Lots of classes coming up, including percussion classes and a new ensemble class! Check our Classes page for the full lineup!

September 9: Abbas - Tribute to Mohamed Mounir

Abbas is a Cairo-born sound artist whose musical journey was shaped by the rich and diverse sounds of North Africa and the Middle East. He brings a multidisciplinary approach to his work as a performer, with elements of poetry, theater, and street performance. This project is celebrating the legendary Nubian/Egyptian musician Mohamed Mounir, more…

September 29: Tareq Abboushi & SHUSMO

Don't miss this rare chance to hear Tareq and his band SHUSMO back in Brooklyn after many years!

Tareq Abboushi is a Palestinian multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, educator, and award-winning composer. After graduating William Paterson University with a Jazz Piano degree, he decided to pursue the buzuq to explore his roots in Arab Music. This led him to perform with notable musicians such as Simon Shaheen, Suad Massi, Abeer Nehme, and Lotfi Bouchnak. His diverse background appears across multiple genres from classical Arab, to Jazz, Electronic, film, dance, radio, television, and commissioned soundscapes. Abboushi’s discography includes two albums with his band SHUSMO, five albums with Amir ElSaffar, and appearances on many other albums including three with Grammy-winner Dan Zanes. Currently based in Finland, he lived in Brooklyn for many years and we are delighted to welcome him back for this visit!

SHUSMO was founded in 2001 by Tareq Abboushi while studying Jazz piano at William Paterson University. As the group evolved and its lineup grew, they recorded two albums and became a regular presence on the New York music scene until 2012, when Abboushi left the city. Since then, it's only on rare occasions like their reunion performance in 2016 that audiences have had a chance to hear SHUSMO perform live — so don't miss this one!

Details
 

Open Call — Join the New York Arabic Chorus!

We're looking for singers of all levels who are passionate about Arabic music and culture.  This is a unique opportunity to explore traditional and contemporary Arabic repertoire and be part of this groundbreaking musical initiative.  The chorus will be led by internationally renowned Palestinian vocalist Mona Miari.

Because of the high interest, we are holding an open call for those interested in participating in the chorus. Participants will be selected based on submissions and space/availability. More …
 

Tuesday May 26: NY Oud Festival Day 5 - Michael Burdi, Adam Good

Sisters - 900 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11238
8 PM (7:30 doors)
$20 advance ($25 door) - Get Tickets

Michael Joseph Burdi is an oud player and composer from Brooklyn, NY. Of Syrian/Lebanese and Italian descent, he combines influences from Middle Eastern scales (maqamat), Western harmony and North African rhythms in his original compositions.  This performance will be a collection of original songs with influences from Levantine, Maghrebi and Turkish sources, along with traditional songs played on oud accompanied by synth/keys and percussion.

Adam Good is a Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist and composer working with contemporary modal music in the traditional styles of Turkey, Greece and Eastern Europe. He will present his Balkan Oud Trio, a project rooted in the rich melodic and rhythmic traditions of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece, and beyond. 

More …

Friday May 29: NY Oud Festival Day 6 - Ameer Armaly 

Barzakh Cafe, 147 Utica Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213
6 PM
$20 advance - Get Tickets
 

Exploration of Oud Playing in the Twentieth Century: a guided listening presentation and performance with Ameer Armaly. This program will present, through recordings, the evolution of oud playing throughout the twentieth century in the Arab World. Initially relegated exclusively to supporting a vocalist with simple responses and short improvisations, the oud has evolved into an instrument for expression of virtuosity, compositional creativity, and cultural exchange. The presentation will be followed by a performance.

Born in South Carolina, Ameer Armaly was exposed to the oud and Arabic music in general from an early age through his uncle who played the oud. He went on to study under Simon and Najib Shaheen. Ameer performs as an instrumentalist with a variety of artists and leads an Arabic music ensemble which performs regularly around the New York area, cultivating local talent and reviving the great Arabic instrumental and vocal music of the twentieth century. More …

Sunday May 31: NY Oud Festival Day 7 - Huda Asfour | Armadi Tsayn 

Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10003
8:30 PM (8 PM Doors)
$36 plus food/drink minimum - Reserve Seats

In this unplugged version of her latest solo project “Naqous,” Huda Asfour places the spoken word at the heart of the musical experience. Through oud, voice, and looping, Huda explores repetition as both memory and resistance: what returns, what insists, and what refuses to disappear. For when the storm won’t stop and all logic fails, an invitation to stand true and hold space. More of a testimony, less of a concert. A catharsis. A prayer for clarity amid the chaos.

