Svetlana Forte was born in Ukraine and graduated with honors from the Music School of Odessa in 1981. In 1986, she completed the Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts degree from the Conservatory of Odessa, Ukraine. She was a member of the Opera Theater of Odessa and later became a member of the Chamber Orchestra of Havana.
From 1991 to 1994, Mrs. Forte was a professor at the school of violin and chamber music at the Universidad Autonoma de Zacatecas, Mexico.
After her arrival to the United States, she has been principal second violin of the Florida Chamber Orchestra and adjunct violinist for several South Florida orchestras such as Palm Beach Opera, Boca Pops, Florida Classical Orchestra, Florida Grand Opera, and Weston Chamber Orchestra.
She is a member of the String Armonia Ensemble and the principal violin of the Symphony of the Americas which, as part of its U.S. and Florida outreach, travels to Panama and Italy.