Ustad Fareed Ayaz & Ustad Abu Muhammad Qawwal Brothers
Ustad Fareed Ayaz
Ustad Abu Muhammad
Ghayoor Ahmed
Moizuddin
Mubarak Hassan
Saha Baleegh
Tahseen
Ghulam Mustafa
Muhammad Shah
Haris
Nadeem
Damien Sneed and Chorale Le Chateau
Quartet
Olanna Goudeau
Jillian Willis
Terrol Stone
Marcelle Davies-Lashley
Musicians
Daniel Revell | Drums
James Joyner | Organ
Kenny Diah | Bass
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A Letter from the President
Welcome! And, may I add, congratulations. You are attending one of New York’s and America’s essential meeting houses, music venues and cultural institutions. I know that you will find the Town Hall Presents programming you are attending tonight to be timely and compelling. And each of our productions is an expression of our commitment to bring you significant, unique, eclectic and down right delightful events throughout the calendar year.
Welcome! And, may I add, congratulations. You are attending one of New York’s and America’s essential meeting houses, music venues and cultural institutions. I know that you will find the Town Hall Presents programming you are attending tonight to be timely and compelling. And each of our productions is an expression of our commitment to bring you significant, unique, eclectic and down right delightful events throughout the calendar year.
There is no place like The Town Hall. Founded “to promote good citizenship, social justice and general enlightenment through the education and expression of public opinion,” our hall’s world-class acoustics quickly became a calling card, and for over a century, playing The Town Hall stage continues to be a ‘must’ for musicians and singers from all genres and backgrounds.
There is no place like The Town Hall. Founded “to promote good citizenship, social justice and general enlightenment through the education and expression of public opinion,” our hall’s world-class acoustics quickly became a calling card, and for over a century, playing The Town Hall stage continues to be a ‘must’ for musicians and singers from all genres and backgrounds.
Whether visiting our storied auditorium for the first time, or returning to experience yet another great night live on our stage, you can feel the vitality in the room. The Town Hall is truly contemporary; purpose-built to open its doors to art, ideas and especially to you.
Whether visiting our storied auditorium for the first time, or returning to experience yet another great night live on our stage, you can feel the vitality in the room. The Town Hall is truly contemporary; purpose-built to open its doors to art, ideas and especially to you.
Upon its dedication in 1921, The League for Political Education opened the building you are now sitting in with the watchwords:
Upon its dedication in 1921, The League for Political Education opened the building you are now sitting in with the watchwords:
“It does not matter who you are, what you are, or from where you come, you are welcome.”
“It does not matter who you are, what you are, or from where you come, you are welcome.”
As president of the non-profit organization that preserves our landmarked auditorium and produces the Town Hall Presents events like the one you are attending tonight, I thank you for coming to The Town Hall. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, and our incredible staff of professionals, I echo the sentiment of our founders and assure you that you are always welcome here.
As president of the non-profit organization that preserves our landmarked auditorium and produces the Town Hall Presents events like the one you are attending tonight, I thank you for coming to The Town Hall. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, and our incredible staff of professionals, I echo the sentiment of our founders and assure you that you are always welcome here.
Nevin Steinberg
Nevin Steinberg , President
About the Program
For the Love of God! is conceived by media disruptors Vagabond Media as the first in a new series of interdisciplinary, multimedia performances that bring together artists making transformative music across genres and geographies.
This premiere unites two of the world’s most ecstatic musical traditions—South Asian Qawwali and Southern Gospel—for one roof-raising, spirit-shaking night. Born in Sufi shrines and Black churches, these sounds are pure devotion amplified: sacred poetry, blues, and spirituals that turn faith into fire and make the soul move.
Different histories, same heartbeat—both Qawwali and Gospel reach for the divine, chase joy, and find light in the dark. This concert is more than music—it’s a bridge across cultures, faiths, and histories, built on rhythm, love, and the belief that what unites us will always be louder than what divides us.
From Mahalia Jackson and Sister Rosetta Tharpe to Aretha Franklin, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and Abida Parveen, these traditions have carried the sound of spiritual rebellion for generations. Tonight, that fire blazes anew in the most diverse city on Earth.
