Cellist Karim Wasfi performs amid ruins in the Iraqi city of Mosul. Georgia’s Valdosta Symphony Orchestra will participate a virtual concert on September 18 benefiting Wasfi’s Peace Through the Arts Foundation. Photo: AFP
“Valdosta Symphony Orchestra and the Valdosta Rotary Club are participating in an international concert that pits creativity against violence, music against terrorism,” writes Dean Poling in Tuesday’s (9/14) Valdosta Daily Times (GA). “The online virtual ‘Shaping Music Through Peace’ concerts are scheduled for 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18. ‘Performances will be emceed to provide an overarching story of how peace is shaped through the arts,’ according to a statement from organizers. ‘Each 90-minute performance features musicians from Iraq, Australia, Turkey, Hong Kong, Georgia (U.S.) and Colorado (U.S.) [Littleton Symphony Orchestra].’ The Georgia portion features the VSO…. Karim Wasfi is the inspiration [for the concert]. When three car bombs exploded on a street in Baghdad, the famed Iraqi maestro took his cello and … played music where bombs had been detonated only the day before…. He has since organized programs teaching Iraqi youth instruments and classical music…. The virtual ‘Shaping Peace Through Music’ concerts are timed ‘to celebrate U.N. International Day of Peace and support the work of Karim Wasfi’s Peace Through the Arts Foundation and Rotary peace programs,’ organizers said…. The concert … raises funds for Wasfi’s Peace Through the Arts Foundation and Rotary peace programs.”
