After considerable study and several appointments in his native Sydney, Australia, Mr. Forster traveled to the United States in 1996 to study with Professor Thomas Murray, earning two degrees from Yale University as well as the Faculty Prize and the Robert S. Baker Scholarship from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, and from the Yale School of Music the Julia R. Sherman Prize for excellence in organ playing.  In addition to earning qualifications from the University of Sydney, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and Trinity College of Music, London, Mr. Forster’s awards include the Scarf Foundation Award, the 1994 Sydney International Organ Competition, the University of Sydney Organ Scholarship (awarded twice), the Alice Bryant Organ Scholarship (for two terms of three years each), and the Ruth and Paul Manz Organ Scholarship.

While studying at Yale, Mr. Forster served as Fellow in Church Music at Christ Church, New Haven, Connecticut; work at the University included appointments as Marquand Chapel Organist, accompanist to various choruses and graduate courses, and teacher to numerous undergraduate and secondary organ students.  In addition to performances throughout both hemispheres, Mr. Forster’s work as organist, conductor, composer, arranger, and musicologist has been published, recorded and broadcast around the world, including his landmark organ transcription of Dvořák’s Ninth Symphony “From the New World”.

A more detailed version of this Biography is available by clicking the “Biography” link above, in the left column.