What Bach's Mass in B Minor means to one Schola member

Eliana Barwinski M.A.R. Religion and Music ’25 is one of the members of Yale Schola Cantorum, the ISM ensemble currently performing Bach’s Mass in B Minor with Juilliard415 throughout the UK. Here Eliana talks about what the B Minor Mass means to her.

“In March of 2023, I had my first opportunity to dive into this great work with Bach Akademie Stuttgart. For me, singing this large work represents resilience and strength. Less than four months prior, I was returning back to school after Thanksgiving break when a car struck me while I was crossing the street. I suffered back, knee, and brain injuries and was so worried that my body wouldn’t be able to sustain singing, let alone a piece such as this. In March, I struggled to learn the copious coloratura passages and get a grasp on the Germanic Latin, hindered by body aches and intense migraines. But it was my friends, my director, and the Sanctus that got me through this tremendous hurdle. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to perform this numerous times, and with each performance, I feel stronger and more empowered. This piece has truly changed my life and I am so grateful to be performing this with the Yale Schola Cantorum in some of the UK’s finest venues.”

View the dates and locations of the UK tour of Bach’s Mass in B Minor