Leading the charge are Pakistan’s legendary Ustad Fareed Ayaz & Ustad Abu Muhammad Qawwal Brothers, joined by the incomparable Damien Sneed and his Chorale Le Chateau . Co-produced by The Town Hall and Vagabond Media , this first-ever New York convergence of Qawwali and Gospel will ignite with soaring voices, hypnotic rhythms, and immersive visuals designed to lift you higher.
The Story of Gospel Music
Gospel music is a sacred fire—born of bondage, lit by faith, and carried forward on the blood and sweat of resistance. It rose in the late 19th century from the Black churches of the American South— from the backroads of Mississippi to the praise houses of Georgia, to the storefront sanctuaries of New Orleans. Shaped by the sorrow songs of the enslaved, and the ecstatic spirit of Pentecostal revival, gospel emerged as a spiritual and defiant force. In fields, prayer tents, and midnight camp meetings, the enslaved whispered worship into the dark and turned suffering into song.
In the crucible of the African American experience, this communal music became a lifeline: part prayer, part protest, an ecstatic cry for freedom, dignity, and divine grace. Rooted in African rhythms and Biblical longing, it gave voice to the unspeakable. It didn’t just accompany life—it transformed it, offering harmony when justice was a distant dream.
As it blossomed in sanctuaries and tent revivals, gospel grew into the soul of America—spiritual and unyielding, raw and radiant. It was the wind beneath the feet of protesters, and the thunder in Mahalia Jackson’s voice. It rang through the rallies of Dr. Martin Luther King and echoed in every raised fist and trembling hallelujah.
Gospel laid the foundation for American music itself—soul, R&B, rock, and hip-hop—alive in the righteous joy of the Staple Singers, the fire of Ray Charles, the ache of Sam Cooke, the roar of Aretha Franklin, and the wild, prophetic guitar of Sister Rosetta Tharpe—among its many prophets.
And still, gospel never lost its roots. Listen closely: you’ll hear it not just in cathedrals, churches and backroad revivals. It lifts your hands, moves your feet, swells your heart. Even if you’ve never been to that church, you’ve felt its spirit.
Because gospel is not just music.
It is the soundtrack of America’s gut-wrenching birth—surviving, weeping, rising, and still singing toward the light.
Gospel Musicians
Damien Sneed and Chorale Le Chateau
Quartet
Olanna Goudeau
Jillian Willis
Terrol Stone
Marcelle Davies-Lashley
Musicians
Daniel Revell (Drums)
James Joyner (Organ)
Kenny Diah (Bass)
Damien Sneed, the artistic director of Chorale Le Chateau, is an acclaimed pianist, vocalist, composer, conductor, and educator whose work bridges gospel, jazz, classical, and soul. A protégé of Jessye Norman and collaborator of Aretha Franklin, Wynton Marsalis, Stevie Wonder, and The Clark Sisters, Sneed moves effortlessly between sacred and secular traditions with brilliance and heart.
A winner of the Dove Award and NAACP Image Award , he has served as music director for gospel luminaries Richard Smallwood, Donnie McClurkin, and Hezekiah Walker, and led the North American tour We Shall Overcome: A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a powerful fusion of spirituals, jazz, and classical music.
As founder and artistic director of Chorale Le Chateau, Sneed leads a globally celebrated ensemble known for vivid, genre-defying performances that range from Renaissance motets to jazz, spirituals, and contemporary gospel. The group has collaborated with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra on the monumental Abyssinian Mass, and performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and major festivals worldwide.
Sneed’s compositions and commissions include works for Houston Grand Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and the Library of Congress. His opera Marian’s Song honored Marian Anderson’s legacy, while The Tongue & The Lash reimagined a historic debate between James Baldwin and William F. Buckley.
A graduate of Howard University, NYU, and the Manhattan School of Music, Sneed teaches at both the Manhattan School of Music and Michigan State University. With Chorale Le Chateau, he continues to champion music as a force for beauty, justice, and transcendence.
The Story of Qawwali
Qawwali is the soaring, intoxicated music of the Sufis—a centuriesold devotional tradition that doesn’t just praise the divine but longs to merge with it. Like Gospel, it is born of faith, yearning, and the belief that music can carry the soul toward the sacred. It is not performance—it is prayer in flight, a spiritual technology for piercing the veil between self and the Divine.
