Tonality respectfully requests support from the California Arts Council’s Impact Projects program to fund the “Just Me” concert, a collaborative performance that amplifies the lived experiences of transgender and non-binary individuals through music and storytelling, fostering empathy, visibility and social change through artistic expression. Grant funds will support collaborations with Los Angeles County High Schools to conduct Tonality Scholars workshops in fall 2025 led by Tonality’s BIPOC and LGBTQ+ artists. These workshops will culminate at Tonality’s “Just Me” concert which will be presented at The Wallis in January 2026. The concert will celebrate resilience, honor truths, and confront ongoing injustices faced by transgender and non-binary people. All workshops and performances will be offered free of charge to participating students and select underrepresented schools, increasing accessibility and cultural participation in classical music.
Tonality was established in 2016 to serve as a professional choral environment where racial and ethnic diversity would be represented both in the vocal performers and in the genres of music presented. In its second year, Tonality added an extra focus of presenting topics of social justice, particularly issues that affect the most marginalized within our community. Currently, Tonality is proving to be one of the most racially diverse professional choral ensembles in the country. Our commitment to present diverse composers and perspectives to issues of social justice increases every year. Furthermore, our endeavors to expand diversity extends to our Board of Directors, who also strive to maintain a strong sense of diversity in both racial and gender identities. Lastly, Tonality work’s to reflect diversity within the artists and composers is also reflected in the collective mission to serve a diverse audience. Tonality’s core programs include its seasonal concerts, Tonality Youth Scholars Choral Education Program, Systems change in classical music Speaker Series and increasing diverse voices in Music, Film, Tv Special Projects.

