A Note from the Artistic Director
Dear esteemed guests,
Thank you for joining us at our "Just Me" concert, an event dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of the experiences of our community members who identify as transgender and non-binary. In the face of prevailing examples of ignorance and discrimination reflected in restrictive laws, our concert serves as a platform to encourage active listening and support.
Tonight's discussion aims to underscore the ongoing struggle for equality, emphasizing that this fight is, at its core, a pursuit of humanity and justice. It is crucial to recognize that the journey toward justice for the LGBTQ community extends beyond the realm of politics. As we delve into the complexities of various social issues, our objective is to explore profound and personal layers, fostering greater understanding and empathy.
The narratives and musical performances featured this evening showcase the diverse spectrum of the human experience—spanning from stories of trauma and pain to those of acceptance and joy. Through this event, we aspire to broaden your awareness and fortify your commitment to the allyship required to safeguard the most vulnerable members of our society.
Once again, we appreciate your presence and participation in this meaningful exploration of compassion and solidarity.
Sincerely,
Concert Program
We Hold Your Names Sacred
Sisters whose lives were taken
Memories of you
we sing
Note, chord, melody, harmony,
psalm
Prayers
we offer with tears
Love
with words we give
High
we lift your spirit up
So you may know forever joy
Jaquarrius Holland
Chyna Gibson
Ty Underwood
Penny Proud
Crystal Edmonds
Islan Nettles
Angel Rose
Lexi
Layla Peláez Sánchez
Muhlaysia Booker
Brianna “BB” Hill
Layleen Polanco
May your smile be made eternal
May justice be brought
with this refrain
Sisters we hold sacred your names.
Walls
Walls high and low,
thick and thin,
They keep you out,
they keep you in.
Walls narrow and wide,
round or square,
With warning signs,
“Watch out”, “Beware”.
Brick by brick they build them
but it seems to be,
Brick by brick they build them
where they shouldn’t be.
We should be building bridges
to a better day,
Where no walls
would stand in the way.
Walls here and there, everywhere,
in every city, every town.
We would have that better day,
if all the walls came tumbling down.
Brick by brick,
at times they’re of a different kind.
Brick by brick,
They’re built around the heart and mind.
Sometimes lasting longer
than the ones that are made of stone,
Keeping us apart and alone.
These are walls that we don’t see,
that we build between the you and me.
Made of broken dreams,
and wounded feelings that go on.
Like walls we wish to go away,
could we have ourselves that better day?
If we took the chance to simply say,
that we forgive.
And then we’d forget,
they’d be gone.
Of walls here and there, ev’rywhere,
in ev’ry city ev’ry town,
We would have that better day,
if all the wells came tumbling down.
What Do You Think I Fought For at Omaha Beach?
Good morning, committee. My name is Phillip Spooner and I live at 5 Graham Street in Biddeford. I am 86 years old and a lifetime Republican and an active VFW chaplain … I was born on a potato farm north of Caribou and Perham, where I was raised to believe that all men are created equal and I've never forgotten that.
I served in the U.S. Army, 1942-1945 … I worked with every outfit over there, including Patton's Third Army. I saw action in all five major battles in Europe … I was in the liberation of Paris.
(I have seen much, so much blood and guts, so much suffering, much sadness, much sacrifice.)
I am here today because of a conversation I had last June when I was voting. A woman … asked me, "Do you believe in equality for gay and lesbian people?" I was pretty surprised to be asked a question like that. It made no sense to me. Finally I asked her, "What do you think I fought for at Omaha Beach?"
For freedom and equality. These are the values that make America a great nation, one worth dying for.
My wife and I did not raise four sons with the idea that our gay son would be left out. We raised them all to be hard-working, proud, and loyal Americans and they all did good.
