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Brooklyn Maqam Inc
Brooklyn, NY · EIN 922453185 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A68 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Micro (<$100K) · brooklynmaqam.com
revenue
$66K
expenses
$46K
net assets
$31K
employees
0
program ratio
92%
mission · from form 990

BROOKLYN MAQAM IS DEDICATED TO PRESENTING, PROMOTING, AND BUILDING COMMUNITYTHROUGH ARABIC MUSIC AND OTHER MAQAM-BASED MUSICAL PRACTICES. OUR GOALS ARE TOCONNECT MUSICIANS AND AUDIENCES, PRESERVE THE ART FORM THROUGH EDUCATION ANDMENTORSHIP, AND PROVIDE PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH ESTABLISHED EXPERTPRACTITIONERS AND EMERGING TALENTS.

profile · synthesized from sources

Brooklyn Maqam Inc is a nonprofit organization dedicated to presenting, promoting, and building community through Arabic music and other maqam-based musical traditions. It supports musicians and audiences by organizing concerts, festivals, and educational programs, with a focus on preserving and innovating within the maqam tradition. The organization operates primarily in Brooklyn, New York, and serves both local and international artists.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Group Maqam Singing Classes
Monthly educational classes led by Sami Abu Shumays focusing on different maqamat, designed to make Arabic music accessible to all skill levels.
New York Arabic Chorus
Choral ensemble dedicated to performing traditional and contemporary Arabic music, directed by Mona Miari, open to singers of all levels.
New York Oud Festival
Annual festival showcasing oud players and maqam-based music through performances, workshops, and discussions across New York City venues.
activities · 3 groups

What they do

  • Classical and Chamber Music Performances 3 activities
    • Operating the New York Arabic Chorus
      Organizes and presents the New York Arabic Chorus, a vocal ensemble led by vocalist Mona Miari that explores traditional and contemporary Arabic repertoire. The chorus recruits singers through open calls, performs annual concerts (including the Spring 2026 Concert), and is in its second year of seasonal programming.
    • Presenting concerts and musical performances rooted in SWANA and maqam traditions
      Presents over 40 concerts annually featuring instrumental and vocal performances in Arabic, Turkish, and other maqam-based musical traditions, including original compositions and works by revered Arab composers. Events include public premieres of new pieces, live album releases, and collaborations with established artists such as Kinan Azmeh, Ramzi Aburedwan, and Moneim Adwan, held at venues like Joe's Pub, Barbes, and others.
    • Producing and sponsoring the New York Oud Festival
      Organizes and sponsors the New York Oud Festival, a multi-day event showcasing oud musicians across multiple venues including Joe's Pub and Barbes, featuring performances, presentations, and celebrations of oud-centered music within Arabic and broader maqam-based traditions.
  • Music Education and Training Programs 1 activity
    • Offering group maqam singing classes and music education programs
      Conducts monthly group maqam singing classes titled "Arabic Music for All" at the Brooklyn Music School, focusing on specific Arabic musical modes (maqamat) using a call-and-response format to create an accessible, non-judgmental learning environment. Classes are offered as drop-in sessions and are led by Sami Abu Shumays.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Preserving Syrian maqam traditions through dedicated initiatives
      Leads the Syrian Music Preservation Initiative focused on the legacy of Muhammed Qadri Dalal, a Maqam master from Aleppo, to document and sustain endangered Syrian musical practices through performance and educational programming.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$66K
Contributions & grants$22K33%
Program service revenue$44K67%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$46K
Program expenses92%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$31K
Cash$29K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$31K
Liquid reserves7.6 mo
2 years on record · 2023–2024 · YoY revenue +127.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 3
  • Brian Prunka — Director
  • Frances Hostetter — Secretary
  • John Murchison — President & Treasurer
relationships · 25

