Tona Brown live at Carnegie Hall

10/31/2024

Thank you, family, for the love and support. A special shoutout to my beautiful cousin Tear Brown and my auntie Rosemary Everette. This really made my day, and these flowers will have a special meaning because they came from you. Have a blessed and prosperous week. 🫶🥰

10/28/2024

Wow, I just had a phenomenal meeting with a company that wants to help promote "Conversations with Tona Brown" podcast to a global audience. Tears of joy! I could not do this without all of you who have been supporting the series. Apparently, we really moved their team! Our message will be translated into 22 languages and to 11 Million subscribers! Won't HE DO IT! Thank you Lord! Huge things to come folks. Stay uplifted and encouraged.

10/28/2024

Mentors and Mentorship is needed:
The world needs you! The world needs more mentors to inspire others. This doesn't have to be something formal or through an organization. Oftentimes, the mentors that inspired me the most were people who just took the time to show me a little extra love and care along the way. These people may not have even realized how much their kind actions meant to me and others. They inspired me to dream bigger, or practice differently, or to see things from another perspectively. There are times you will not understand how important your role is in someone else's life! But you have the power to change the lives of others just by being who you are!

"Conversations with Tona Brown" podcast was developed by a suggestion of a friend! There are people in your life that will see things in you that you can't see. When I decided to embark on this new journey I really did not know what I was doing but I knew that I wanted to talk to people that inspired me. I knew if they inspired me to succeed they would have amazing tips for others. The next question was to figure out what inspires me the most when I read about or watch documentaries about them. I realized that I am inspired by people who are unique, or have a different way of thinking and doing things. The unicorns in society that often times are overlooked because of those differences. It goes without saying that I can relate to having to fight for everything in life and to dispel so many stereotypes about me and my community.

However when you are different there are people that will misread your intentions or energy. I can't tell you how many individuals I have met over the years who for whatever reason could not understand me. And that is ok! There is nothing you can do about this. You have to learn from it and move on! Not everyone is going to like you or understand that you mean no harm but just want to be around like minded people. What I have learned through this part of my journey is that most of these people were projecting their insecurities. I love to support others, I love being around talented and creative people and I want you to win! I think people sense that when I interview them on the show.

I mention all this because we can change this behavior by not judging other people for who they are, their sexual orientation, religion, gender or their past. Never compete with others, compete with yourself. Try to be the best version of you. It is not about perfection because none of us are perfect and you will make mistakes. But in the end people will know your intentions are pure and that you never mean to harm anyone.

Tona Brown Tona Brown live at Carnegie Hall

10/19/2024

During the pandemic, I recorded some snippets of my favorite "Songs of Comfort" on YouTube. If anyone needs these songs during this time of mourning for my brother Terry Danger Brown Terry Brown, please listen to them. Music sends powerful vibrations into the universe, music also heals especially during difficult times. Keep your head up, family and friends. God Bless you all.
Selections include songs we are all familiar with, such as Amazing Grace, Deep River, Were You There, and other classical selections that uplift my spirit.

Aida Studios Tona Brown Tona Brown live at Carnegie Hall

Violinist Tona Brown plays Amazing Grace.

10/02/2024

Thank you Divo David Caines Burnett for sharing this photo! I have so many fond memories from this time of transformation in my life. This picture represented my first professional gig being my full authentic self. I remember my good girlfriend and violinist Megan Jenifer-Harris let me borrow this beautiful African Dress. We played in a string quartet called "The Radiance String Quartet" together. She knew I loved purple, the color of royalty, and at the Gateways Music Festival every year we had to wear traditional African dress for the final concert. Meghan didn't hesitate to let me borrow this beautiful African gown!

I had been attending the Gateways Music Festival ever since I was 15 years old at the request of Amadi Azikiwe who was a professor at Old Dominion University! He would give me violin lessons and I was honored to play the "Duo in G major" by Mozart for violin and viola with him for a faculty recital. He and other members of the Gateways Music Festival attended my masterclass at ODU with violinist Isaac Stern. While at the festival I would meet Amadi's mother Armenta Hummings. The advice she gave me over the years was amazing and even some of her statements to the press were astounding! When interviewed by Chris King who at that time was the editor of the STL American newspaper, Armenta Hummings stated that she didn't hire me because I was a trans violinist, she hired me because I was a great musician. She warned me to never allow anyone, especially the media forget that I am a great musician first who happens to be transgender!

