The First Friday Concert at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1000 Michigan Ave., La Porte, at 12;10 p.m. Oct.3, will feature jazz pianist Billy Foster and his wife, Renee Miles-Foster.
Foster is a composer, educator, and producer who has been an active professional musician for the past 35 years. He has performed across the U.S. with others, as well as with his own groups. He has written and produced recordings with both the “Billy Foster and Audio” and the “Billy Foster Trio.”
Foster is a featured soloist on two of guitarist Henry Johnson’s CDs on MCA records. His work as a pianist and composer with the “Valparaiso University Faculty Jazz Trio” can be heard on the CDs, “CDs For The Moment” and the 2010 recording “Journey.” Foster has also written and produced music for several television commercials.
He retired after 35 years as a music teacher in the Gary Community School Corporation and was jazz piano instructor at Valparaiso University from 1980-2014. He has served on the Indiana Arts Commission Advisory Panel for three years.
Foster received his Bachelor of Science from Defiance College and a Master of Music from Roosevelt University with additional study at New York University. He has studied with famed jazz pianist, Jaki Byard. Currently, Foster teaches piano and Jazz History at Indiana University Northwest.
He recently played at the Chicago Jazz Festival, has been playing at Winter's Jazz club in Chicago, Merriman's Playhouse in South Bend and has played at the Elkhart Jazz Festival.
Miles-Foster began singing at an early age, influenced by the sounds of her parents lovingly sharing their radio and albums with jazz music, showcasing prolific American jazz giants of the 40s, 50s, and 60s.
She absorbed the wonderful artistry of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Mahalia Jackson, Johnny Hartman, and Billy Holiday.
She enrolled in the Indiana University Northwest campus and later transferred to Indiana University Bloomington. Miles-Foster was awarded a scholarship from the African American Studies Department allowing her to further her studies in gospel and spiritual music at Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia, with the renowned Dr. Wendell Whalum.
Miles-Foster has advanced her professional career and has been blessed with the opportunity to branch into many wonderful and life-changing settings. As protégé of the internationally acclaimed diva Donna Hightower, she was invited to travel abroad to Munich and Frankfurt, Germany, and Switzerland.
St. Paul's is air-conditioned and handicap-accessible via the Harrison Street entrance. People are encouraged to bring their lunches for the half-hour concert. There is no charge, but a free-will offering box is available to sustain the series.