Contemporary Armenian Folk ensemble Armadi Tsayn will be performing a number of original compositions, alongside a few classical pieces from the Anatolian region. The group is led by oud player and composer, Samuel Sjostedt, and includes Alek Surenian on percussion, Filippo Novi-Goller on bass, and Mehrpouya Daneshvar on clarinet. Mixing nodes of Jazz and Western classical, Armadi Tsayn invites listeners to experience a program that takes shapes of multiple generational sounds in real time. More …

Friday, May 22: NY Arabic Chorus - Spring 2026 Concert

NY Arabic Chorus - Spring 2026 Concert
May 22nd 2026
7pm (6:15pm Doors)
First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn
119-121 Pierrepont Street Brooklyn, NY 11201
Tickets $25 Advance ($30 Door)

Join us for a very special evening of music and culture as we celebrate the culmination of the New York Arabic Chorus' Spring season.  The only group of its kind in NYC, The NY Arabic Chorus enters it's second year of showcasing the beauty and depth of Arabic music in a harmonious blend of traditional and contemporary sounds. Under the direction of Mona Miari, the choir brings together voices from diverse backgrounds to create an unforgettable experience that bridges cultures and celebrates unity through music.

More info & Tickets  

Saturday, May 23: NY Oud Festival Day 3 - Volkan Efe, Brandon Terzic, Bahloul

Jalopy Theatre - 315 Columbia St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
7:30pm (7pm doors)
$30 advance ($35 door) - Get Tickets

Originally from Turkey, Volkan Efe is an oud player and multi-instrumentalist whose music spans Turkish classical, folk, and sufi traditions. Volkan will be joined by Michael K. Harrist on yaylı tanbur and bendir.

Iconoclastic Oud player Brandon Terzic has forged a distinct style on the instrument that draws as much from West African traditions as it does its Arabic native tongue. He will present his group Xalam, rounded out by virtuoso cellist Rufus Cappadocia and Haitian percussionist Bonga Jean Baptiste.

Bahloul is a musician, poet, writer, and performance artist born in Lattakia, Syria. He is the founder of project ta'sheeq which merges the elements of poetry/music/visual art together in multi-sensory performances.

More …

Sunday, May 24: NY Oud Festival Day 4 - Bahar Badiei, Layan Hawila, Farah Zahra

Maqām Studio - 250 44th St, Brooklyn, NY 11232
3pm 
$30 - SOLD OUT

Bahar Badiei is a Brooklyn-based oudist, composer, and educator from Tehran, Iran. 
Bahar will perform a solo set of pieces and improvisations from the Iranian classical musical repertoire (Dastgah music), as well as a trio set of original compositions, accompanied by double bassist and vocalist Devon Gates and pianist Yvonne Rogers.

Farah Zahra is an ethnomusicologist, archivist, and oud player. Accompanied by Zafer Tawil on percussion, she will perform classical pieces and improvisation from the Iraqi school of oud.

Layan Hawila is a Palestinian Oud player and singer born and raised in Haifa. This performance will feature Layan’s singing and oud playing; drawing from the traditions of the Levant, the music reflects on love, longing, and homeland. 

Tuesday May 26: NY Oud Festival Day 5 - Michael Burdi, Adam Good

Sisters - 900 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11238
8pm (7:30 doors)
$20 advance ($25 door) - Get Tickets

Michael Joseph Burdi is an oud player and composer from Brooklyn, NY. Of Syrian/Lebanese and Italian descent, he combines influences from Middle Eastern scales (maqamat), Western harmony and North African rhythms in his original compositions.  This performance will be a collection of original songs with influences from Levantine, Maghrebi and Turkish sources, along with traditional songs played on oud accompanied by synth/keys and percussion.

Adam Good is a Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist and composer working with contemporary modal music in the traditional styles of Turkey, Greece and Eastern Europe. He will present his Balkan Oud Trio, a project rooted in the rich melodic and rhythmic traditions of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece, and beyond. 

