During the Renaissance and Baroque periods, music played a very important role in the religious life of the Roman Catholic Church. Parish churches monasteries became places where music took on a special significance. In Jarosław, the Collegiate Church was the main musical centre. The liturgy and the celebration of religious services became a source of inspiration for the development of church musical culture. At that time sung masses were very popular. At first, Gregorian chant was used to enrich the services; and later, polyphonic singing accompanied by musical instruments, especially organs, was introduced. In Jarosław, singing in the collegiate church was organised by singers. Other representatives of the clergy involved in musical activities were organists. Apart from organists, a group of musicians formed an orchestra was also active in the collegiate church. Teachers and students of the collegiate school also took part in musical activities. The assigned canons were responsible for the level of the songs performed, the playing of the church instruments and the people involved in these activities. In this way, music was a very visible part of the life of the religious associations that collaborated with the collegiate school. Another centre of musical life was the Jesuit College and the church dedicated to St. John the Baptist. Next to the monastery, they organised a music school for poor students. In 1629, the Jesuits received the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the outskirts of Jaroslaw from owner of the town and built another college next to it. They also opened a music school there. As a result, the Jesuits had good musicians at their disposal, who formed orchestras and choirs in the two churches next to the colleges. In the second half of the 17th century, the church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary became the second musical centre in Jaroslaw (after the collegiate church) It owed its popularity to the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, thanks to which the church became a popular place of pilgrimage. The Jesuits made sure that the services and festivities organised for pilgrims and the local population were splendid. The crowning of the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, in 1755, was a particularly festive musical occasion. Music was also an important part of the school theatre in the Collegiate Church of St John and all the festivities held there.
Musical life also flourished in the only women's convent in Yaroslavl. At the beginning of the 17th century, Benedictine nuns arrived in the city, and brought with them certain customs related to music and singing. The organisation of the convent included the position of cantor, who led the convent choir. The Benedictine nuns were responsible for the pomp and circumstance of the services held in the church. A large orchestra was formed and an organ was purchased.