STILLWATER, OK, December 09, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Gayla C. Foster has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Dr. Foster initially pursued an education at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, from which she obtained a Bachelor of Music in 1969 and Master of Music in piano performance in 1971. After completing coursework with the University of Southern California from 1971 to 1973, she earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in piano performance and pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma in 1995. In Stillwater, Dr. Foster owned and operated her own piano instruction studio from 1974 to 2014.
Since 1976, Dr. Foster has additionally excelled as the Director of music for the Highland Park United Methodist Church in Stillwater. From 1974 to 1978, she served as an instructor of music theory and chorus with the C.E. Donart High School in Stillwater. Dr. Foster was active as an instructor in music theory with Oklahoma State University (OSU) as an adjunct music faculty member from 1993 to 1994.
Dr. Foster further worked as Fine Arts Curriculum Coordinator for the Stillwater Public Schools from 1997 to 1998, the Director of Arts with the Oklahoma State Department of Education from 1998 to 2001 and the vice-president and Director of Programs with the Oklahoma Arts Institute from 2001 to 2004. In 2005, she began her career in the College of Education as a visiting assistant professor in art education at Oklahoma State University. From 2013-2019, Dr. Foster made an impact as secondary education program coordinator with the OSU College of Education.
Since 2016 she has been distinguished as a clinical associate professor and Audrey Oaks Endowed Art Education Professor with the College of Education and Health Sciences at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Foster has been affiliated with the National and Oklahoma Art Education Associations, the Music Teachers National Association, the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association, Music Links Community Outreach in Education, the Stillwater Area Music Teachers Association, the Friends of Music for Oklahoma State University, the St. Cecilia Music Club and the Oklahoma Federation of Music Clubs.
In addition to instruction, Dr. Foster has also thrived as a pianist. She has performed solo recitals at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, the Performing Arts Center in Tulsa, OK, Cameron University in Lawton, OK, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK. Dr. Foster was further acknowledged as a selected recitalist in the International Workshop for the Arts in Europe in 1992.
Dr. Foster has been celebrated with the Outstanding Service Award from the Oklahoma Art Educators Association, the State Superintendent's Excellence in Arts Education Award from Yukon Public Schools in Canadian County from 1996 to 1998, the Outstanding Service Award from the United Methodist Women's Organization of the Stillwater District, and the Outstanding Achievement for Service from the St. Cecilia Music Club. She was additionally presented with the Sword of Honor for Outstanding Achievement and Service from the Sigma Alpha Iota Music Sorority and a National Service Award from the Oklahoma Alliance for Arts Education. Dr. Foster was notably featured in multiple editions of Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the South and Southwest, Who's Who of Young Women of America and Who's Who in Entertainment.
Dr. Foster attributes her success to her love and passion for both art and music. She considers her most notable achievement in working with her university students in the OSU College of Education since 2005. These students are training to be teachers in public/private schools throughout the nation. Dr. Foster believes in the importance of teaching both art and music to ALL students of every age, as the arts help develop the ability to really understand creativity and its development and in the development of brain functions for all people of every age!
About Marquis Who's Who®
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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