This music took shape in the 13th century through Amir Khusrau, the visionary Indian poet and composer, and beloved disciple of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya—one of South Asia’s greatest Sufi saints. Drawing from Persian, Arabic, Turkish, and Indian traditions, Khusrau fused sacred poetry with melody and rhythm to create Qawwali—the music of ecstatic surrender. His legacy gave rise to the Qawwal Bachchon ka Gharana of Delhi, one of the oldest and most revered lineages. Singers like Tanras Khan and Mian Qutub Bakhsh carried this devotional fire through Mughal courts and Sufi shrines for generations.
Qawwali flourished in the shrines of Delhi, Punjab, Sindh, and Uttar Pradesh, where mystics gathered to sing their way to the Divine. At its heart is Sufism, the mystical path of Islam that sees divine love as the highest truth. Performed with harmonium, tabla, dholak, and handclaps, Qawwali is a ritual of call and response— the lead singer invokes, the chorus replies, and the music rises in waves of devotion. Its verses speak of longing, intoxication, and the annihilation of ego, using human desire to express the hunger for God.
In the modern era, Qawwali reached new heights. The Sabri Brothers brought raw intensity. Abida Parveen sang with celestial depth. Aziz Mian thundered into a sacred rebellion. And Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Qawwali’s greatest global ambassador, carried it from Lahore to the world—collaborating with Peter Gabriel, Jeff Buckley, Eddie Vedder, Martin Scorsese, and Michael Brook—yet never losing the music’s sacred essence.
Today, Qawwali moves a new generation. Across the U.S. and Europe, young audiences are drawn to its trance-like rhythms and spiritual fire. In a fractured world, Qawwali remains a radically unifying force— the music of seekers, mystics, and lovers across all faiths who still dare to believe that Love and God can be touched through song.
Qawwali Musicians
Ustad Fareed Ayaz & Ustad Abu Muhammad Qawwal Brothers
Ustad Fareed Ayaz
Ustad Abu Muhammad
Ghayoor Ahmed
Moizuddin
Mubarak Hassan
Saha Baleegh
Tahseen
Ghulam Mustafa
Muhammad Shah
Haris
Nadeem
Ustad Fareed Ayaz and Ustad Abu Muhammad Qawwal are brothers, musical partners, and among the greatest living masters of Sufi Qawwali—the ecstatic devotional music born in 13th-century India through the poet-saint Amir Khusro. They lead one of the world’s most celebrated Qawwali ensembles, heirs to the Qawwal Bachon ka Gharana or Delhi Gharana, the original home of this sacred art.
Born in Hyderabad, India, and raised in Karachi, they were trained from childhood by their father, Ustad Munshi Raziuddin Ahmed Khan Qawwal, a revered musician in the same lineage. Their ancestry traces back to Mian Samat Bin Ibrahim, one of Khusro’s earliest disciples, and to Tanras Khan, the court musician to the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar—a direct thread to the golden age of Indian music.
Their performances unite the discipline of Hindustani classical music— dhrupad, khayal, tarana, thumri, and dadra —with the fiery passion of Qawwali. Fareed Ayaz’s commanding voice and Abu Muhammad’s deep, sonorous counterpoint weave a sound that transcends language and faith, evoking the Sufi state of sama‘—divine listening.
Over four decades, their ten-member ensemble has carried this tradition from South Asian shrines to international stages across Europe, North America, Africa, and the Middle East, including collaborations such as Aman ki Asha and appearances in The Reluctant Fundamentalist and Coke Studio Pakistan.
In 2006, the Government of Pakistan awarded Ustad Fareed Ayaz the Pride of Performance, the nation’s highest artistic honor—a recognition shared by their father and brother for preserving and renewing a seven-century-old heritage. Today, alongside the next generation led by Hamza Akram, they continue to ignite audiences worldwide, carrying forward a music that transforms devotion into transcendence.
