Amnesty Hosts 'Stop Genocide!' Concert Wednesday, March 1

SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University faculty and community musicians present "Stop Genocide! A Concert to Protest Human Rights Violations in Darfur, Sudan" 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, at the Gull's Nest in the Guerrieri University Center.

Featured musicians include Diana Wagner, Michael Miller, Michael O’Loughlin, and Susan and Raymond Cormier.

Wagner plays the acoustic and classical guitar, dulcimer and multiple percussion hand instruments. Born in northern Wisconsin, she also performs a capella mountain songs and ballads.

Miller’s music is known for its messages, which are direct and sometimes challenging. The intention of his music “is to be honest about the human experience,” he said. Miller’s music works to explore the more complex side of the human spirit that many conventional songs miss.

O’Loughlin has played Irish and American folk music most of his life. For the past 12 years, he has played with the local band The Folk Heroes, which has produced two albums of American and Irish songs, Road of History and Another Chance. Many of their songs deal with political and social issues. For O’Louglin, acoustic music not only speaks to expressions of important issues but also allows him an emotional outlet to reconcile the problems these songs address. To him, the “music soothes and warms us but at the same time, hopefully helps to make us more attentive to the problems we face, together if we choose, alone if we must.”

Susan and Raymond Cormier both began playing acoustic music and have come full circle to play it again. Previously, they played a variety of music ranging from rock 'n' roll and blues to jazz and country. They have played in local bands for a number of years and have won several musical award and contests. Though they no longer play in bands, they continue to perform with other musicians once or twice a week, playing mostly folk or bluegrass tunes.

Each artist performs a 20-25 minute set. Between sets, Amnesty International introduces material about the humanitarian crisis occurring in Sudan. To date, two million people have been displaced from their homes and 200,000 have died. The crisis continues to escalate with an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 people dying each month, according to information provided by Amnesty.

Admission to the concert is free and the public is invited. For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu. "