A lot of people told Tona Brown that if she transitioned her gender to female, her career would be over. Classical music is too conservative, they said.
"I'm going to be my authentic self, whether you're going to be okay with it or you're not," she responded.
Years later, Brown's career is still on the rise. The transgender violinist/ vocalist just performed at the OUTMusic Awards in late May. She is a regular principal violinist with the Radiance String Ensemble and the founder of the Aida String Ensemble, a quartet dedicated to featuring the talents of African American string players.
Her travels will bring her to Skokie Theatre Saturday, June 11, for a talk about her life as a transgender musician and the following day for a performance of her upcoming album "This is Who I Am." A portion of the proceeds from the concert will go to the Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Council of Northern Illinois and to Equality Illinois.
"I play some of the most beautiful melodies ever written," Brown said, speaking not of her own talents but those of her favorite composers. Brown performs the works of classical African-American composers, she said, because their repertoires are less likely to be featured in concerts than those of white writers.
Brown's story might be as compelling as her music. She recognizes that many see her as an unlikely candidate for such success.
Brown grew up in Norfolk, Va., playing music at a young age. She graduated from Governor's School of the Arts and transitioned to female when she was 22 years old. In 2006, she toured with the traveling performance troupe Tranny Roadshow. That was her coming out as transgender, she said.
She did it because she wanted to be honest about who she was, but she also said she wanted be a visible transgender role model.
"With all the stereotypes that are out there about African-American transgender women, people are shocked to see me able to do what I do," she told Windy City Times. "I want to provide a positive story because what you hear in the media is often so negative."
According to Brown, none of her colleagues have had a problem with her transition. In fact, many people are pressuring her to perform more.
"People are constantly telling me 'you should do this, you should do this, you should this, because you'll be the first'" Brown said.
For now, Brown said her plans are to focus on her recitals and recording. She is also working on a memoir about career and transition, also titled "This is Who I Am."
There is at least one dream Brown has yet to realize, however. She wants to perform for President Obama, she said.
Brown will be speaking about her life Saturday, June 11, at 1 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students. Her Sunday, June 12, recital will feature work by Beethoven, Brahms, Elgar, William Grant Still and others from her upcoming EP, This is Who I Am. The event starts 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Both programs will be at the Skokie Theatre, 7924 N. Lincoln. For tickets, go to visit www.skokietheatre.com or call 847-677-7761.
