tonabrown

SEEKING

Vocalist, Vocalist - Bass, Vocalist - Baritone, Vocalist - Tenor, Vocalist - Soprano, Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums, Other Percussion, Violin, Trumpet, Saxophone, Keyboard, Piano, Background Singer, Harmonica, Flute, Other, Banjo, Mandolin, Fiddle, Dobro, Vocalist - Alto, Trombone, Bagpipes, Steel guitar.

ABOUT

Vocalist, violinist, entrepreneur, and teacher Tona Brown has an international performance career throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe as a violinist and mezzo-soprano. Ms. Brown is also an advocate for transgender issues in the arts, often speaking and performing at colleges and universities. She is the first transgender woman of color to perform the National Anthem for a sitting President at the LGBT Leadership Gala Dinner for former President Barack Obama at the Sheraton in NYC. She is also the first transgender woman to headline at Carnegie Hall in a program of African-American composers with an all-inclusive LGBT cast of performers.

Ms. Brown graduated from the Governor’s School for the Arts, a prestigious high school for gifted and talented students. She was formally educated at the Shenandoah University and Conservatory of Music, studying violin performance with minors in viola, piano, and voice. For Shenandoah University's 2021 production of "Suor Angelica”, she recorded an opera movie, playing the role of La Zia Principessa.

Ms. Brown will be performing in a lead transgender role as Hannah After in the opera "As One" by Laura Kaminsky with the Lowell Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Orlando Cela in the fall of 2021. Ms. Brown was also asked to do a masterclass on Transgender Voices by the Virginia National Association of Teachers. She teaches private lessons to students with her company Aida Studios.

Screen name:: tonabrown
Member since:: Jan 21 2009; Active within 24 hours
Level of commitment:: Touring
Years playing music:: 20
Gigs played:: Over 100
Tend to practice:: More than 3 times per week
Available to gig:: 2-3 nights a week
Most available:: Mornings

Influences

Jessye Norman, Shirley Verrett, Itzhak Perlam, Yehudi Menuhin, Midori, Sarah Chang, Anne Sophie Mutter, Leontyne Price, Kathleen Battle, Dolora Zajick and Grace Bumbry.