Brendan Foster is an Australian vibraphonist, composer, and improviser whose work spans jazz and improvised music, who holds a Bachelor and Master’s degree in Music Studies, with distinction. Brendan is based in Queensland, where he performs extensively across the region, both fronting his own projects and supporting a variety of artists.
His two albums of original music, Brendan Foster Quartet, and Lineage, have garnered critical attention and led to significant opportunities, including the reception of the inaugural Lynette Irwin Composition Commission, which allowed him to compose for an 8-piece ensemble at the 2023 Brisbane International Jazz Festival.
Though classically trained, Brendan’s musical influences are deeply rooted in jazz and the broader world of improvisation, which he explores through performance, composition, and teaching. He has run workshops for the Open Conservatorium, where he introduces students to the intricate relationships between rhythm and improvisation. Brendan was trained under the tutelage of Nozomi Omote, Kym Ambrose, and James Sandon. Specialising in mallet percussion, jazz vibraphone, improvisation, composition, and music theory, Brendan is passionate about teaching and guiding all ages and experience levels of students.