Rob Foster is a versatile woodwind performer, composer, and educator whose music reflects a lifetime of artistic exploration across jazz, blues, Motown, funk, rock, classical, and global traditions. Raised in Detroit’s vibrant musical culture, Foster developed a broad and distinctive musical voice that has since carried him to perform across the United States and overseas.

Throughout his career, Dr. Foster has performed on flute and saxophone with an extraordinary range of renowned artists and ensembles, including Ralph Alessi, Louis Bellson, Dave Brubeck, Ravi Coltrane, Michael Dease, Dizzy Gillespie, Wycliffe Gordon, Art Lande, James Newton, Terrell Stafford, Clark Terry, and Rodney Whitaker, as well as with popular artists such as Joey Bishop, Albert Collins, Charlie Daniels, John Denver, Benolds, The Four Tops, Crystal Gayle, The Ink Spots, Melissa Manchester, Maureen McGovern, Bob Newhart, Olivia Newton-John, Mitch Ryder, The Temptations, Three Dog Night, The Platters, Violent Femmes, and many others. Since 1996, he has performed as the principal saxophonist with the Augusta Symphony Orchestra and remains active in the orchestra’s community outreach initiatives.

Since 1996, Dr. Foster has also served as Professor of Music at Augusta University, where he coordinate applied woodwinds instruction with specialties in flute and saxophone.

In addition to traditional symphonic woodwinds, Foster’s study of the shakuhachi—the Japanese bamboo flute—has deeply influenced his artistic philosophy, inspiring a musical approach rooted in mindfulness, spirituality, and cross-cultural expression. His recordings span jazz, meditative music, studio collaborations in numerous genres, and recent projects featuring the shakuhachi.

Dedicated to community engagement, Dr. Foster founded and directs the annual Musical Memories for Alzheimer’s benefit concerts in Augusta, an initiative that has raised over $60,000 to support the care, research, and advocacy efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association.