Take What You Need
Take a moment
Take a breath
Take time
Take care
Take heart
Take hope
Take a step
Take a chance
Take courage
Take charge
Take a stand
Take pride
Take joy
Take pause
Take a moment
Take a breath
Take what you need
Take a moment
Take a breath
Take time
Take care
Take heart
Take hope
Take a step
Take a chance
Take courage
Take charge
Take a stand
Take pride
Take joy
Take pause
Take a moment
Take a breath
Take what you need
Take what you need
Take what you need
Take a moment
Take a breath
Take time
Take care
Take heart
Take hope
Take a step
Take a chance
Take courage
Take charge
Take a stand
Take a pride
Take joy
Take pause
Take a moment
Take a breath
Take what you need…
The Circle - conducted by Kristen Simpson
He drew a circle that shut me out:
He drew a circle that shut me out:
He drew a circle that shut me out:
He drew a circle that shut me out:
He drew a circle that completely shut me out:
shut me out.
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
But Love and I had the wit to win:
But Love and I,
But Love and I had the wit,
The wit to win:
We drew a circle,
We drew a circle,
We drew a circle that took him in,
That took him in,
That took him in.
Abide With Me
Abide with me,
Fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens,
Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail
and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless,
O abide with me.
I need Thy presence
ev’ry passing hour.
What but Thy grace
can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who, like Thyself,
my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine,
O abide with me.
O Thou who changest not,
abide with me.
In Life, in death,
O Lord, abide with me.
Amen, Amen,
Amen.
True Colors
Look at all the colors.
Aren’t they beautiful?
So many shades and hues,
So many points of view,
like a rainbow.
Blue, purple, green, red,
tinges of yellow, black.
You with the sad eyes,
Don’t be discouraged,
Oh I realize,
it's hard to take courage.
In a world full of people,
you can lose sight of it all,
and the darkness inside you can make you feel so small.
Show me a smile then,
don’t be unhappy,
can’t remember when I last saw you laughin’.
If this world makes you crazy and you’ve taken all you can bear,
Just call me up because you know I’ll be there.
And I’ll see your true colors shining through.
I see your true colors,
that’s why I love you,
so don’t be afraid to let them show.
Your true colors are shining
Like a rainbow
Let go of the pain,
and fight through the struggle.
Come out of the dark and show the world who you are.
We’ll see our lives in living technicolor,
when all of humanity become one.
I see your true colors shining through.
I see your true colors,
that's why I love you,
so don’t be afraid to let them show,
Your true colors are shining,
I see your true colors shining through,
like a rainbow
Look at all the colors.
Let Your True Self Sing
Cold winds blow over my barren soul,
Scattered pieces of my life across broken time,
I am alone.
Surrounded by eternity
I hear a voice
Calling me:
Come back…
I am broken, yet whole.
Listen deeply,
Your true self sings
Throw open the door,
Come back to that voice,
Share that voice,
Your voice…
Reflection
Look at me,
You may think you see who I really am,
But you’ll never know me.
Every day,
It’s as if I play a part.
Now I see,
If I wear a mask I can fool the world,
But I cannot fool my heart.
Who is that girl I see,
Staring straight back at me?
When will my reflection show who I am inside?
I am now
In a world where I have to hide my heart,
And what I believe in.
But somehow,
I will show the world what’s inside my heart,
And be loved for who I am.
Who is that girl I see,
Staring straight back at me?
Why is my reflection someone I don’t know?
I won’t pretend that I’m
Someone else for all time.
When will my reflection show who I am inside?
There’s a heart that must be free to fly,
That burns with a need
To know the reason why.
