Catheryn Foster

Dr. Catheryn Shaw Foster currently serves as Assistant Professor of Practice and Program Director for Graduate Studies in Music Education at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. Her responsibilities include advising and instructing graduate students in the Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction program. Foster received her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, her Master of Music Education (MMEd) from Valdosta State University, and her Bachelor of Music Education (BMEd) from Columbus State University. Prior to her appointment at Virginia Tech, she served on the faculty at Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, North Carolina as the Program Coordinator for Music Education and Lecturer in Music Education. Dr. Foster also served as the Associate Director of Bands at High Point University (NC). She taught public school in Georgia, serving as the Director of Bands at Lowndes Middle School in Valdosta and the Assistant Director of Bands at Perry High School in Perry. Foster serves as a clinician, adjudicator, professional development facilitator, and guest lecturer throughout the southeast. She is the co-author of Developing Error Detection Skills in the Wind Band Educator published by GIA Publications, Inc. Her research is published in Journal of Music Teacher Education, Bulletin for the Council of Research in Music Education, and Qualitative Research in Music Education. She has presented her research at state, regional, and national conferences. Her professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education and the Virginia Music Educators Association, and she serves on the editorial board for Contributions to Music Education. She is also the co-founder of the Rural Band Director Alliance, a national organization to support and empower rural band directors.