Fran Hoyte moves where science meets movement. For over 30 years, she has blended the precision of clinical research with the transformative power of Pilates. The result? A teaching style that is precise, innovative, and deeply human.
Trained in traditional Power Pilates (2002) and contemporary Kane Pilates (2008), Fran has been a core faculty member at the Kane School / Kinected Pilates for 15+ years, and the opened Sound-Pilates as a request to open the first branch of the Kane Pilates Teacher-Training Program here in Westport, CT.
Fran’s parallel career in pharmaceutical clinical research spans 25+ years, from bench chemist to executive at Bayer. She brings this scientific perspective into her Pilates work, so every session becomes a joy of exploration. Clients discover not just what is, but what can be. They leave stronger. More aware. Inspired to reach their potential.
A certified voice teacher through the Fitzmaurice Voice Institute, Fran integrates breath, voice, and body awareness into workshop and classes. She is a regular presenter and she brings practicality with theory and humor to her workshops. PMA (2017–2019, 2022), PAA (2021), and the Swedish Institute (2017, 2018), in the aim of providing audiences with ease of understanding, and ability to translate immediately.
Her mentors—Bob Liekens, Kathy Grant, Ron Fletcher, Jill Miller, Tom Myers, Mary Bowen, Kelly Kane, and Eric Franklin—have informed her approach, fusing classical mastery with scientific and movement insight.
She inspires students and teachers alike to move smarter. To feel stronger. To explore the limitless possibilities of body, voice, and mind.
Robyn discovered Pilates due to knee injury and was so impressed with how quickly she recovered, she knew she wanted to learn and dive into the nitty gritty of why the method worked so efficiently and effectively.
She chose the Kane School at Sound-Pilates and has been teaching ever since. Her specialties include hip replacements, knee injuries, post natal. Robyn’s clients love her for nuanced cueing, tough workouts, and her ability to explain complex problems in simple terms. And her infectious laugh. If you know Robyn, you love Robyn.
Galya is an accomplished Olympic Gold medalist in fencing from Ukraine, who began her sports career at a young age. Her extensive training in various sports has equipped her with a deep understanding of body movement, agility, strength, and coordination, all while prioritizing health and injury prevention. Alongside her athletic career, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy and History.
After retiring from professional competition, Galya coached the fencing team at Yale University, opened her own fencing school in Wilton, CT. After discovering Pilates is her preferred fitness method, completed her comprehensive Kane School Pilates certification at Sound-Pilates, and decided to focus her attention to her Pilates clients and motherhood.
As a Pilates instructor, Galya enjoys sharing her expertise to help clients become stronger, more flexible, and healthier. She believes in the transformative power of movement for a happy life and aims to challenge her clients while ensuring they enjoy their sessions.
Victoria Chiappetta is a licensed Physical Therapist and dedicated Pilates instructor who helps people move with strength, balance, and confidence. Grounded in rehabilitation, sports performance, and movement science, she brings clinical expertise to every session, guiding clients to build strength, restore function, and prevent injury.
Her approach was shaped through extensive training with Fran Hoyte with the Kane School, where she developed a deep appreciation for traditional Pilates, alignment, and evidence-based movement. This rare combination of Pilates and physical therapy allows Victoria to deliver an experience that is both restorative and performance-driven—transforming not only how clients move, but how they feel in their bodies.
By uniting the principles of Pilates with the science of physical therapy, Victoria creates personalized programs that support professional athletes striving for peak performance as well as individuals seeking greater ease and confidence in daily life. Her mission is simple yet powerful: to help each person unlock their potential, restore balance, and experience the lasting benefits of transformative, intelligent movement.
Kate discovered Pilates overseas, and knew she wanted to become a Pilates instructor. When she moved back to the States, she discover the Kane School/ Kinected and then moved to Connecticut.
She was thrilled that Westport had a branch of the Kane School and enrolled and excelled. Now years later, Kate loves working with clients and helping them get out of pain, get strong and exceed her client’s goals.
Julie Savinelli was introduced to Pilates as a teenager but became committed to her practice over a decade ago while navigating pregnancy and postpartum issues. The impact Pilates had on her life and her desire to share this experience and passion with others led her to the Kane School teacher-training program. She loves the way Pilates compliments so many forms of movement, increases strength and flexibility, enhances mobility, all while building the mind body connection. Julie shares her knowledge and love of Pilates with her clients while challenging them to meet their goals in a fun and inspiring environment.
Andrea Kostanecki, a self-proclaimed weekend warrior, was raised on the East Coast, where she embraced an active outdoor lifestyle from a young age. Guided by a "work hard, play hard" mantra, Andrea's adventurous spirit led her to travel west, seeking both professional opportunities and thrilling outdoor escapades.
Her passion for adventure has taken her from mountain biking and backcountry skiing to hiking and even the occasional bungee jumping. These high-energy activities, while exhilarating, resulted in a series of undiagnosed injuries over the years.
After returning to Connecticut, Andrea has spent the past 20 years establishing herself as a dedicated realtor. Despite her busy career, she continued to pursue her weekend warrior activities, which eventually led to visible injuries. This journey prompted Andrea to discover Pilates as a means to achieve health, balance, and rehabilitation beyond what traditional physical therapy could provide.
Today, Andrea is not only focused on her own health and movement but is also dedicated to helping her clients achieve the same. Her goal is to use her personal experiences and knowledge to support others in finding a harmonious balance between their professional and active lifestyles.
Kim is a "recovering" Human Resources executive who made a mid-life career change to teach Pilates! She received her pilates education through the Kane School Pilates Teacher-Training at Sound-Pilates. She loves working with Pilates "newbies" and experienced students alike and has been trained in working with special populations (e.g., scoliosis, osteoporosis, hip replacement, injury recovery, etc.)
Eléonore is a passionate about movement and art with over 18 years of experience in physicality and athletic training. She has studied at the Martha Graham school of Contemporary dance and graduated with a degree of professional Dancer and a degree of Dance Teacher. She, since, has been teaching Graham technique, Ballet and more. Known for her hardworking ethic, Eleonore also has lots of experience in creation, improvisation and in building relationships with students, builds trust and clients count on. She is dedicated to helping her students find joyous movement while creating technique to prevent or help rehab injuries.