More …

Tons of music this month! All month we are sponsoring the New York Oud Festival, check our calendar or the full schedule here: www.newyorkoudfestival.com
 

Wednesday, May 13: New York Oud Festival Day 1 - Albert Agha! 

We are thrilled to have Dr. Albert Agha performing for the first time at the NY Oud Fest! He will be at Barbès this Wednesday at 7 PM.  More than just a fantastic oud player and singer, Albert Nasser Agha is an ethnomusicologist, music educator, and director.  He is an accomplished interpreter of the classical Arab repertoire - this program will bring together classical Arab repertoire, featuring works from Egyptian and Syrian traditions, alongside original compositions rooted in classical forms, performed through voice and oud. It includes the premiere of a new instrumental work that explores musical bridges between the Middle East and Southeast Asia, emerging from Agha’s research into the integration of modal systems across cultural traditions.
 

Albert Nasser Agha- Oud & Vocals
Insia Malik- Violin
Gabe Lavin- Buzuq
Alber Baseel - percussion

More details and tickets
 

Thursday, May 14: New York Oud Festival Day 2 -  Bilen Işıktaş and Gabriel Lavin at the Metropolitan Museum of Art!

Immerse yourself in the oud with a performance by Gabriel Lavin and Bilen Işıktaş followed by a discussion and Q & A. Be inspired by the oud, its musical history, and its artistic connections to The MET collection.

Free with Museum admission; admission is pay what you wish for New York state residents, and free for children under 12 with an adult, and a caregiver accompanying a visitor with a disability. Note: Space is limited; first come, first served. 

Dr. Bilen Işıktaş is a scholar-artist and Professor of Musicology at Istanbul University State Conservatory, currently a Visiting Scholar at Harvard University’s Department of Music. His work integrates performance, historical research, and the sociology of music, with a focus on Turkish and Ottoman musical traditions and their contemporary reinterpretation.

Gabriel Lavin, Ph.D., is a musician, scholar, and educator based in Brooklyn, NY. His research on cultural history, media, and music has been published in a variety of international volumes and academic journals. A graduate of Beit Al Oud in Abu Dhabi, he is a specialist in modern oud playing and education in addition to oud playing styles from the Arabian Peninsula. He currently serves as Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Music at Columbia University.

More details 

Tuesday May 19: Group Maqam Singing Classes: Arabic Music for All

Sami Abu Shumays is back with another round of his popular maqam classes! Each month's class will focus on a different maqam:
May 19th: Maqam Hijazkar
June 16th: Maqam Bayati Shuri
July 14th: Maqam Huzam

There is a package discount if you register for all three classes.  Need financial assistance? Please fill out our scholarship form 
 

Friday, May 22: NY Arabic Chorus - Spring 2026 Concert

NY Arabic Chorus - Spring 2026 Concert
May 22nd 2026
7pm (6:15pm Doors)
First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn
119-121 Pierrepont Street Brooklyn, NY 11201
Tickets $25 Advance ($30 Door)

Join us for a very special evening of music and culture as we celebrate the culmination of the New York Arabic Chorus' Spring season.  The only group of its kind in NYC, The NY Arabic Chorus enters it's second year of showcasing the beauty and depth of Arabic music in a harmonious blend of traditional and contemporary sounds. Under the direction of Mona Miari, the choir brings together voices from diverse backgrounds to create an unforgettable experience that bridges cultures and celebrates unity through music.

More info & Tickets  

April 17: Ara Dinkjian & the NY Gypsy All-Stars (RBA)

This entrancing evening blends Armenian, Balkan, Middle Eastern music and jazz composed by Ara Dinkjian, one of the world’s top oud (fretless lute) players. Dinkjian began his musical career by accompanying his father Onnik Dinkjian, a celebrated Armenian folk and liturgical singer; he later founded the acclaimed Night Ark quartet, and in recent years has performed with The Secret Trio.

He will be joined by the New York Gypsy All-Stars: Tamer Pinarbasi (kanun -zither), Ismail Lumanovski (clarinet), Marius Van Den Brink (keyboards), Panagiotis Andreou (electric bass), and Engin Gunaydin (drums) — classically-trained virtuosi coming from the world’s most prestigious music conservatories who perform music that highlights their diverse cultural backgrounds.

More Info and Tickets

This event is presented by Roulette in partnership with Robert Browning Associates, Brooklyn Maqam, and Lotus Music & Dance.