Set List
(In Order of Performance)
GOSPEL
1. Down by the Riverside - Olanna Goudeau
2. Rocka My Soul - Jillian Willis and Terrol Stone
3. Lord Keep Me Day By Day - All
4. God is Standing By - Marcelle Davies-Lashley QAWWALI
1. Allah Hoo (God Is)
2. Taajdaar-e Haram (The Crowned One of the Sanctuary)
3. Maulaaya Salli Wa Sallim (O my Master, Send your Blessings and Peace)
4. Man Kuntu Maulaah (For whomever I am the Maula (leader, guide), Ali is also his Maula)
5. Chhaap Tilak (Seal of identity)
6. Mera Piya Ghar Aaya (My beloved has come home)
7. Kanhaiya (Lord Krishna)
8. Tarana (Anthem)
9. Ghar Naari Ganvaari (A simple, rustic woman of the house)
GOSPEL AND QAWWALI
1. Damaadam Mast Qalandar (Forever ecstatic in the love of Qalandar)
Song Lyrics
Qawwali (in order of performance)
Translations by Hamza Shad and M. Hassan Sarwar, The Khusrau Circle (khusrau.com)
1) “Allaah Hoo (God Is)” by Jigar Moradabadi and Others | اللّٰہ ھُو
Translator: M. Hassan Sarwar
الله الله
allaah allaah allaah allaah
Allah Allah Allah Allah
ya zal-jalaali wal-ikraam
O Lord of Majesty and Generosity!
subhaana zil-mulki wal-malakoot
Glory be to the Lord of sovereignty and the spiritual realm!
tujHi se ibtida hai tu hi ik din intiha ho ga
From You alone is the beginning, and one day You alone will be the end.
sada-e saaz ho gi aur na saaz-e be-sada ho ga
Neither the song of the instrument nor the songless instrument will endure.
allaah hoo allaah hoo allaah hoo
Allah is, Allah is, Allah is!
tujhe jis ne dekHa mar hi gaya
Whoever gazed upon You was overwhelmed unto death;
jo tujh pe mara vo ji hi gaya
He who died in such devotion to You found eternal life.
teri chashm-e siyaah men hai jaadoo
In Your dark eyes there is magic!
maalik-e kul hai tu is men kya guftagoo
You are unarguably the Master of All!
zarre zarre ko hai teri hi justajoo
Every particle of being is searching for only You.
ghair koi naheen hai faqat tu hi tu
There is none besides You, it is only You, only You.
hasbi rabbi jall-allaah
My Lord is sufficient for me — Glorious is Allah!
ma
qalbi ghair allaah
Within my heart there is none besides Allah.
نور
noor-e muhammad salli ‘ala
The light of Muhammad, blessings be upon him.
لا
la ilaaha ill-allaah
There is no god but Allah! انت
ant-al-haadi ant-al-haqq
You are the Guide, You are the Truth!
ليس
lais-al-haadi illa hoo
None is the Guide but He alone.
2) “Taajdaar-e Haram (The Crowned One of the Sanctuary)” by Payam Saihalwi
Translator: Hamza Shad
taajdaar-e haram ho nigaah-e karam
O King of the Holy Sanctuary [Muhammad], spare a glance of mercy!
ham ghareebon ke din bhi sanvar jaa’en ge
Even we, the downtrodden, will see our days turn for the better!
haami-e be-kasaan kya kahe ga jahaan
O Protector of the Helpless, what will the world say
aap ke dar se khaali agar jaa’en ge
If we leave empty-handed from your door?
koi apna naheen gham ke maare hain ham
We have nobody to call our own and are afflicted with grief.
aap ke dar pe faryaad laa’e hain ham
We have arrived at your door with a plea!
ho nigaah-e karam varna chaukha pe ham
Spare a merciful glance, or else at your doorstop
aap ka naam le le ke mar jaa’eN ge
We will perish crying out your name!
mai-kashoN aao aao madeene chalen
Come, wine drinkers, let’s go to Madinah!
dast-e saaqi-e kausar se peene chalen
Let’s go drink from the hand of the Wine-Pourer of Kausar!
yaad rakho agar uth ga’i ik nazar
Keep in mind that if he looks up just once,
jitne khaali hain sab jaam bHar jaa’en ge
All the empty goblets will be filled!
khauf-e toofaan hai bijliyon ka hai Dar
We have a storm to fear and lightning bolts to dread.
sakht mushkil hai aaqa kidhar jaa’en ham
Our misery is severe, O master, where should we turn?
aap hi gar na len ge hamaari khabar
If even you will not take notice of our condition,
ham museebat ke maare kidhar jaa’en ge
Where will we, suffering from calamities, go?
aap ke dar se koi na khaali gaya
No one has ever left your door empty-handed;
apne daaman ko bhar ke savaali gaya
Each seeker returned with their needs fulfilled.
ho habeeb-e hazeen par bhi aaqa nazar
Also look upon this sorrowful lover, O master,
varna auraaq-e hasti bikhar jaa’en ge
Else the pages of my existence will scatter away!
