Performances by DEAR FRIENDS reflect the diversity of music heard in America ranging from 19th and 20th century popular and folk styles to Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, and Latin musical styles. This is music of the heart, favorites for audiences everywhere that " leave the listener with a sense of joy and delight" (American Music) and "combine musical virtuosity with sound scholarship" (Smithsonian Associate). " I don"t know when I have enjoyed a program as much," wrote one NPR listener. The evening "was one I shall never forget," said a member of the audience in Indiana, PA. John Hayes of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote, "DEAR FRIENDS draws from 150 years of popular music to compile what is easily the most diverse set list in town."
Performance highlights include many concerts at the University of Pittsburgh"s Stephen Foster Memorial and concerts at the Smithsonian Institution, Eventide Festival on Cape Cod, the Governor"s House in Harrisburg, Garrett Lakes Festival in Maryland, and at Chatauqua. Other presenters include the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, the Carnegie, Sunrise Museum in Charleston, West Virginia, and numerous other venues throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, and New York.
The ensemble received two awards in recognition of its outstanding role in revitalizing the legacy of American Music and promoting understanding of its role in shaping American culture. DEAR FRIENDS was one of three recipients of the Pennsylvania Federation of Music Clubs" Keystone Award (the other two were Lorin Maazel and Mildred Miller Posvar) and among several recipients of Pittsburgh History and Landmarks" Award of Merit. DEAR FRIENDS has been the recipient of funding from the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Vira Heinz Trust, and Mellon"s Forbes Fund.
A series of six programs "American Holidays with the DEAR FRIENDS," has been aired on public radio stations in over thirty states. Music by DEAR FRIENDS has also been broadcast by Voice of America, US Information Agency, and Chukyo TV-Nagoya, Japan.
The ensemble has five recordings to its credit, including "Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts," an all Stephen Foster CD. Their newest CD is "Songs of Heart and History."
What Listeners say about a DEAR FRIENDS performance:
Performers Biographies:John Hayes of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote, "DEAR FRIENDS draws from 150 years of popular music to compile what is easily the most diverse set list in town."
Performances by DEAR FRIENDS, " leave the listener with a sense of joy and delight" (American Music) and "combine musical virtuosity with sound scholarship" (Smithsonian Associate).
"Dear Friends wonderfully recaptures the past , letting the old, warm memories flood back...." ----Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
"Their performances have the ring of historical truth . . . that go to the heart of their subjects with quiet, graceful flair."----Pittsburgh Press
"The Dear Friends... brought their cozy charm to a enchanting program...singer Kate Young and guitarist/lutenist James Ferla moved easily from the Spanish "Guantanamera" to the Scottish lilt of Robert Burns to American folk songs."--Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"I don"t know when I have enjoyed a program as much," wrote one NPR listener.
The evening "was one I shall never forget," said a member of the audience in Indiana, PA.
"The Pickwick show (DEAR FRIENDS Christmas concert) was the first all-digital broadcast of Performance in Pittsburgh. It sounded wonderful!"--Paul Johnston of WQED-FM
The director of West Virginia"s Independence Hall in Wheeling, wrote, after a DEAR FRIENDS Civil War music concert, "the combination of moving ballads, battle songs and tunes from the abolitionist movement made the concert very lively. Also, the readings and stories from the Civil War era helped the audience feel in touch with the period and appreciate the significance of the individual songs. All of the members of the group are to be commended for their fine performance."
"Thank you once again for a great show, the students especially enjoyed the variety of guitar styles"--David Silianoff, Music Teacher from Norwin Middle School
Guitarist James Ferla has performed solo and ensemble concerts throughout the United States including performances at the Smithsonian Institution, Notre Dame, Arizona State University, WolfTrap, Florida State University, and the Chautauqua Institution. A two-time Pittsburgh Concert Society Winner, he has appeared with orchestras throughout the mid-Atlantic area including the Pittsburgh Symphony.