April 21: Brooklyn Čalgija

Brooklyn Čalgija takes its name and sound from an urban folk tradition of Slavic Macedonia and the southern Balkans. Emerging in the late 19th century within the Ottoman cultural sphere, čalgija (from the Turkish çalgı, “instrument”) brings together Ottoman classical aesthetics with Slavic and Romani influences into a refined café and salon style.

Shaped by the dance rhythms of the Balkans and melodies based on makam, čalgija is performed on oud, violin, clarinet, kanun, daire and darbuka. This vast repertoire is sung in Macedonian, and performances often feature taksim, creating a richly ornamented, old-world sound.

Adam Good - oud

Greg Square - clarinet

John Murchison - kanun

Jenny Luna - voice, percussion

Matt Moran - darbuka

Jerry Kisslinger - daire

$20 Suggested at the door

Tue, Apr 21 @ 8:00PM Sisters Brooklyn, 900 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Group Maqam Singing Classes: Arabic Music for All 

7pm-8:30pm, Tuesday March 31th, 2026 
Brooklyn School of Music - 126 St Felix St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

We are back with the Spring season of the always popular maqam classes led by Sami Abu Shumays! As usual, each class is stand-alone and focuses on one maqam. Drop-ins are welcome and encouraged, while those who take multiple classes will develop a more layered understanding.

March 31: Maqam Nawa Athar/Nikriz — register here

Learn Arabic Music from master musician and educator Sami Abu Shumays, co-author of the acclaimed book Inside Arabic Music and creator of the YouTube series "Maqam Lessons." The group call-and-response singing format of these classes creates a non-judgmental environment that makes learning enjoyable. Non-musicians, beginner musicians, and experienced practitioners will all benefit from the insights and pragmatic approach Sami offers.

Also coming up:

April 14: Maqam Ajam — register here for April 14

March 13 at Roulette: Explorations in Arabic Maqam—Brian Prunka & Ayman Asfour: (RBA)
8:00 pm

Oud player Brian Prunka, whose music has been described as “intricate, anthemic” and “spellbinding” (NY Music Daily), and the award-winning Egyptian violinist Ayman Asfour present exciting new music for a traditional Arabic takht (chamber ensemble).

As two of New York’s most distinctive and compelling composers of modern music rooted in the Arabic maqam tradition, their work maintains deep roots in Arabic melodic forms and rhythms while authentically exploring their diverse experiences.

Ayman Asfour - violin
Brian Prunka - oud 
Firas Zreik - qanun 
Gideon Forbes - nay, clarinet
John Murchison - bass
Alber Baseel - percussion
Simon Moushabeck - accordion, percussion

Get Info & Tickets: Roulette.org

March 17: Group Maqam Singing Classes: Arabic Music for All
7pm-8:30pm

This month's maqam class focuses on Maqam Nawa Athar/Nikriz. 

Learn Arabic Music from master musician and educator Sami Abu Shumays, co-author of the acclaimed book Inside Arabic Music and creator of the YouTube series "Maqam Lessons." The group call-and-response singing format of these classes creates a non-judgmental environment that makes learning enjoyable. Non-musicians, beginner musicians, and experienced practitioners will all benefit from the insights and pragmatic approach Sami offers. 

Register Here

March 18: 10-Week Group Percussion Course with Nezih Antakli 

All classes will meet at 7pm at Brooklyn Music School (126 St Felix St, Brooklyn, NY 11217). 

Journey through the rich history and culture of Middle Eastern and North African drumming. This hands-on course continues to build players' skills with more advanced techniques with a focus on tone and sound quality, while continuing to work on basic fundamentals and rhythms to deliver the "language" of the darbuka.  Build your skills with call-and-response exercises and practice drills and soloing concepts, then apply them to a final collaborative arrangement. To further expand your rhythmic palette, we'll also explore distinctive odd-time signatures from Turkey and the Balkans. Please bring your darbuka.  Class is open to intermediate and beginner drummers.  

Register Here

March 24: Sami Salloum at Sisters
8 PM

Sami Salloum is a vocalist whose musical journey is deeply rooted in the rich traditions of Arabic music. Born and raised in Syria, he cultivated his passion for singing early on. He has called New York home for the past seven years; previously he lived in Lebanon, during which time he performed in numerous festivals across Lebanon. He currently performs with the New York Arab Chorus and is a featured singer with Ameer Armaly's band. Sami enjoys singing various genres, including tarab and Arabic classics.