Why must we all conceal
What we think, how we feel?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
Performers
Soprano
- Hannah Abrahim
- Cassandra Duschane
- Gracie Laboy
- Mariah Rae
- Becca Tomasko
- Socks Whitmore
Alto
- Abigail Berry
- Kim Dawson
- Natalie Gonzalez
- Hannah Lewis
- Anna Marie Meyer
- Mayuri Vasan
Tenor
- Samuel Avila
- Jonathan Byram
- Isaiah Chacon
- Josh Gronlund
- Nathan Heldman
- Zachary Zaret
Bass
- Sam Garcia
- Aaron Jung
- Zev Marx-Kahn
- Joe Santoni
- Max Smith
- Theo Trevisan
Soloists
- Hannah Abrahim (True Colors - Dec. 3)
- Samuel Avila (True Colors)
- Abigail Berry (Reflection - Dec. 1)
- Kim Dawson (Rise Up)
- Cassandra Duschane (True Colors - Dec. 1)
- Natalie Gonzalez (Reflection - Dec. 3)
- Socks Whitmore (they/them) (Take What You Need)
Guest Vocalists, from 8TPS (Take What You Need)
- Nick Webster (he/they), soprano
- Even Johnson (they/them), alto
- Crystal Stull (she/her), tenor
- Tanner Pfeiffer, bass
Instrumentalists
- Kristen Simpson, piano
- Tim Reynolds, violin
Deaf Performers
- Mikey Agyin
- La’Rina Carolina
Hearing Interpreters
- Gregorio Nieto
- David Banda
- Victoria Elliott
Special Thanks
Tonality Board of Directors
- Dr. Alexander Lloyd Blake, Executive/Founding Director
- Dr. David Connors, Chairperson
- Caroline McKenzie, Vice-Chairperson
- Joe Trapanese, Secretary
- Dr. Kimberly Bradshaw, Treasurer
- Jacob Broussard
- Roman GianArthur
- Shawn Kirchner
- Jordan Reddout
- Julie Smith
Honorary Board Members
- Michael Abels
- Kris Bowers
- Lara Downes
- Dr. Melissa Dunphy
- Brian Lauritzen
- Nikky Finney
- Kevin “K.O.” Olusola
- Joel Thompson
Advisory Board Members
- Dr. Derrell Acon
- Stacy Brightman
- Melissa Denton
- Kristy Edmunds
- Ted Hearne
- Luke McEndarfer
- Thomas Mikusz
- Jen Rogers
- Sara Scott
- Leslie Thomas
- Booker White
We sincerely thank:
- ProBono ASL
- Alex Morales, Company Manager
- Melissa Lai, Administration Intern
- Larry Weisberg, Production Manager
- Lauren Potter, Social Media
- Bucklesweet Media, Public Relations
- Louis Ng, Videographer
- Dorian Bonner, Photographer
- Socks Whitmore
- Grace First Presbyterian, Long Beach
- Pico Union Project, Los Angeles
We are gathered today on the unceded land of the Tongva peoples. We ask you to join us in acknowledging the Tongva community, their elders both past and present, as well as future generations. This land has nourished, healed, protected and embraced the Tongva peoples for many generations in a relationship of balance and harmony. As members of the Tonality community we acknowledge this legacy. We promote this balance and harmony. We find inspiration from this land; the land of the Tongva. This acknowledgement demonstrates Tonality’s commitment to the process of dismantling the ongoing legacies of settler colonialism and honoring our Nation’s Indigenous Peoples.
