Born in Sydney, Grant Foster studied piano with
Alexander Sverjensky at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music,
where he obtained his Diploma of Music in 1966. During that
same year Foster won the State ABC Concerto Competition with
his performance of Khachaturian’s Concerto. He then
studied in Paris for seven years with the renowned teacher
Professor Marcel Ciampi and Denise Reviere. He developed
a strong technique and an inspired insight with the keyboard
repertoire.
Foster moved to London and returned to composing. He started
at an early age and composed his first opera, Dark Love,
at 16. His music was heard by producers in London, resulting
in his composing of incidental music for Peter Pan directed
by Sir Robert Helpmann. The show was a big success and ran
for seven consecutive Christmas seasons. Later he composed
an Elegy on hearing of the death of Helpmann.
A return to Sydney saw Foster recording his first major classical
piano work, Rhapsody for piano and orchestra - War, Peace, Love,
for E.M.I. records. Classical music reviewer in Melbourne, Bob
Crimeen wrote of the Rhapsody: “He has written a composition
that could in time, be regarded as one of the most significant
contributions by an Australian to classical music.” Several
directors from Harrods in London heard the Rhapsody for Piano
and Orchestra and commissioned Foster to launch their new Harrods
Selection label. This
consisted of a series of three piano solo CDs featuring works of the great composers
and including several of Foster’s own compositions. For a 4th CD he was
commissioned to compose an overture, The Harrods Celebration Overture, and this
was
recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Foster has given many concerts abroad. He now lives in Bowral, New South Wales, where he teaches
and continues to compose. His students have won many major awards and he travels to Europe regularly for adjudicating and to conduct Master Classes.
Email. grant.foster@shipc.org.au
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