Organized in 1991, by the late Oliver Williams, Jr., The Lafayette Inspirational Ensemble has developed a reputation as one of the most exciting and innovative choirs in all New York. The Village Voice recently named the Ensemble as the best in the city in their, “The Best of New York City” series. They said, “It’s an unwritten rule that black church choirs deliver roof-raising, foot-stomping hymns, while their white counterparts are a tad more, uh, sedate. Not so at Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian. The multi-cultural and multi-ethnic Lafayette Inspirational Ensemble praises Jesus with a jubilant abandon that transcends gospel stereotypes.

The Ensemble was featured in Donald Byrd’s critically acclaimed 1996 Harlem Nutcracker in its New York premier at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). They performed at the 2004 tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and are regularly featured in the “Sounds of Praise” Gospel brunch series at BAM. The group has performed for President Bill Clinton, for the Pope’s 20th anniversary celebration.

During its years of existence, the Lafayette Inspirational Ensemble has flourished and been blessed in serving its Church, the Brooklyn Community and the New York Metropolitan area. Aggressively seeking venues in which to serve, the Lafayette Inspirational Ensemble is a thriving example of how an eclectic group of people can come together as one and show us a glimpse of the heavenly choir.

Our church sponsors an annual “Bombazo” which draws dancers, singers, and drummers from all over the city. The church is home to Los Bomberos de Brooklyn. This is a bomba group that performs Puerto Rican bomba in a traditional format with bomba drums, cua, maraca, call and response singing, and its special form of dance.

The Brooklyn Friends of Chamber Music was founded in 1988. It presents six concerts a year from October to April on Sunday afternoons at 3:00 pm at the church. BFCM assembles the finest in concert performers from around the world.

The Lafayette Choir is a semi-professional ensemble composed of volunteer and paid singers. They sing a wide variety of music including Anglican cathedral music, standard American anthems, spirituals, psalms, and new compositions.

The Lafayette organ is a four manual, fifty-six rank instrument built by the Austin Organ company. The mahogany case is from the previous organ, a Hook & Hastings of 1886. Some of the pipes in the present instrument are from this original organ. The Austin organ was built in 1910, a new console was added in 1958, much of the disposition of the organ was altered and new stops added in 1968, and the console was moved to the Sanctuary floor in the mid-seventies.

Visit our web site to listen to samples of our Choirs.

Visit ... lapcbrooklyn.org

Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church
85 South Oxford Street
Brooklyn, New York 11217
Phone: 718-625-7515

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