The Ebony Ecumenical Ensemble, Inc. was founded by Bettye F. Forbes for participation in the reopening of the renovated James Memorial Chapel at Union Theological Seminary of New York City in 1979. The Ensemble has captivated audiences throughout the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as well as other parts of the East Coast and the Midwest. The Ensemble has earned international acclaim for its performance throughout South Korea for the 46th Anniversary of South Korea's Christian Broadcasting System in 2000 and in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as part of the International Black Arts Festivals of 1986 and 1988. The Ensemble has also performed at New York's famous Carnegie Hall for the Korean Sacred Choral Festival in July of 1997, at Lincoln Center, Alice Tully Hall in 1999 and 2000 for its 20th and 21st anniversaries. A highlight of the 2001-2002 Season was a recent performance at the Beacon Theater with the critically acclaimed production of Three Mo' Tenors. Other highlights of the Ensemble include singing for the opening gala celebration for the Broadway show, Jesus Christ, Superstar: performing background choral vocals for Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville at the annual Toys'R'Us Special Children's Benefit Concert performing for former South African President Nelson Mandala at the welcoming ecumenical service held in his honor at The Riverside Church in New York City on his first trip to the United States in 1990; appearing as guest artists on jass vibraphonist Jay Hoggard's album, "Love Survives" in 1980; performing for the Archbishop Desmond Tutu's visits durignt the struggle for south African freedom; and the first recordign album, "Release Your Song" and a promotional tape. "It has been very exciting to watch the growth of The Ebony Ecumenical Ensemble over the past 22years. The Ensemble has become an inter-generational body over 40 members from many different walks of life. "Says founder and director Bettye F. Forbes. The Ensemble inspires hope through its music ministry with spirit-filled presentations at churches, concert halls, hospitals, prisons, civic organizations, colleges, universities and denominational meeting. Audiences are blessed and enthralled by the eclectic repertoire of The Ensemble at every performance.

Bettye F. Forbes, Conductor
Bettye Franks Forbes, the founder and director of The Ebony Ecumenical Ensemble earned her Bachelor and Master of Music Education degrees at Howard University, and studied choral conducting under the guidance of Professor Evelyn White and the late Dean Warner Lawson.
A member of the National Music Honor, Society Pi Kappa Lambda, she is also active in the American Choral Directors Association and the Gospel Music Workshop of America. She is the recipient of awards from numerous organizations, including Concerned Women of Brooklyn, the Religious Television Programming Organization, Key Women of America, Inc. and the American Negro Spiritual Research Foundation. She has inspired youth in choral music at secondary schools and colleges in North Carolina, Virginia and Washington, D.C..
She also presents joint workshops in New York City. Mrs. Forbes' dedication to promoting the music of the African American religious experiences is the hallmark of The Ebony Ecumenical Ensemble, Inc.