Dear Friends was the ensemble-in-residence at the Stephen Foster Memorial at the University of Pittsburgh from 1982 through 2000. The ensemble was originally devoted to performing 19th century American Music, much of which was drawn from the University's Center for American Music's Foster Hall Collection, but expanded their repertory to reflect the diverse musical life of 19th and 20th century America, as well as traditional European and Latin Music. Concert venues included the Stephen Foster Memorial, the Smithsonian Institution, Eventide Festival on Cape Cod, and the Chautauqua Institution. A series of six programs, American Holidays with Dear Friends, has been aired on public radio stations in over thirty states, including on Pittsburgh's WQED. Voice of America, ChukyoTV-Nagoya, Japan, and US Information have also broadcast music by Dear Friends. Members of the group originally included director and flutist Jean Thomas; tenor Guy Russo; pianist Mark Graf; classical guitarist James Ferla; and mezzo-soprano Kate Young. Other performers over the years have included cellist Kathryn Logan; tenor Deane Root; pianist Andrea Doyle; guitarist John Marcinizyn; tenor, Richard Walter; pianist Diane Owens; LeAnn Overton; Judith Meibach; Thomas Critchfield; Robert Rocco; Claudia Benack; and Curt Scheib. Jim Cunningham of WQED radio Pittsburgh, served as the host for most of the programs aired on radio. Over the course of their existence the group released six albums, including The Blues and the Grays (1987), Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts (1989), Sweet Emerald Isle (1991), Roll on Monongahela (1994), Songs of Heart and History (1998), and Light and Splendor (2000).