Director

Marc Ashley Foster, moved to Mississippi from North Carolina in July of 2004 to join the staff of Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church in Jackson as Director of Music and Worship Arts Ministries, and became an Instructor of voice at Millsaps College that same fall. He received a Doctor of Music Arts degree (DMA) in Choral Conducting from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Master of Sacred Music degree (MSM) from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and the Bachelor of Music Education degree (BM Ed) in Choral Conducting and Voice from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. While pursuing his doctorate at UNCG he also taught Music Theory, Ear Training, courses in Italian, Latin, and English Diction and conducted the University Men’s Glee Club. Dr. Foster was honored with the Holderness Fellowship, was a scholarship recipient, and Graduate Teaching Assistant.

As a Tenor soloist, Dr. Foster is a sought after recitalist and has sung numerous operatic and oratorio roles. Recent engagements include Haydn’s Creation, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, and Handel’s Messiah with the Mississippi Chorus and Orchestra, Missa Luba with Brevard College (NC) and Southern Methodist University (TX), Mozart’s Vespers at First Presbyterian Church in High Point, North Carolina, Mozart’s Mass in C Major at First United Methodist Church in Frisco, Texas and at St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church Dallas, TX, Mozart’s Grand Mass in C Minor at First United Methodist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, and Vaughan Williams’ Hodie at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas, TX.

As a conductor, Dr Foster has led clinics and workshops throughout the United States, and is a sought after choral clinician. His choirs have appeared at such venues as the Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church of South Georgia, and for the recent dedication service for the new Mississippi United Methodist Bishop, Hope Morgan Ward. He is proud to have studied choral conducting from some of the nation’s top choral conductors including Dr. Hillary Apfelstadt, Dr. William P. Carroll, Dr. Richard Cox, David Davidson, Constantina Tsolainou, and Dr. Welborn Young.

Dr. Foster is the proud father of two very active young boys, Michael and Pearson, and is married to Rev. Michelle Foster, an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church, and an Associate Pastor at Galloway Memorial UMC.

Assistant Director

Richard Waters is Director of Choral Activities at Delta State University, where he directs the university's three choral ensembles, teaches courses in conducting and choral methods, and supervises student teachers. He received the Bachelor of Music degree in music education from James Madison University, the Master of Music degree in choral conducting from the Hartt School of Music, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He has studied conducting with William Carroll, Welborn Young, Richard Coffey, Michael Yachanin, and David Watkins, and has conducted in master classes led by Rodney Eichenberger and Dennis Keene.

Under Dr. Waters' direction, the choirs at Delta State have performed in several notable national and international venues, including Carnegie Hall in New York and a tour of England with performances at York Minster, Christ Church Cathedral (Oxford), and St. Bride's Church (London). In 2007, the Chorale was selected to perform at the Mississippi ACDA / MENC state convention in Jackson. In addition to his university responsibilities, he is Director of Music at First United Methodist Church in Cleveland and serves on the Mississippi ACDA Board of Directors as R&S Chair for College and University Choirs.

A native of Virginia, Dr. Waters began singing as a treble in the All Saints Choir of Men and Boys in Richmond. While in Hartford, he sang in CONCORA (Connecticut Choral Artists), the region's first all-professional choir. Dr. Waters maintains an active schedule as an adjudicator and clinician. He holds memberships in the American Choral Directors Association, Chorus America, College Music Society, MENC: The National Association for Music Education, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Pi Kappa Lambda.

Accompanist

David O’Steen, pianist, has played the piano from the age of three and has played for church since age six. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance with honors from the University of Southern Mississippi, where he was elected into the Alpha Zeta chapter of the Society of Pi Kappa Lambda and winner of the Mississippi Music Teachers Association’s Piano Concerto Competition. He received his Master of Music degrees in piano performance and vocal performance from the University of Alabama. His teachers include Claude Cook, Paul Andersen, Warren Hutton, George Imbragulio, Mary Ann Stringer, Amanda Penick, Alfred Anderson and Edward White. While at the University of Alabama, he accompanied Opera Workshop, Tuscaloosa Community Singers, and numerous singers and instrumentalists. In addition to playing the piano, he has sung for the University Opera Theater (Count Almaviva/The Marriage of Figaro, Frank/Die Fledermaus, Mr. Kofner/The Consul, Rev. Hale/The Crucible), for The Alabama Shakespeare Festival (Colline/La Boheme, Banco/Otello) and was the winner of the regional competition of the National Association of Teachers of Singing’s graduate voice division. He has also performed as soloist for Requiem/Durufle, Requiem/Faure, The Christmas Story/Nelson, Magnificat/Bach, Messiah/Handel and the CD recording Wind of Heaven with the K. Lee Scott Singers. Currently living in Jackson, Mississippi, he serves as Principal Parish Musician for St. Philip’s Episcopal Church and a private instructor of piano and voice. He serves on the Leadership Program for Musicians National Board, the Diocesan Music and Liturgy Committee, Chorus Master for the Mississippi Opera and as staff accompanist for the Mississippi Conference on Church Music and Liturgy.

Board
2007-2008
Director ... Marc Foster
Assistant Director ... Richard Waters
President ... Robert Shivers
Vice President ... Stephen Travers
Secretary ... Jona Boone
Treasurer ... Sandra Maddox

Officers
2007-2008
Sherry Boyd ... Soprano Representative
Sandra McKellar ... Soprano Representative
Debbie Lott ... Alto Representative
Bebe Wolfe... Alto Representative
J.J. Coker ... Tenor Representative
Denis Sharp ... Tenor Representative
Bill Stilley ... Bass Representative
Jerry Morgan ... Bass Representative

 

A quote from the past:
"Te Deum," Mozart -- "... sung impeccably, with a perfect balance." Glenn Gentry, Continuo