Emmy Award-winning composer will attend the official premiere of her work, “If I Were a Billionaire.” Mozart’s final masterpiece will be performed by the venerable choral group with world-renowned pipe organ on May 17.

This May, the soaring acoustics of Stamford's iconic First Presbyterian Church will resonate with one of classical music's most powerful works as the Stamford Chorale presents Mozart's Requiem alongside a newly commissioned work by acclaimed composer Jasmine Barnes at 3 pm on May 17, 2026.

The performance unites 235 years of sacred choral tradition: Mozart's unfinished 1791 masterwork, completed on his deathbed, paired with Barnes’ contemporary piece titled “If I Were a Billionaire.” Ms. Barnes will also appear at the performance to share a composer’s perspective. Both works will be performed by the choir's 60+ Stamford-area singers, accompanied by the church's majestic Vissier-Rowland pipe organ, one of the largest concert instruments in Fairfield County.

A World Premiere Built for Stamford

“There is just so much to be excited for in this concert. A world premiere from a wonderfully creative up-and-coming composer in Jasmine Barnes, paired with a pillar work of choral repertoire in Mozart's Requiem, presented at one of Stamford's most iconic venues, First Presbyterian Church,” said Billy Janiszewski, Music Director of The Stamford Chorale. “The group has never sounded better, and I can't wait to perform this program for the community.”

Commissioned specifically for The Stamford Chorale, Jasmine Barnes’ “If I Were a Billionaire" turns the idea of wealth on its head. Instead of using the benefits of great wealth for self-serving endeavors, the piece emphasizes social responsibility: providing food, peace, and music for all. The piece invites both performers and audiences to imagine the transformative possibilities of abundance used for the common good.

Jasmine Arielle Barnes is an Emmy award-winning composer and acclaimed vocalist who has performed and has had her music performed worldwide. She has been commissioned by numerous organizations such as NY Philharmonic, the American Composers Forum, and Juilliard.