Acknowledgments
2023 Supporters of Tonality
- California Arts Council
- California Community Foundation LA Arts Recovery Fund
- California Impact Grant
- City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs
- Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture Organizational Grant
- Michael and Irene Ross Endowment of the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles
- Tejemos Foundation
Tonality Sustainers ($10,000 & above)
- Alexander Blake
- Tejemos Foundation
Tonality Sponsors (up to $10,000)
- Leigh Jones-Bamman
- Peter Rutenberg
- Israel Schachter
- Joseph Trapanese
Tonality Contributors (up to $5,000)
- David Connors
- Sara Scott
Tonality Supporters (up to $2,500)
- Shawn Kirchner
- Jodie Landau
- Kevin Olusola
- Caroline Robinson
Tonality Builders (up to $1,000)
- Michael Abels
- Kenneth Foster
- Roman GianArthur
- Stuart Marks
- John McGuire
- Booker White
Tonality Friends (up to $500)
- Jamie Crawford
- Brian Gorelick
- Eva Jones
- Carolyn Kelley
- Guy Maeda
- Karen Murphy O'Brien
- Pavane Music Inc
- Julie Smith
- Joel Thompson
- Brandon Faber & Matthew Turner Shelton
- Frank & Catherine Zachary
Tonality Community (up to $100)
- Michael Anderson
- Steffany Ayala
- Liza Beth
- Stacy Brightman
- Bucklesweet Media
- Denise Carite
- Katie Crawford
- Michael Davis
- Glenda Delenstarr
- Lisa Dent
- Julie Eidsvoog
- Klo Garoute
- Tyler Griffin
- Marina Harris
- Evan Johnson
- Daniel Jordan
- Victoria Kirsch
- Randall Lindsey
- Rachel Maloney
- Lisa Margaroli
- Cynthia Marty
- Jack McHugh
- Brenda Reddout
- Michael Rowan
- Dave Schmidt
- Moira Smiley
- Beth Snowden-Ifft
- Elizabeth Thomas
- Amelia Thompson
- David Topping
- Pietro Torrisi
- Maura Tuffy
- Anne Watson Born
2023-2024 Tonality Community Advocates
- David Connors
- Caroline Robinson
Support Affiliated Non-Profits
Trans* Lounge at LA LGBT Center
Trans Lounge is the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s groundbreaking empowerment program for social connection and support, serving the TGI/ENBY+ (Trans, Gender Non-Conforming, Intersex, Non-Binary, Gender Expansive) communities. They host 20-25 groups and classes each month, including groups for: weekly support & social connection for all gender expansive identities, navigating gender-affirming healthcare, folx who identify as Neurodiverse, exploring healthier relationships with masculinities, cooking class, journaling, spirituality, an active Discord server, free chest binders, and more!
San Gabriel Valley LGBTQ Center
Our mission is to promote a safe and inclusive San Gabriel Valley for people of all orientations and gender identities. We aim to enrich the lives of LGBTQ+ San Gabriel Valley residents by:
The San Gabriel Valley LGBTQ Center's mission is to promote a safe and inclusive SGV for people of all orientations and gender identities. They enrich the lives of LGBTQ+ SGV resident by fostering advocacy, education, and respect for individuals; encouraging cultural diversity, healthy living, and full achievement of personal potential; providing locally available, culturally competent programs and services; and promoting interconnection amongst the SGV LGBTQ+ community.
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Upcoming Events
HomeCare focuses on the climate crisis, including the words of young leaders who have spoken about the urgency of action toward conserving what resources are available on this planet. We've designed this concert to educate us on aspects of climate change that go beyond our emotional response. We hope that you will leave this space aware of our limited resources and how we must work to protect them for generations to come.
Music @ The Wallis is generously made possible by Terri and Jerry Kohl At War With Ourselves – 400 Years of You features a text by National Book Award-winning poet Nikky Finney inspired by her 2013 poem “The Battle of and for the Black Face Boy.” The music was composed by Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Abels, composer for the Jordan Peele films Us and Get Out. This powerful new work for string quartet, narrator, and chorus explores race relations, social justice, and civil rights in 21st century America. KRONOS QUARTET TONALITY MUSIC BY Michael Abels TEXT & NARRATION BY Nikky Finney CONDUCTED BY Alexander Lloyd Blake
Music @ The Wallis is generously made possible by Terri and Jerry Kohl Making their Wallis debut, GRAMMY-award winning vocal choir Tonality combines melodic harmonies to present concerts on themes of social justice in hopes to catalyze empathy and community activism. Put Your Guns Down discusses issues related to gun violence in the United States. Some of the selections will discuss mass shootings, police brutality, the effects on victims, school shootings, and suicide prevention. The concert also focuses on an active sense of peace as we come together to find solutions toward the epidemic of gun violence in this country. This evening’s performance will feature the world premiere of Alexander Lloyd Blake’s Running From, Running To: A Musical Reflection on Ahmaud Arbery.