Yale Schola Cantorum sing Bach's Mass in B Minor across the U.K.  

Friday, July 5, 2024
Schola UK tour

On May 24, Yale Schola Cantorum embarked on a two-week tour of the United Kingdom with Juilliard415, bringing Bach’s magnificent B Minor Mass to concert halls and churches in six cities. Beginning at King’s College, Cambridge, the choir then went on to perform at St. Martin in the Fields in London, the Wiltshire Music Center, Stoller Hall, Manchester, and then two locations in Scotland—Perth Concert Hall, and Greyfriar’s Kirk in Edinburgh.

This particular tour was bittersweet as it was the choir’s last chance to perform under the baton of David Hill, principal conductor of Yale Schola Cantorum for the past eleven years. Hill was honored by the ISM at its 50th anniversary reception in New Haven on May 27.

Two members of the ensemble, Eliana Barwinski and Sully Hart, were asked, “what does the B Minor Mass mean to you?”  Barwinski said, “Strength. With each performance, I feel stronger and more empowered. This piece has truly changed my life.” Hart said that it provided an opportunity to “be part of something much bigger than myself because these are words that people have been singing for millennia. When I sing them now, I feel connected to the centuries of people who have sung them before me.”  

Below are some of the photo highlights from the tour.

Yale Schola Cantorum goes on an international tour every other year.  Past tours have included trips to Germany, Scandinavia, Spain, and India. Learn more about Yale Schola Cantorum, including information about upcoming concerts under the leadership of interim principal conductor, Stefan Parkman. 

Photos from the UK Tour