3) Maulaaya Salli Wa Sallim (O my Master, send your blessings and peace) by Imam alBusiri |
Translator: Hamza Shad
maulaaya salli wa sallim daa’iman abadan
O my Lord, send peace and blessings forever and ever
‘ala habeebika khair-il khalqi kullihimi
Upon Your beloved, the best of all creation!
muhammadun sayyid-ul kaunaini was-saqalain Muhammad is the master of both worlds and of the two treasures (Qur’an and Ahl-ul Bait)
wal-fareeqaini min ‘urubiw-wa min ‘ajami
And of both groups – the Arabs and the non-Arabs.
summ-ar rida ‘an abi bakriw-wa ‘an ‘umara
Then, be pleased with Abu Bakr and Umar,
wa ‘an ‘aliyyiw-wa ‘an usmaana zil-karami
And with Ali and Uthman, the generous.
wal-aali was-sahbi summ-at taabi’yan fahum
And with his family and companions and the generation that followed, for
ahl-ut tuqa wan-naqa wal-hilmi wal-karami
They are the people of God-consciousness, purity, patience, and generosity.
ya rabbi bil-mustafa balligh maqaasidana
O Lord, through the Chosen One [Muhammad], fulfill our aims
waghfir lana ma mada ya waasi’al karami
And forgive us for what happened in the past, O Most Widely Generous.4) “Man Kuntu Maulaah” by Ameer Khusrau
4) Man Kuntu Maulaah (For whomever I am the Maula (leader, guide), Ali is also his Maula) |
Translator: Hamza Shad
‘ali imaam-e man ast-o manam ghulaam-e ‘ali Ali is my imam, and I am a servant of Ali.
hazaar jaan-e giraami fida ba-naam-e ‘ali
A thousand precious lives are ready to be sacrificed for the sake of Ali.
man kuntu maulaah(u) fa-haazaa ‘aliyyun maulaah(u)
“Whoever took me as their master, this Ali is also their master!”
shaah-e mardaan sher-e yazdaan King of men, Lion of God,
quwwat-e parvardigaar
Strength of the Sustainer.
la fata illa ‘ali
“There is no hero like Ali!”
la saif illa zu-l-fiqaar
“There is no sword like Zulfiqar!”
khusrau nijaam-ud-deen ke dar par gaa’e qaul qalbaana re At Nizamuddin’s doorstep, Khusrau sings utterances [of the Prophet] and spiritual songs.
5) “Chhaap Tilak (Seal of identity)” by Ameer
Khusrau |
Translator: Hamza Shad
chHaap tilak sab chHeeni re mose nainaan milaa’i ke
You stole all my adornments and markers of identity when your eyes met mine.
baat agam keh deeni re mose nainaan milaa’i ke
You spoke hidden secrets when your eyes met mine.
prem bhatti ka madhva pilaa’i ke
By making me drink from the furnace of love,
matvaali kar leeni re mose nainaan milaa’i ke
You intoxicated me when your eyes met mine.
gori gori baiyaan hari hari chooriyaan
My fair arms and green bangles!
baiyaaN pakar dhar leeni re mose nainaan milaa’i ke
You grasped my arms tightly when your eyes met mine.
bal bal jaa’oon men tore rang-rijva I sacrifice myself for you, O cloth-dyer!
apni si rang deeni re mose nainaan milaa’i ke
You dyed me in your own color when your eyes met mine.
khusrau nijaam ke bal bal ja’iye Khusrau sacrifices himself for Nizamuddin Auliya.
mohe suhaagan keeni re mose nainaan milaa’i ke
You made me your bride when your eyes met mine.
