Flushing Town Hall Announce “Gospel Meets Côte d’Ivoire” Concert on July 24

Flushing Town Hall’s popular series, Mini-Global Mashups, will present another installment this summer on Sunday, July 24 at 1 PM with its Gospel Meets Côte d’Ivoire concert. Featuring American gospel singer Joshua Nelson and Côte d’Ivoire traditional dance and drum master Vado Diomande with additional accompanist drummer Moussa Drame, this concert will maintain the popularity and high quality of the series.

Joshua Nelson and Vado Diomande

Flushing Town Hall (FTH), a Smithsonian affiliate, presents multi-disciplinary global arts that engage and educate the global communities of Queens and New York City, in order to foster mutual appreciation. As advocates of arts equity since 1979, we support local, immigrant, national, and international artists, developing partnerships and collaborations that enhance our efforts.

Audiences will enjoy the unique performing collaboration of two solo musicians with distinct musical and cultural backgrounds when American gospel singer Joshua Nelson and Ivory Coast traditional dance and drum master Vado Diomande on stage. After the performance there will be a Q+A conversation between the artists and the audience.

Joshua Nelson is both a Jewish Gospel singer in the tradition of Mahalia Jackson and a full-time Hebrew teacher when he is not on the road. He is director of music at Hopewell Baptist Church in Newark, NJ, which is housed in the building of a former synagogue (the former B’nai Jeshurun). Nelson has performed with musical legends including Wynton Marsalis, Aretha Franklin, Stephanie Mills, and Billy Preston, as well as gospel singers Albertina Walker, the Barret Sisters, and so on.

Since the age of four, Vado Diomande has learned the Mahouka dance and drum traditions. Vado learned over 60 ethnic dance and drumming traditions from the Ivory Coast and other West African countries. His repertoire elevated his career to eventually choreographing and touring extensively throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia. His troupe’s goal is to inspire joy and understanding through the power of dance and drum, promoting the exchange of culture worldwide. He continues to strengthen his experience as a choreographer, artistic director, teacher, and performer.

Our Mini-Global Mashups are always a great experience – and Gospel Meets Côte d’Ivoire will be another ride of discovery for our audience. Joshua Nelson and Vado Diomande are extraordinary talents and it will truly be an honor for them to grace our stage.

Flushing Town Hall Executive & Artistic Director Ellen Kodadek

In-person tickets are $12 for Flushing Town Hall members and $15 for non-members. A free livestream is available. For more information, please visit this link.

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