Who they work with

  • Ayin Press Partner — Collaborated on the vinyl release of Laura Elkeslassy's album Ya Ghorbati.
  • Barbes Partner — Venue partner for multiple performances including the New York Oud Festival and artist showcases.
  • Barbès Partner — Hosts performances such as Layale Chaker and Kinan Azmeh & Kyle Sanna.
  • Brooklyn Arts Council Government — Administers funding from the Brooklyn Arts Fund and Creative Equations Fund, supported by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and Howard Gilman Foundation.
  • Brooklyn Arts Council Government — Administers funding from the Brooklyn Arts Fund and Creative Equations Fund, supported by the NYC Dept of Cultural Affairs and Howard Gilman Foundation
  • Brooklyn Maqam Inc Network — Member of the network of organizations dedicated to SWANA musical traditions in the New York City area.
  • Brooklyn Music School Partner — Hosts group Maqam singing classes in collaboration with Brooklyn Maqam Inc.
  • Brooklyn School of Music Partner — Hosts group maqam singing classes at its facility in Brooklyn, NY.
  • Joe's Pub Partner — Co-presented the album release event for Laura Elkeslassy's Ya Ghorbati.
  • Joe's Pub Partner — Venue partner for events including the New York Oud Festival and album release concerts.
  • Joe’s Pub Partner — Co-presents performances including Laura Elkeslassy's album release concert.
  • Kyle Sanna Partner — Longtime musical collaborator performing with Kinan Azmeh at the event.
  • Levant Arabic Ensemble Partner — Member performing at festivals, cultural events, and universities
  • Mona Miari Partner — Internationally renowned Palestinian vocalist leading the New York Arabic Chorus initiative.
  • National Arab Orchestra Partner — Insia Malik performs regularly with the National Arab Orchestra.
  • New York Arabic Chorus Partner — Collaborative musical initiative directed by Mona Miari, co-presented and hosted by Brooklyn Maqam Inc.
  • New York Arabic Orchestra Partner — Insia Malik performs regularly with the New York Arabic Orchestra.
  • New York Oud Festival Partner — Festival sponsored by Brooklyn Maqam Inc., featuring multiple oud-centered performances and educational events.
  • Roulette Partner — Venue partner for performances including the Syrian Music Preservation Initiative and Armenian music concerts.
  • Sisters Brooklyn Partner — Hosts performances by Brooklyn Maqam artists
  • Sisters Brooklyn Partner — Venue partner hosting public performances of Arabic and Turkish instrumental music.
  • The Metropolitan Museum Partner — Collaborates on educational and performance programming such as the New York Oud Festival.
  • Triad Area Medical Orchestra Partner — Collaborates as a featured soloist
  • Umm Kulthum Workshop Partner — Insia Malik performs regularly with the Umm Kulthum Workshop.
  • Zikrayat Partner — Sami Abu Shumays is co-founder and director of Zikrayat, an NYC-based Arabic music and dance ensemble associated with the instructional content and leadership of the classes.
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Community-Building through Inclusive Musical Participation
    methodology: community-building through shared musical experience
    By creating accessible, non-hierarchical musical experiences—such as open-format classes and group singing—we build inclusive communities, because shared musical expression across skill levels and cultural backgrounds fosters belonging, reduces social isolation, and strengthens collective identity.
  • Cross-Cultural Dialogue via Musical Fusion
    methodology: cross-cultural_fusion
    By fusing Eastern and Western musical traditions in collaborative performance and improvisation, we foster mutual understanding and unity across cultural divides, because shared artistic creation generates a space for authentic intercultural exchange that transcends linguistic and political barriers.
  • Cultural Preservation through Participatory Music Practice
    methodology: cultural_preservation_through_music
    By engaging participants in ensemble-based learning and performance of orally transmitted SWANA musical traditions, we sustain cultural continuity and collective identity, because active participation transforms heritage into a living, evolving practice rather than a static artifact.
  • Scholar-Practitioner Integration Model
    methodology: scholar-practitioner_model
    By combining academic ethnomusicology with active performance in traditional ensembles, we deepen cultural understanding and authenticity, because research-informed practice ensures traditions are sustained with historical fidelity while remaining dynamically relevant.