6) “Mera Piya Ghar Aaya (My beloved has come home)” by Bulleh Shah |
Translator: M. Hassan Sarwar
ghaRiyaal devo nikaal ni
Throw away the clocks now!
mera piya gHar aaya ho laal ni
My Beloved has come home, O red-robed one!
piya ghar aaya saanoon allaah milaaya
My Beloved has come home – Allah Himself has united us! ہن
hun aape karda nihaal ni
Now He blesses us with His Grace!
gHaRi gHari ghariyaal bajaave
Moment by moment the clock keeps ringing,
raat vasal di payaan ghataave
The night of union grows shorter;
mere dil di baat je paave
If you hear the voice of my heart
hathon ja satto ghariyaal ni
Cast away the clock, O timekeeper!
anhad baaja baje shahaana
Boundless music rings royally,
mutrib sughda taal taraana
The minstrel plays sweet rhythms;
bHool gaya vazoo namaaz dogaana
I’ve forgotten both my ablution and prayers,
madH-pyaala de hun kalaal ni
7) “Kanhaiya (Lord Krishna)” by
Hilm Aaghai Abulolai
| کنہیا
Translator: M. Hassan Sarwar
kanhaiya yaad hai kuchh bhi hamaari
O Kanhaiya, do you remember me at all?
kahoon kya tere bhoolne ke main vaari
What can I say, I am spellbound even by your forgetfulness!
binti main kar kar bamna se poochhi
With pleading hands I repeatedly ask the messenger pidgeon,
pal pal ki khabar tihaari
For news of your every moment!
paa’iyaan pari mahaadev ke ja kar
I even fell to the feet of Lord Mahadev,
Tona bhi kar ke main haari
Trying every charm, but all in vain!
khaak paro logo is byaahne par
Curse this marriage, people,
achHi main rehti kanvaari
I would have been better off unwed!
maa’ike men main hilm rehti thi sukh se
In my father’s home I lived in peace,
pHirti tHi kyoon maari maari
Why now do I wander restlessly?
8) Tarana (Anthem) by Ameer Khusrau | ترانہ
The tarana is attributed to have been composed by Ameer Khusrau. Ustad Fareed Ayaz has explained that it consists of Turkic words and its roots can be found in the following Khusrau couplet:
aan roz ke rooh-e aadam aamad ba-badan
The day when Adam’s soul was brought to his body,
guftand dar tan dar aa nayaamad dar tan
It was told to enter the body, yet it did not.
khoobaan-e qudsiyaan ba-lehn-e daa’ood
The beautiful celestial beings, in David’s sweet tone,
guftand dar tan dar aa dar aamad dar tan
Sang “Enter the body!”, and the soul [moved by the song] acquiesced.
9) Ghar Naari Ganvaari (A simple, rustic woman of the
house)
by Ameer Khusrau
Translator: M. Hassan Sarwar
gHar naari gaNvaari chaahe so kahe
Let the women at home say what they may say!
main nizaam se nainaan laga aa’i re
For I have met the gaze of Nizamuddin Auliya!
sohani soorat mohani moorat
Such fair countenance, such a charming image,
maiN to hirde beech sama aa’i re
I have provided him an abode deep in my heart!
khusrau nizaam ke bal bal ja’iye
Khusrau belongs to his Nizam
maiN to anmol cheri bika aa’i re As I have sold my priceless self to him.
10) “Damaadam Mast Qalandar (Forever ecstatic in the love of Qalandar)” by Unknown
Author |
Translator: Hamza Shad
laal meri pat rakhiyo bhala jhoole laalan
O Laal [Shahbaz Qalandar], keep my dignity intact, Jhoole Laal!
sindRi da sehvan da sakhi shahbaaz qalandar
From Sindh, from Sehwan, the bountiful Shahbaz Qalandar!
damaadam mast qalandar
In each breath, I am intoxicated like a qalandar.
‘ali dam dam de andar
Ali’s name is in my every breath.
chaar chiraagh tere balan hamesha
Your four lights always shine brightly!
panjva baalan aa’i bhala jhoole laalan
I have come to light a fifth, Jhoole Laal!
uchra rauza peera tera
My spiritual guide, your shrine is exalted!
heTH vage ghariyaal bhala jhoole laalan
Below it, the bells resonate, Jhoole Laal!
gHanan gHanan teri naubat baaje Boom, bam! The drums thunder in your praise!
naal baje ghariyaal bHala jhoole laalan
Simultaneously, the bells ring for you, Jhoole Laal!
This concert was conceived by Vagabond Media produced in collaboration with the Town Hall, NYC.
VAGABOND MEDIA is a culture disruptor born in New York. Founded by Nusrat Durrani (founder and former head of MTV World) and Shazia Choudri (Beyond Barzakh cofounder), it brings together bold voices from every corner of the globe to create transformative shows, films, and experiences that shift perspectives and blow minds.
