Photo by: Mary Jane Starke 2014
Sonja Foster is a distinguished American violinist and pedagogue, an alumna of The Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School where she studied under the legendary Ivan Galamian for seven years. Hailed for her “fiery virtuosity” and “luscious, singing tone,” Sonja has performed extensively across the United States in recital, and as soloist with orchestra. She made television appearances and did perform regularly with her late brother, the world-renowned cellist Lawrence Foster.
Mehli Mehta, the father of Zubin Mehta, featured Sonja in the Sibelius Violin Concerto with his orchestra, the American Youth Symphony in her Los Angeles debut. The Atlanta Music Club sponsored her Atlanta debut recital at the Woodruff Arts Center with concert pianist, Edith Karney Schiff at the piano. Shortly thereafter, Sonja performed as soloist with the Sandy Springs Chamber Orchestra (now the Georgia Philharmonic), Charles Schiff, conducting. Sonja has also been featured in recital at the Atlanta Historical Society, The University of Georgia, The High Museum of Art, Dekalb College, and Georgia Public Television among many others. Noted Atlanta composer Curtis Bryant invited her to perform the world-premiere of his Violin Sonata at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival (SC). Sonja has also performed in recital at Pacific Union College (CA), Loma Linda University (CA), Coral Ridge Presbyterian Artists Series (FL), Medallion Series (MN), and the Community Concert Artists Series. Dr. Robert Schuller featured Sonja on his internationally syndicated television program, “The Hour of Power” and in his book “Life’s Not Fair But God is Good." She has most recently been featured as soloist on the Nicolas Bowden and Friends Concerts in Atlanta in 2011 and 2014.
Sonja was born in Chicago to highly creative and musical parents. She began studying the piano at age five and violin at age seven. She was accepted at age nine into the studio of Morris Gomberg, who had been trained by Leopold Auer, at the Chicago Musical College, where she studied for six years. She made her solo debut at age twelve with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra (IL), performing Wieniawski’s Concerto in d minor as a result of winning the Concerto Competition.
Shortly thereafter, noted Chicago philanthropist and Chairman of the Chicago Symphony, Louis Sudler featured Sonja at age 13 on his television program “Artist’s Showcase” with the NBC Symphony. Sonja went on to win the Concerto Competition of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago which resulted in her solo on the Vieuxtemps Concerto no. 4 under Conductor Irwin Hoffman at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall. She has performed extensively throughout the Chicago area as soloist in recitals and with the North Shore, DuPage, and Oak Park symphony orchestras. She was a prize-winner at numerous competitions, including the National Federation of Music Clubs’ Stillman Kelly Competition.
Sonja was accepted to study at the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia at age fifteen upon the personal invitation of Ivan Galamian. She studied at Curtis for three years on a full-scholarship before continuing her studies with Mr. Galamian at The Juilliard School in New York City on scholarship. She also studied chamber music with Robert Mann, Earl Carlyss, Claus Adam, members of the Juilliard String Quartet. Sonja spent summers studying at the Meadowmount School of Music under Mr. Galamian and chamber music with Josef Gingold. Sonja was a member of the Grant Park Symphony in Chicago for seven summers, and also played in the Aspen Chamber Symphony for two summers while at Juilliard. Following her graduation from Juilliard, Sonja joined the violin faculty at both Trinity College and Wheaton College in Illinois. She served as head of strings at the Wheaton College-Conservatory of Music until relocating to Atlanta, Georgia.
In Atlanta, Sonja opened a nationally recognized studio for highly gifted young violinists and violists. Many of her former students have gone on to major international careers. These include Kristen Lee, international soloist, Avery Fisher Career Grant Winner and member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center; Timothy, Janet and Phillip Ying of the Grammy Award winning Ying Quartet; and Joel Link, First Violin of the Dover String Quartet. Her students have won national and international competitions, soloed with major US orchestras, and have won positions in major orchestras throughout the United States.
Sonja specializes in preparing young violinists for a career in music. Her students have been admitted to every renowned music school in the U.S. including The Juilliard School, The Curtis Institute of Music, New England Conservatory of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music, Eastman School of Music, Indiana University, Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and NYU among many others. She has given master classes throughout the United States at institutions such as Vanderbilt University, Pacific Union College, Columbus State University, and Utah State University among others. She was a guest lecturer on teaching gifted children at the Music Teachers National Convention in Washington D.C. in 2001. Most recently, her students have been chosen for the National Youth Orchestra of the United States Tour of China, 2015, and NYO2, where this summer, 2016, three students from three states were chosen to work with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Sonja continues to teach an exclusive studio of highly talented young violinists who travel from many states to study with her in Atlanta. In addition, Sonja now teaches and does consultations by Skype. She also makes a limited number of guest appearances as soloist, adjudicator and master class clinician.
copyright 2016 Sonja Foster
Sonja Foster is a distinguished American violinist and pedagogue, an alumna of The Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School where she studied under the legendary Ivan Galamian for seven years. Hailed for her “fiery virtuosity” and “luscious, singing tone,” Sonja has performed extensively across the United States in recital, and as soloist with orchestra. She made television appearances and did perform regularly with her late brother, the world-renowned cellist Lawrence Foster.
