2019), mentoring generations of clarinetists who now perform and teach globally. Her colleagues describe her as an 'artist/teacher' due to her profound knowledge of repertoire and teaching techniques, calling her 'truly amazing.'
As a leader, she established the first Israeli International Clarinet Festival in 1998 and later represented Israel at international festivals in Belgium (1999) and Japan (2005). Her international career includes performances and masterclasses across the U.S., Canada, Europe, China, and Japan. Notably, in 2004, she was the only woman among five international performers honored with a professorship for her performance at China’s International Clarinet Festival.
Eva is also a published composer. Her solo clarinet works, including The Generation of Hope, Ode to Odessa, and The Whispering Child, explore themes of memory, resilience, and spiritual connection. Her trilogy Creating/Created/Creation, alongside works like Games of the Soul and Nigun-Li, demonstrates a deeply personal and holistic artistic vision.
Her pedagogical contributions are significant. Her acclaimed educational works include the book Time for Tone, published in five languages, and the more recent Thinking Tone. Both emphasize tone development, healthy technique, and musical integrity from the beginning. Learning Clarinet the Artistic Way was the first clarinet method book in Hebrew and a groundbreaking resource for Israeli students.
Committed to holistic well being, Eva holds a Health Practitioner degree and integrates Bach flowers, frequency medicine, nutrition, and Iyengar yoga into her teaching philosophy. She plays a pair of vintage Buffet Continental clarinets and a custom Lomax mouthpiece (the EWM series), a reflection of her deep respect for tradition fused with personal expression.
Colleagues praise her playing as warm, round, and radiant, a sound born of profound commitment. Throughout her career, Eva Wasserman-Margolis has bridged performance, education, and scholarship with grace, humility, and a lifelong mission to share music that matters.