Follow us on Instagram @vagabondmediaworld to stay informed of upcoming shows and events.
THE TOWN HALL
Founded in 1921 by suffragists as a forum for progressive ideas, The Town Hall has long been a stage where art meets activism. It’s where Margaret Sanger was arrested mid-speech for advocating reproductive rights, and where Marian Anderson made her New York debut after being denied other venues due to segregation. Over the decades, legends from Billie Holiday and Bob Dylan to Patti Smith, Joan Baez, and Gilberto Gil have filled its hall with music and meaning. Today, The Town Hall continues its mission to present world-class performances to diverse audiences, inspire youth through arts education, and remain a vital home for unity, culture, and the power of live performance.
Credits
Executive Producers
Nusrat Durrani
Shazia Choudri
Written & Directed by Nusrat Durrani
Produced & Brought to Stage by Shazia Choudri & Nusrat Durrani
“SILSILA” A Qawwali Story | The show featured excerpts from “Silsila, a story by Nusrat Durrani from his soon-to-be-published collection “Savage Wedding and Other Stories.”
Executive Producers
Nusrat Durrani is a New York-based filmmaker, writer, and photographer, and the visionary founder of MTV World—the platform that brought global pop music and underrepresented voices to American audiences. Recognized by President Obama for amplifying Native American youth, Durrani crafts urgent, lyrical stories at the intersection of politics, music, and identity. His acclaimed projects—including Rebel Music, Madly, and An American Prayer—unfold in a singular cinematic language. He also created The Music Experiment, a groundbreaking series of multimedia events reimagining the live music experience. His lens spans cultures and time, capturing punks in Istanbul, the raw intimacy of New York’s subways, and the haunting grace of the Namibian savannah. As MTV founder Tom Freston put it, Durrani is “a sage when it comes to music and pop culture.” Whether as a writer, filmmaker, or producer, he channels beauty, rebellion, and truth in all their aching, luminous forms.
Shazia Choudri is a boundary-breaking entrepreneur with over two decades of experience building visionary platforms, leading creative teams, and connecting global audiences across borders, cultures, and traditions. As co-founder of Beyond Barzakh—a creative incubator and event platform developed with the iconic Barzakh Café— she spotlights urgent voices at the intersection of music, identity, and community. Known to her fans as a “mistress of music” and “angel of culture,” Shazia brings a signature approach that fuses ritual, rebellion, and raw talent. She has produced genre-defying shows that resonate with culturally engaged audiences and feature artists from across the globe. Her work continues to shape the next wave of global sound—through bold voices, transformative spaces, and music from the margins.
Acknowledgements
Vagabond Media Gives Special Thanks To:
The Town Hall Team: Melay Araya | Rinesty Rusli | Laura Camien | Alexander Koveos | Paul Cameron Hardy | Ebony Vines
Damien Sneed | Musical Director Chorale Le Chateau
Tahir Qawwal | Producer
“Music of the Mystics” A documentary series about Qawwali | musicofthemystics.com
Hamza Shad | Translator
M. Hassan Sarwar | Translator
Supporters: Rukshinda Rizvi | Beyond Barzakh | Keith Carr - the triune Group | Mike Gordon - JMP Productions | Rachel Cooper- The Asia Society | Todd Wilson - Instrumental Agency | Viewcy
Town Hall
Town Hall has played an integral part in the electrifying cultural fabric of New York City for more than 100 years. A group of suffragists’ fight for the 19th Amendment led them to build a meeting space to educate people on the important issues of the day. During its construction, the 19th Amendment was passed, and on January 12, 1921, The Town Hall opened its doors and took on a double meaning: as a symbol of the victory won by its founders, and as a spark for a new, more optimistic climate. Upon its dedication in 1921, The League for Political Education opened the building you are now sitting in with the watchwords:
“It does not matter who you are, what you are, or from where you come, you are welcome.”
That year, German composer Richard Strauss performed a series of concerts that cemented the Hall’s reputation as an ideal venue for musical performances. Since, Town Hall has been home to countless musical milestones: the US debuts of Strauss and Isaac Stern; Marian Anderson’s first New York recital; in 1945, Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker introduced bebop to the world; Bob Dylan’s first major concert in ‘63; and much, much more
Producer’s Circle
5,000+
Carol Marks & Tom Wirtshafter
Paige Price & Nevin
Steinberg
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Sound Associates
15,000+
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Major Gifts, Corporate, Foundation & Government Support
Programs are supported, in part, by public funds from The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Town Hall’s Education Outreach Program is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature. We would like to thank the following foundations, corporations, and government institutions for their support.
