Article Contributed by Mike
Published on October 27, 2025
On Thursday, October 30 at 7:00 PM, Flushing Town Hall presents Toshi Reagon Meets the New York Arabic Chorus: A Sonic Coming Together, a one-night-only performance by legendary musician and activist Toshi Reagon, joined by her band BIGLovely and the New York Arabic Chorus. Together, these artists will fill the historic Queens stage with music celebrating community and connection, inviting audiences to sing along and share uplifting songs of joy.
The concert is part of Songs of the Living, a series of eleven performances throughout New York’s five boroughs, each featuring distinct collaborations and genres—from disco to hip-hop to sacred music. The series, a community sing and movement-building project by Soho Rep, brings audiences together through art, activism, and song.
“I can think of no greater venue for Songs of the Living than our stage at Flushing Town Hall in the world’s borough of Queens,” says Ellen Kodadek, Executive & Artistic Director of Flushing Town Hall. “We are thrilled to welcome Toshi Reagon and the NY Arabic Chorus for what promises to be a deeply moving and cathartic musical evening that reminds us of our shared humanity.”
“In these times of trouble: what do you need to know, what needs to be in your pocket in order to survive? We need many things, but one of them is the songs of your people that will hold you close to them,” adds Toshi Reagon.
Toshi Reagon is a singer, composer, musician, curator, and producer engaged in a decades-long practice of activating community through song. Her groundbreaking work includes the congregational opera Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower, created with her mother, Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon—the activist, scholar, and founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock.
She also founded WordRockSword, an artist-led festival of community and action launched in response to the 2010 midterm elections. Reagon’s collaborations span artists such as Nona Hendryx, Lizz Wright, Dorrance Dance, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. Her many honors include the APAP Award for Merit in the Performing Arts, United States Artist Fellowship, and the Andrew W. Mellon Creative Futures Fellowship. In 2022, she received an honorary doctorate from Emerson College.
More info and music: wisereagonarts.com
The New York Arabic Chorus showcases the beauty and depth of Arabic music, blending traditional and contemporary sounds. An initiative of Brooklyn Maqam, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and supporting Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) musical traditions, the Chorus unites diverse voices to create music that bridges cultures and celebrates unity.
Under the direction of Mona Miari, an internationally acclaimed Palestinian-American artist, singer, and songwriter, the Chorus continues to elevate Arabic music globally while honoring its cultural roots.
Toshi Reagon Meets the New York Arabic Chorus: A Sonic Coming Together
📍 Flushing Town Hall — 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing, NY 11354
🗓️ Thursday, October 30, 2025 | 7:00 PM
🎟️ Tickets $5–$50 | Purchase Here
Presented in partnership with Soho Rep, champion of bold and adventurous performance in New York City.
Support global arts with a donation to Flushing Town Hall. Gifts of $50+ include membership in the Circle of Friends, offering exclusive benefits like Smithsonian membership, ticket discounts, and more.
Donate here
Since 1979, Flushing Town Hall (FTH) has presented multidisciplinary global arts to engage and educate Queens and NYC communities. As a Smithsonian affiliate and member of NYC’s Cultural Institutions Group, FTH supports local, immigrant, national, and international artists, fostering inclusivity and cultural equity.
Land Acknowledgement:
Flushing Town Hall acknowledges the traditional land of the Matinecock People, honoring their elders and continued presence in Queens.
For more information:
📞 (718) 463-7700 x222
🌐 www.flushingtownhall.org
TOSHI REAGON MEETS THE NEW YORK ARABIC CHORUS AT FLUSHING TOWN HALL OCTOBER 30
(Tickets available at flushingtownhall.org/fth-presents)
“[Reagon is] one of the most compelling performers on the modern rock scene.” — The New York Times
“The antidote to a season of political despair, Toshi has created a blueprint for surviving.” — Harper’s Bazaar