Mehli Mehta, the father of Zubin Mehta, featured Sonja in the Sibelius Violin Concerto with his orchestra, the American Youth Symphony in her Los Angeles debut. The Atlanta Music Club sponsored her Atlanta debut recital at the Woodruff Arts Center with concert pianist, Edith Karney Schiff at the piano. Shortly thereafter, Sonja performed as soloist with the Sandy Springs Chamber Orchestra (now the Georgia Philharmonic), Charles Schiff, conducting. Sonja has also been featured in recital at the Atlanta Historical Society, The University of Georgia, The High Museum of Art, Dekalb College, and Georgia Public Television among many others. Noted Atlanta composer Curtis Bryant invited her to perform the world-premiere of his Violin Sonata at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival (SC). Sonja has also performed in recital at Pacific Union College (CA), Loma Linda University (CA), Coral Ridge Presbyterian Artists Series (FL), Medallion Series (MN), and the Community Concert Artists Series. Dr. Robert Schuller featured Sonja on his internationally syndicated television program, “The Hour of Power” and in his book “Life’s Not Fair But God is Good." She has most recently been featured as soloist on the Nicolas Bowden and Friends Concerts in Atlanta in 2011 and 2014.
Sonja was born in Chicago to highly creative and musical parents. She began studying the piano at age five and violin at age seven. She was accepted at age nine into the studio of Morris Gomberg, who had been trained by Leopold Auer, at the Chicago Musical College, where she studied for six years. She made her solo debut at age twelve with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra (IL), performing Wieniawski’s Concerto in d minor as a result of winning the Concerto Competition.
Shortly thereafter, noted Chicago philanthropist and Chairman of the Chicago Symphony, Louis Sudler featured Sonja at age 13 on his television program “Artist’s Showcase” with the NBC Symphony. Sonja went on to win the Concerto Competition of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago which resulted in her solo on the Vieuxtemps Concerto no. 4 under Conductor Irwin Hoffman at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall. She has performed extensively throughout the Chicago area as soloist in recitals and with the North Shore, DuPage, and Oak Park symphony orchestras. She was a prize-winner at numerous competitions, including the National Federation of Music Clubs’ Stillman Kelly Competition.
Sonja was accepted to study at the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia at age fifteen upon the personal invitation of Ivan Galamian. She studied at Curtis for three years on a full-scholarship before continuing her studies with Mr. Galamian at The Juilliard School in New York City on scholarship. She also studied chamber music with Robert Mann, Earl Carlyss, Claus Adam, members of the Juilliard String Quartet. Sonja spent summers studying at the Meadowmount School of Music under Mr. Galamian and chamber music with Josef Gingold. Sonja was a member of the Grant Park Symphony in Chicago for seven summers, and also played in the Aspen Chamber Symphony for two summers while at Juilliard. Following her graduation from Juilliard, Sonja joined the violin faculty at both Trinity College and Wheaton College in Illinois. She served as head of strings at the Wheaton College-Conservatory of Music until relocating to Atlanta, Georgia.
In Atlanta, Sonja opened a nationally recognized studio for highly gifted young violinists and violists. Many of her former students have gone on to major international careers. These include Kristen Lee, international soloist, Avery Fisher Career Grant Winner and member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center; Timothy, Janet and Phillip Ying of the Grammy Award winning Ying Quartet; and Joel Link, First Violin of the Dover String Quartet. Her students have won national and international competitions, soloed with major US orchestras, and have won positions in major orchestras throughout the United States.
Sonja specializes in preparing young violinists for a career in music. Her students have been admitted to every renowned music school in the U.S. including The Juilliard School, The Curtis Institute of Music, New England Conservatory of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music, Eastman School of Music, Indiana University, Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and NYU among many others. She has given master classes throughout the United States at institutions such as Vanderbilt University, Pacific Union College, Columbus State University, and Utah State University among others. She was a guest lecturer on teaching gifted children at the Music Teachers National Convention in Washington D.C. in 2001. Most recently, her students have been chosen for the National Youth Orchestra of the United States Tour of China, 2015, and NYO2, where this summer, 2016, three students from three states were chosen to work with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Sonja continues to teach an exclusive studio of highly talented young violinists who travel from many states to study with her in Atlanta. In addition, Sonja now teaches and does consultations by Skype. She also makes a limited number of guest appearances as soloist, adjudicator and master class clinician.
copyright 2016 Sonja Foster