American Portfolios
Charles D. Fleischman Charitable Trust
Edythe Kenner Foundation
Gund Investment Corporation
The Hyde & Watson Foundation
The IV Fund
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
New York State Council on the Arts
New York State Senator Liz Krueger
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul
New York City Mayor Eric L. Adams
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine
New York City Council Member Keith Powers
New York City Council Member Gale Brewer
New York City Council Member Julie Menin
New York City Council Member Sandy Nurse
New York City Council Member Kalman Yeger
NYC Dept. Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo
New York University
The Shubert Foundation
Tandon Family Foundation
Ticketmaster
The Town Hall’s mission is to provide affordable world-class entertainment by new and established artists to a diverse audience; to inspire the youth of our community to appreciate and participate in the arts at The Town Hall and in schools through our Education Outreach Program; and to preserve and enhance The Town Hall as a historic landmark venue for the enjoyment and cultural enrichment of generations to come.
The Town Hall Staff Board of Trustees
PRESIDENT
Nevin Steinberg
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Susan Zohn
VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL COUNSEL
Ellen Miller-Wachtel
VICE PRESIDENT
Rita Robbins
TREASURER
Joan Rall
SECRETARY
Timothy Stambaugh
PRESIDENT EMERITUS
Tom Wirtshafter
Marvin Leffler
TRUSTEES
Anne Frank-Shapiro
Madhu Goel Southworth
Gita Gupte
John A. Jenkins
Benjamin Lewis
Thomas Mellins
Natalie Moreno Wexler
James Shackelford
LIFE TRUSTEES
Phyllis Putter Barasch
Bruce S. Leffler
BENEFIT COMMITTEE
Gita Gupte, Chair
John Jenkins
Thomas Mellins
Natalie Moreno-Wexler
James Shackelford
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Kathleen Rosenberg, Chair
Nancy Berman
Sandy Horowitz
Elizabeth Iannizzi
Candace Leeds
Zita Rosenthal
Rhoda Rothkopf
ARTS IN EDUCATION
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Michael Fram, Co-Chair
Dr. Eloise Messineo, Co-Chair
Barbara Murray
Dr. Pola Rosen
George Young
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Melay Araya
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Donna Banks, PhD
DIRECTOR OF BOOKING & EVENTS
Paul Cameron Hardy
DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, FRONT OF HOUSE & SAFETY
Johnny Lee Green
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
Abe Hirsch
DIRECTOR OF BRANDING, MARKETING & COMMUNICATION
Laura Camien
DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS
Helen Morris
BOX OFFICE MANAGER
Angel Rodriguez
CHIEF ENGINEER
Steve Franqui
ASSOCIATE MARKETING DIRECTOR
Alex Koveos
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ARTISTIC PROGRAMMING
Rinesty Rusli
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Ebony Vines
VISITING ARTISTS & PRESENTERS AND LIVE EVENTS ASSOCIATE
Olivia Magill
RESEARCH & PROGRAM ASSOCIATE
Anika Rahman
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Carl Acampora
IATSE LOCAL ONE HEAD
Matt Konklin
IATSE LOCAL ONE CREW CHIEF
Scott Piconne
EDUCATION PROGRAMS LIAISON
Ifẹmi Quiñones
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN CONSULTANT
Katherine DeFoyd, Growth for Good
PRINCIPAL DESIGNER
Leia-lee Doran
General
WARNING
The photographing or sound recording of any performance or the possession of any device for such photographing or sound recording inside the theater without the written permission of the management is prohibited by law. Violators may be punished by ejection and violations may render the offender liable for monetary damages.
FIRE NOTICE
The exit indicated by a red light and sign nearest to the seat you occupy is the shortest route to the street. In the event of fire or other emergency please do not run, WALK TO THAT EXIT.
Thoughtless persons annoy patrons and endanger the safety of others by lighting matches or smoking in prohibited areas during the performances and intermissions. This violates a city ordinance and is punishable by law.
