Shelley Foster has been passionate about music since birth, having supposedly learned to sing at only 9 months old (so says her mom) and starting piano at age 5. Shelley then played violin and viola in middle and high school, and sang in several choirs throughout her childhood and adolescence.

She went on to earn a BA in music from UC Davis, where she also sang in the university's Early Music Ensemble and learned to play the baroque instrument called viola da gamba. She received several awards, including winning first place in the NATS California capital Chapter singing competition, first place in the Asya Pleshkach Scholarship for Young Choral Singers, and she was a semi finalist for the Mondavi Center National Young Artists Competition.

​When not teaching, she enjoys taking part in community musical theater productions at venues such as Sixth Street Playhouse in Santa Rosa. She is delighted to share her experience and joy for music with students of MTME!