Tona Brown
Tona Brown | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Tona Brown |
| Born | 30 December 1979 |
| Origin | Norfolk, Virginia |
| Genres | classical, |
| Occupation | Singer-violinist |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, violin |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Website | tonabrown |
Tona Brown (born December 30, 1979) is an American violinist, mezzo-soprano and the first transgender woman to perform at Carnegie Hall.[1] She was the first African American transgender woman to perform for an American president.
Early life and education
Brown, who started playing violin at the age of 10, attended the Governor's School for the Arts, an art high school program for gifted and talented students. Brown was formally educated at the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music studying violin performance with minors in viola, piano and voice.[citation needed]
Career
She was selected to perform in a national tour with the "Tranny Road Show", a multi-media tour group of transgender artists that toured from Florida to Canada in April 2006.[2] Brown was also selected to be a performer for the 2011 Out Music Awards.[3] On June 25, 2014, Brown performed at the Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall.[citation needed] In 2015 Brown appeared in For Which We Stand, a full-length documentary film highlighting LGBTQ and straight artists.[4]
Discography
- This Is Who I Am (2012)
References
- ^ Frank, Priscilla (2014-05-23). "Meet the First African American Transgender Performer to Take the Stage at Carnegie Hall". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
- ^ "Tranny Roadshow 2006". 2006-04-03. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
- ^ "Tona Brown, Biography". www.classicalplace.com. Retrieved 2018-05-05.
- ^ "The LGBTQ Academy of Recording Arts Announces Upcoming Documentary". www.metroweekly.com. 2014-04-22. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
External links
| Authority control databases: Artists |
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- 1979 births
- American classical violinists
- American mezzo-sopranos
- 20th-century American musicians
- 20th-century classical violinists
- 20th-century American women singers
- 21st-century American women singers
- LGBT musicians from the United States
- LGBT people from Virginia
- LGBT singers
- Living people
- Singers from Virginia
- Musicians from Norfolk, Virginia
- Transgender and transsexual media personalities
- Transgender and transsexual musicians
- Transgender and transsexual women
- American media personalities
- 21st-century American singers
- Classical musicians from Virginia
- 21st-century classical violinists