Music brings people together, the adage goes. Who it brings together, however, can still surprise.

Mark Zane is an assistant professor of sociology with a performance past in electronic and rock. Dan Cleveland is an associate professor of respiratory care with roots in country. Although they have different academic and musical backgrounds, their paths intersect where strumming meets storytelling. Together they perform in all-original song circles hosted by Zane twice a semester at Onondaga Community College, where they teach.

The third installment of this free public event, dubbed Songwriters Live at OCC, will be held Thursday, Feb. 11, 6:30 to 9 p.m., in The Bistro of the Gordon Student Center. The student association will provide some light refreshments, and the nearby cafeteria will sell food until 8 p.m.

Zane and Cleveland have invited area musicians Brian Francis of The Black Earth Band and grunge-country-rocker Charles Marlowe to join this week’s circle. Zane says the event usually has no rigid format, similar to The Songwriters Tour that features Guy Clark, Joe Ely, John Hiatt and Lyle Lovett. Musicians take turns playing, sometimes jumping in with accompaniment for one another, and occasionally spiraling into a jam session.

Players typically bring just their guitars and their voices to Songwriters Live, with harmonica and hand percussion occasionally integrated, along with guest performers. If a student shows up with a guitar and an original song, he or she might be invited to play. “I like to promote local music pretty heavily, because a lot of people never go out to hear local music at all,” says Zane, who, before starting the OCC song circles, hosted open-mike nights in the same place.

In fact, Zane and Cleveland first met at an open mike. Although they both perform often in the area—Zane as a soloist and Cleveland with local Irish band The Common Taters—they say they usually stick to covers because, especially at bars, audiences expect to hear what they know. Open mikes and coffeehouse settings are special opportunities to showcase original work.

Zane aims to create a coffeehouse atmosphere at the OCC song circles. He says the event usually draws an intimate audience, but it’s still nice to perform for people who want to be there and listen. In this way, the two agree, playing music is not so different from teaching. For Zane, there is a further connection: He says many issues from his classes inform his lyrics. Tracks from his latest album, American Hunger (independent), tell of homelessness, domestic violence and war. For Cleveland, who sings about social issues, family and friends, writing music is slightly less pertinent to teaching respiratory care—though, he points out, “Breathing is important for singing.”

Whether music is a dialogue with or a departure from their day jobs, Zane and Cleveland hope Songwriters Live at OCC will help promote the local scene that has become their home and inspiration. “There’s just something about Syracuse,” Zane says, that awakened his songwriting muse. Cleveland agrees this area has a lot to offer. “We are really fortunate in Central New York for music,” he says. “I think it’s hard not to find something if you look.”

For more information, call 498-7254.