10/01/2024

Hello Everyone,

I just want to take the time to thank all of you who have been there for me during one of the most difficult few years of my life. I am one of those people that never really ask for help and I'm always there for everyone else. I feel that I am one of the most fortunate people in the world to live in my truth and work doing what I love to do so who am I to complain. But that doesn't mean that everything is always perfect.

At the launch of "Conversations with Tona Brown" podcast everything financially literally fell apart. It is only my faith that everything would work out in the end that I even have a roof over my head and any food to eat. I am definitely very blessed for sure. It is during these times that you find out who your real friends are. But for all of those that do check on me and tell me their stories I knew I was not alone. Understanding how everyone is feeling right now helped me to keep pushing and to not give up and every conversation I had was like therapy!

As a public figure things can be tough and people are cruel. I can't tell you how many times we are attacked or threatened with lawsuits or watch people betray our trust. We have a court system that rewards the landlords over renters especially here in VA. I can't tell you how many times I have had to move and or break my lease because these places have mice, roaches, and or poor living conditions. Yet, the way our system is they continue to be able to do the same thing to the next person they rent to.

I have learned that it doesn't matter how nice you are to people they still will betray you want to be you, or demand all of your time and energy if you let them.

Let's not talk about the shady business practices of people and organizations. It's literally always something! lol But in the end, I made it through that period! Amen, I am still here and will remain here and will not just survive but thrive! These same individuals have no idea what I went through just to be ME! So they will never take me off my game or goals.

I want to thank every guest for sharing your stories with me on "Conversations with Tona Brown" and the world. And for trusting me with your stories. It truly meant the world to me to hear them. I have some truly exciting interviews to release soon!

I also want to thank my friends and clients who helped to keep me focused on something positive and or beautiful like your voices and or music. For me, I get no greater joy than helping others succeed and or performing and teaching.

I write all of this to say now that so many of you have expressed how difficult things are for you these days and I feel your pain. The saying "the struggle is real" is no joke for us all. I ask that we all stay open and honest about what we are going through and continue to be there for each other. Do not be ashamed to ask for help if you need it. You may not have any money to help someone but a phone call or a nice comment on a post of support can go a long way. I try to say something positive to someone every day online because you never know what they are going through even if it's just to say Happy Birthday!

I am looking forward to this fall and to hearing all the lovely music my students and colleagues will make. I look forward to giving other people in the community a platform to share their life lessons with us all on "Conversations with Tona Brown."

Today was an amazing day hearing from friends about future projects and events and former students who want to come back and work on their craft. This is going to be an amazing Fall/Winter Season! Thank you all in advance for your continued support!

Tona Brown

09/24/2024

Today I will speak to Madeleine Isaure Adamson-Autry, a doctoral student doing a research project at the University of Washington about the lived experience of professional-level Black,
transfemme* treble voice singers in classical music and opera. It's great to see that other people are passionate about our voices and doing this sort of research.

09/20/2024

09/17/2024

https://youtu.be/mmdQ1JVb948?si=zv_BMMbdN-kS8jB0

Tona Brown sits down with R&B Diva Monifah for an interview about her life in the music industry and how she met her wife!

09/06/2024

Join me and say happy birthday to the Founder of MajorWay Strategic LifeCoach, ex-basketball player, model, actor, and TV host DeMarco Majors! Today I have the privilege of having another conversation with him on "Conversations with Tona Brown." It will be released later this year. Demarco is one of the original "OG's" on "Conversations with Tona Brown" and his interview that was done first here live on Facebook touched everyone who heard his story. When I asked him to come on the show he said very simply "When Tona Brown calls you show up!" and when Demarco shows up she shows out!

09/02/2024

Thank you ladies for the help! Every little bit counts and I can't wait to give you all updates to see how your help is making this dream a reality! Every donation large or small will help. Be a part of our podcast community.

I am looking forward to releasing a new episode of "Conversations with Tona Brown" with one of my co-authors to speak about my memoir "Tonacity" The Tona Brown Story with Dr. Meghan K Sheehy and recording a new episode with comedian Sampson McCormick!

08/30/2024

Thank you Gail Rolf for your continued support and for donating to my GoFundMe campaign. This truly means the world to me!

08/30/2024

Thank you Martine Kei Green-Rogers for donating to my GoFundMe campaign! You're a true sister! Love you! Tona Brown

08/29/2024

https://gofund.me/3b0b3d41

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