Sami Salloum: Vocals 
Mohammad Salah: Oud 
Sarah Mueller: Violin 
Gideon Forbes: Flute, Nay and Saxophone 
John Murchison: Qanun 
Johnny Farraj: Percussion

details

There is still time to sign up for the next series of Maqam classes led by Sami Abu Shumays! 

If you purchase tickets in advance, the 3-class bundle available at a discount. 
 

Each class is stand-alone, and will focus on one maqam. Drop-ins are welcome and encouraged, while those who take multiple classes will develop a more layered understanding.

Learn Arabic Music from master musician and educator Sami Abu Shumays, co-author of the acclaimed book Inside Arabic Music and creator of the YouTube series "Maqam Lessons." The group call-and-response singing format of these classes creates a non-judgmental environment that makes learning enjoyable. Non-musicians, beginner musicians, and experienced practitioners will all benefit from the insights and pragmatic approach Sami offers.

Full details here

The New York Arabic Chorus is entering its second year!

We’re looking for singers of all levels who are passionate about Arabic music and culture. This is a unique opportunity to explore traditional and contemporary Arabic repertoire and be part of this groundbreaking musical initiative. The chorus is led by internationally renowned Palestinian vocalist Mona Miari. Participation includes 12 weekly sessions, and one culminating season performance.

Because of the high interest, we are holding an open call for submissions for participating in the chorus for Winter/Spring 2026. Participants will be selected based on submissions and space/availability.

Submissions are now closed, please check back for the fall season.

(photo credit: Maria Sakr)

NY Arabic Chorus - Fall 2025 Concert
December 9th 2025
7pm (6:15pm Doors)
First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn
119-121 Pierrepont Street Brooklyn, NY 11201
Tickets $25 Advance ($30 Door)

Join us for a very special evening of music and culture as we celebrate the culmination of the New York Arabic Chorus' Fall season.  The only group of its kind in NYC, The NY Arabic Chorus showcases the beauty and depth of Arabic music in a harmonious blend of traditional and contemporary sounds. Under the direction of Mona Miari, the choir brings together voices from diverse backgrounds to create an unforgettable experience that bridges cultures and celebrates unity through music.

Full Details
 

Photo: Maria Sakr

- CANCELED - 

Arabic Maqam Singing Classes: We are all beginners
7pm-8:30pm, Tuesday November 18th 2025
Brooklyn School of Music - 126 St Felix St, Brooklyn, NY 11217
https://www.viewcy.com/event/arabic_maqam_singing_3

This month's maqam class focuses on Maqam Nairuz.  

This series of maqam classes will embrace simplicity, repetition, and a back-to-basics approach to delve deeper into the various moods and changes in the maqam.  Maqam is known as the unique (microtonal) scale system of Arabic Music, but in its essence it is a melodic practice rooted in the shared vocabulary of the Arab community. Each Maqam tells a particular story, and together we will explore this melodic practice in improvisation and composed songs, through collective singing and listening to repertory.

Each class is stand-alone, and will focus on one maqam.  Drop-ins are welcome and encouraged, while those who take multiple classes will develop a more layered understanding.

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About Sami Abu Shumays: One of the leading Arab violinists in the U.S., Sami Abu Shumays is internationally known as a master of the maqam system. He is co-author of the acclaimed book Inside Arabic Music (Oxford University Press 2019), and his passion for teaching and oral tradition is also expressed through his YouTube series "Maqam Lessons," the website www.maqamlessons.com, and his contributions to www.maqamworld.com. Co-founder and director of the NYC-based Arabic music and dance ensemble Zikrayat (www.zikrayatmusic.com), Sami has also recently released his first solo album Circles, available on all streaming platforms (https://samiabushumays.hearnow.com/)

A second-generation Palestinian-American, Sami originally studied Western music before traveling to the Arab World to reconnect with his roots. He studied with Alfred Gamil in Cairo; Mohamed Qasas, Abdel-Basit Bakkar, and Abdel-Minaim Senkary in Aleppo; and Simon Shaheen and Yusuf Kassab in New York.