“Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a concert at Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center

February 25^th, New York –Ebony Ecumenical Ensemble will celebrate Black History Month on February 28^th with a concert at Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center. “LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING!” will honor three decades of inspirational music performed by The Ebony Ecumenical Ensemble around the world as well as Bettye F. Forbes, Founder and Director of the Ensemble, for her extraordinary artistry and leadership.

“The concert will take place at the end of our month-long celebration of Black history, achievement and the dawning of a new era of hope, solidarity and change shared by persons of all faiths and colors,” noted Mrs. Forbes. “We have a unique opportunity to gather together as a united, harmonious community, to “Lift Every Voice and Sing” in joyous thanksgiving and continue the spirit of unity and transformation of the inauguration of President Barack H. Obama.”

As a statement of this unity and harmony, the audience will join the Ensemble to sing three songs: the historic James Weldon Johnson anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the favorite national hymn “America the Beautiful,” and the gospel song recorded by Hezekiah Walker & the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir “I Need You to Survive.”

“My hope is that when the whole audience sings together, we’ll feel again that extraordinary feeling of togetherness we experienced on the Mall during the inauguration,” said Dr. James A. Forbes, Senior Minister Emeritus of the Riverside Church in New York.

Concert details:

The program begins at 7:30 P.M. on Saturday, February 28, 2009, at Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Broadway at

Tickets are available though the following:

• Jazz at Lincoln Center Box Office, Broadway at 60th Street (Ground Floor), Mon-Sat 10am-6pm (or 30 minutes past curtain)

• CenterCharge (212) 721-6500

• The Riverside Church, Box Office, 91 Claremont Avenue, main floor, Thurs-Sat 4-8pm; Sun Noon-4pm; (212) 870-6784

Group rates are also available.

The Ebony Ecumenical Ensemble has performed for thirty years - preserving, enlarging and sharing the faith, strength and triumph of the African American religious musical experience throughout metro New York, the United States and the world. For more about their history and their founder, Bettye Forbes, go to: www.theebonyee.com.

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Cherice Allen