Bolster has been on the faculty at Berea since 1980 and chair of
the music department since 1991. He teaches voice, vocal methods, choral conducting and music theory.

As conductor of the Berea's Concert Choir and Chamber Singers,
Bolster directs the groups in two annual concerts on campus and at other appearances on campus and in the region. Under his direction, the groups have toured extensively throughout the eastern U.S, and in Europe, filmed two Christmas specials for educational television and produced several recordings. Bolster also co-directs the music department's annual community-wide Christmas Concert, and is responsible for vocal and choral music for weekly chapel services. Active in directing musical theatre both on campus and in the community, this spring he will be music director for the College Theatre Laboratory production of Bertolt Brecht's "The Threepenny Opera."

The musician has received several awards during his tenure at
Berea, including the College's highest faculty award, the 1988 Seabury Award for Excellence in Teaching. In 1995 he was awarded the Presidential Award by the College's Student Government Association and named "Man of the Year" by the College's Mortar Board Society. In 1997, Phi Kappa Phi honored him as Professor of the Year.

At the regional, state and national levels, Bolster has been active
professionally both as an educator and a performer. He is past president of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) for the state of Kentucky and currently is Kentucky State Chairperson of the Committee of Youth and Student Activities for ACDA. He has been a guest conductor at several state high school choral events and judged choral competitions in Kentucky and in other parts of the U.S. A lyric tenor, Bolster performed as a choral participant in performances at Carnegie Hall with the Robert Shaw Choral Workshops in 1997-1999, and was selected as a member of the Robert Shaw Festival Singers for the summer of 1996.

Bolster holds an A.B. in music from Dartmouth College; the M.M. in
Choral Arts from the University of North Carolina; and a D.M.A. in literature and performance of choral music from the University of Colorado. In 1989, he was a post-doctoral fellow at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati.

The KMEA annually presents "Teacher of the Year" awards to an
outstanding music teacher in the state of Kentucky at each of four levels: elementary, middle school, high school and college/university. Recipients are nominated by fellow teachers in one of 12 KMEA district, and selected by members of the KMEA state board.