Since moving to Hawaii in 1985 to play in the Honolulu Symphony, now the Hawaii Symphony, Norm Foster has been active in the community not only as an orchestral musician, but as a chamber music artist, jazz clarinetist and music educator as well. He has taught clarinet privately since 1979 and is currently a Teaching Artist for Kalikolehua El Sistema Hawaii. He enjoys teaching all ages from beginners to advanced, children as well as adults.

Mr. Foster received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Illinois and Master of Music degree
from Michigan State University.

He played Second/E-flat Clarinet with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra for three seasons and is a founding member of Sinfonia Da Camera, a well-known chamber orchestra in Urbana, Illinois. Joining the Honolulu Symphony in 1985 as Second/E-flat Clarinetist, he has also played Acting Associate Principal for six seasons, and additionally plays bass clarinet, basset horn, and saxophone.

Mr. Foster has presented solo recitals in Hong Kong, Macau, and at Hawaii Loa College, and has appeared as a guest artist with Academy Camerata, Chamber Music Hawaii, and at the University of Wisconsin-Madsion. He is a founding member and Director of the Red-Hot Lava Chamber Music Festival and has performed in numerous chamber music concerts with visiting artists. Mr. Foster has been a member of the clarinet faculty at the Aspen Music Festival teaching E-Flat clarinet and playing in the Festival Orchestra. He has also taught at the Hong Kong Arts Center, Ling-Nan College, Illinois Summer Youth Music, and the Pacific Basin Band Festival.

Clarinet teachers of Mr. Foster include university professors, concerto soloists and symphony clarinetists. His most influential instructors have been Lawrie Bloom, Larry Combs, Gervase De Peyer, Harvey Hermann, Howard Klug, Elsa Verdehr, Richard Waller, John Yeh, and Paul Zonn. He has also studied classical saxophone with James Forger and Joseph Lulloff, and jazz clarinet with New York saxophonist Rob Scheps.

 

Mr. Foster also collaborates with his wife Ruth Shiroma Foster, an accomplished singer, pianist and ukulele player, as well as an award-winning songwriter. Together they teach music to kids with a well-rounded approach that emphasizes piano and can include singing, ukulele and other instruments or related activities.