Robert E. Foster Jr.

Robert E. Foster, Jr. was born January 22, 1966 in Gainesville, Florida. In high school, I was an all-state trumpet player and was also selected to perform with the McDonald’s All- American Band. I was an athlete and also lettered in football where I was selected all-sunflower league member and also wrestled and lettered.

I attended the University of Kansas on a music scholarship and walked on to the varsity football team, earning a scholarship and starting 3 years on the varsity special teams. I received my bachelor of music education degree while playing football. As a deep snapper for KU, I lettered 3 years and was selected the “special teams player of the year award” in 1987. I was named to the Phillips 66 and Lee-Jeans Academic all big-8 football team and in 1987, was selected as an Anson Scholar was selected to the “Playboy” magazine Academic All-American Team. I signed a free agent contract with the NFL Atlanta Falcons football franchise in 1987. Once released, returned to the University of Kansas to finish my degree.

Next, I attended the University of Illinois as a band graduate assistant with the “”marching illini”” and received my MS in Music Education/Conducting in 1993. I have completed additional graduate work at the University of North Texas, and at the University of Kansas.

I have been teaching for 29 years and am a third generation band director. I am currently in my16th year as band director at Lexington Trails MIddle School in De Soto, Kansas. Prior, positions include the associate director of bands position at the University of Maryland, Texas Christian University ,and Tennessee Tech University, and band director positions at Haskell Indian Nations University and Eudora, Kansas public schools.

In addition to being a middle school band director, I am also the founder and artistic director for the De Soto Brass Band. Established in 2007, this semi-professional band consists of many of the finest musicians in northeast Kansas and presents 3 concert annually.

I primarily write music for my middle school ensembles. My band music publications are in the Wingert-Jones Music, Ludwig-Masters Music, and the Curnow Music catalogs. I have also arranged over 100 charts for marching/pep band and have written numerous works for brass bands.

I live in Overland Park, Kansas with my wife and best friend, Kelley and dogs Shaddy and Lily. Our children are grown and out of the house. Our son, Dylan graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Theatre and our daughter Ragan is pursuing a degree in Graphic Design from the University of Kansas.