Stephen Foster has dedicated his 29-year music career to the enhancement and development of children and adults in the cultural arts. He is the 1995 founder/director of the Mid City Music Workshop and the 1975 founder/director of the Children's Academy of Music. He is a composer, an arranger, an educator, a lecturer, a band leader, an organizer, an arts program director, a community volunteer, a musician, a father and a husband.

Mr. Foster was born and raised in New Orleans. He attended Green Junior High School and graduated from St. Augustine High School. He did post graduate work at Loyola in Music Therapy. He graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education.

Mr. Foster has received numerous awards, including the WDSU Channel 6 "Making a Difference Award", the 1999 Trailblazer of the Year Award sponsored by the Entergy Corp. and Data News Weekly, the Positive Men and Women Award 2000 and several Certificates of Recognition from the Mayor's Office, the New Orleans City Council and most recently the Lincoln Center (New York) Essentially Ellington Competition Achievement Award. The Times-Picayune described Mr. Foster as a hero to New Orleans youths.

In 2005 Foster, along with thousands of other Crescent City citizens, was forced to leave his home and relocate to Memphis.  While this move began in turmoil Foster was able to open a new chapter in his career.  Foster performs regularly with the New Orleans Jazz Ramblers, a group which he founded and leads, he is the music director at the Stax Music Academy in Memphis, and is also the Memphis area coordinator of the Jazz Foundation of America, head quartered in New York, NY.  Foster is also an active member of MENC and IAJE.

"I believe that by keeping the cultural arts alive we keep our future alive" Mr. Stephen Foster