Mezzo-soprano Kate Young, also a DEAR FRIENDS founder, has appeared as both actress and singer with major symphony orchestras, regional theaters, and on film. Her Pittsburgh musical credits include the Symphony, the Ballet, International Poetry Forum, Civic Light Opera, and New Music Ensemble. She has performed at Pittsburgh Public Theater, Playhouse Theater Company, Three Rivers Shakespeare Company, and on KDKA-TV's weekly program "Let's Read a Story."
Guitarist/composer/banjoist John Marcinizyn holds a Ph.D. in music composition and theory from the University of Pittsburgh. His music, which includes a guitar concerto, string quartet, and pieces for solo guitar and guitar with mixed ensemble, has been performed by members of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, Antiqua Nova, Daedalus Quartet of Akron, Renaissance City Winds, Opera Music Theatre International, Pittsburgh Guitar Trio, and Garimba. Mr. Marcinizyn is also a member of the Sweet and Low Jazz Trio.
Andrea Doyle, a free-lance pianist/accompanist, organist and percussionist, holds degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and Duquesne University. She is heard frequently in area churches as an organist and currently teaches choral and general music in the South Hills.
Tenor Guy Russo is a frequent soloist in Pittsburgh and the mid-Atlantic area. His credits include Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Opera Theater, Cincinnati Opera, the New Music Ensemble of Syracuse, and the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. He is director for choral music at Sewickley Academy, director of music at Community Presbyterian Church of Ben Avon, and music director of the Pittsburgh Savoyard.
Jean Thomas, who retired as director of Dear Friends in 1997, is one of its founders and now an occasional performer on flute and recorders. In addition to the more than one hundred programs she originated for Dear Friends, she has produced a series of American music recordings, published articles and produced radio, television, and video scripts. Jean has a Ph.D. in musicology from the University of Pittsburgh.
Mezzo-soprano Daphne Alderson has performed in opera and concert throughout the United States, Canada, and Italy. She has been heard in concert at Avery Fisher Hall, Merkin Hall, The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center in Connecticut. Other performances include concerts with the Bach Aria Festival at Stony Brook, Chatham Baroque, Bach Choir of Pittsburgh, The Wheeling Symphony and Pittsburgh Opera Theatre.
Touring Programs:
From Baroque to Jazz--three centuries of guitar solos and duets from Bach to Brubeck (2 performers). (This program is also available with a singer).
An American Sampler--All the years of American Popular music from Stephen Foster to Stevie Wonder (3 to 5 performers).
Dinosaurs and Dragons--A song and story presentation that is fun, silly, and challenging for "Dino-Boys" and "Dino-Girls" (2 to 4 performers).
Around The World--Songs and Stories in Italian, French, Spanish, German, and Gaelic (2 to 4 performers).
The Drinking Gourd--Songs and stories of the Underground Railroad (2 to 5 performers).
Yankee Doodle--Colonial entertainment from Boston Tea Party to Poor Richard's Almanack (2 to 4 performers).
Get Off The Track--This program demonstrates how music comments on American History. Includes work songs, protest songs, and Civil War music (3 to 5 performers).
Battle Cry of Freedom--A broadly appealing concert of Civil War Music, representing some of the most enduring and moving music from this country"s history (3 to 5performers).
Born on the Fourth of July--The songs and instrumental music of Pittsburgh native Stephen C. Foster (2 to 5 performers).
A Victorian Christmas--A family Christmas extravaganza that can include a puppet show, a "Christmas Special, B.T.V." (before television), and traditional songs and carols (3 to 5 performers).
Roll on Monongahela--A musical depiction of rivers and the people who use them (3 to 5 performers).
Sweet Emerald Isle--A captivativing concert of Irish music that combines familiar melodies with lessor known selections bases on traditional pipe tunes and minstrel songs (3 to 5 performers).
Shakespearience--A lively Elizabethan entertainment of music and verse that includes settings John Dankworth and Elliot Carter (2 to 4 performers).
For availability and performance fees contact:
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James Ferla 5819 Holden St. Pittsburgh, PA 15232 412.361.4038 ferla+@andrew.cmu.edu |
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John Marcinizyn 117 South 25th St. Pittsburgh, PA 15203 412.381.7058 zyn+@andrew.cmu.edu |