After State Fair win, 12-year-old Charles Foster sets sights on bigger stages
“I was like, ‘I’m going to go win this,’” 12-year-old Charles Foster thought to himself as he stepped onto the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand stage to perform Alicia Keys’ “Girl on Fire” for one of the largest audiences he had faced.
That confidence became reality. Foster’s powerful voice and energetic stage presence earned him first place in the preteen division of the 2026 Minnesota State Fair Amateur Talent Contest.
The victory was the latest milestone in Foster’s growing career. He began singing about two years ago and has already performed at several Twin Cities theaters. He played the Big Bad Wolf in “The Big Bad Musical” at the Capri Theater, Macduff’s son in “Macbeth” at the Guthrie Theater and performed in “The Wizard of Oz” at the Children’s Theatre Company.
Foster said performing makes him feel electric and joyful. He enjoys seeing his effect on an audience and hopes to take on every part of the performing arts industry.
“All of them. Theatre, movies, music, short films, ads, all of it,” he said.
Foster and his brother auditioned for the State Fair talent contest last year but didn’t advance. Still determined, Foster and his mom, Carmeann Foster, studied past winners and decided he needed to do more than just sing to stand out.
“I was going to play guitar for the ‘Girl on Fire’ track, and I was going to tap dance and do flips and stuff,” Foster said.
After some thought, he decided to add flips, a split and a strong stage presence to win over the judges.
Since the contest, videos of his performance have been circulating across Instagram and TikTok, generating thousands of views. When Foster returned to school, he said classmates recognized him from social media.
“They were like, ‘I saw you on TikTok, I saw you on TikTok, I saw you performing!’” Foster said.
Growing up, Carmeann said Foster would always be singing around the house. After he joined the MacPhail Community Youth Choir, she said she discovered what she described as the “it” factor while he performed a solo of Michael Jackson’s 'Man in the Mirror.'
“From the time he started singing, I just was bawling the whole song,” Carmeann said.
Through MCYC, Foster began working with vocal coach JD Steele, who said he enjoys watching Foster’s youthful energy.
“He’s got a very powerful voice, and he’s got an elastic range and an ability to do a variety of genres,” Steele said.
Foster said recordings from the beginning of his training did not sound as good as his performances do today. Working with Steele has helped him improve his breathing, tone and vibrato, while also teaching him lessons beyond music.
“I’ve definitely grown musically and as a human being,” Foster said.
Steele said developing Foster’s education and mental well-being is just as important as music.
“The most important thing is that they’re going to be great human beings and good global citizens and academically astute,” Steele said. “I want them to be mentally strong and have their mental health in its proper place.”
Witnessing Foster grow, Steele believed he had a strong chance at winning the State Fair contest because Foster had learned to own the stage.
“There’s some extraordinarily talented preteens out here, but he’s grown so much. I thought he had a very good chance of winning it,” Steele said.
Behind the scenes, Carmeann manages Foster’s social media accounts, acting materials and opportunities. She said supporting her son’s career requires work, but she’s finding a balance between pursuing opportunities and ensuring he still has room to be a child.
“Figuring out how to advance his goals while still protecting him has been a challenge, a growth area. And then figuring out when to push and when to let him take the lead,” Carmeann said.
Looking ahead, Carmeann hopes her son continues to enjoy performing and lands more opportunities.
Foster hopes people remember him as kind, smart, funny and, “Overall, the best. But humble.”
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