Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Sidney Foster: The Radio Story of the Little Known Artist and Master Teacher

Sidney Foster
Courtesy of Justin Foster
Sidney Foster

FosterCadenzaBeethoven.mp3
Sidney Foster's Cadenza for Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto. On the Keys host, David Kiser at the piano.

Sidney Finkelstein (changed later to Foster) was born in Florence and lived on West Evans Street. He attended the famed Curtis Institute of Music and played at Carnegie Hall numerous times. 

He had the aplomb of Horowitz and the instincts of a composer. All of his recordings, the few that were made, exude meaning. But you might have not heard of this South Carolina native because he dedicated his life to his students. You will hear about Foster through the voices of students, Carlisle Floyd, Hans Boepple, Mary Samulski Parekh, and Imelda Delgado, and stories about the state’s piano teachers of piano teachers. 

Credit Justin Foster
looking dapper at the piano.

Credit Photo by Kubey Rembrandt Photos, Curtesy of Curtis Archives
Student at Curtis

classical Stations: Thu, Oct 20, at 8 p.m.

Special thanks to International Piano Archives.

Imelda Delgado's book An Intimate Portrait of Sidney Foster was used as source material. 

Stay Connected
David Kiser is the Executive Director of the Greenville County Youth Orchestra. He was formerly the Education and Community Engagement Manager of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra where he oversaw the symphony’s extensive education programs. In Spring 2022, he introduced the newest program called Student Ambassadors that connected local high school music students with the symphony. He is married to the pianist Lisa Won Jung Kiser and they live with their family in Greenville, SC. He is the second oldest of ten children.