Breanna Sinclairé is making waves and breaking down barriers as one of the world’s few lyric sopranos who is openly transgender. She was set to make her solo recital and Canadian debut in our Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, presented by TD Bank, on March 31. This concert was in partnership with Against the Grain Theatre, where she was set to sing the role of Kelly in the world premiere of Bound this spring.

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"Too bad you're black."

No, I didn’t choose that title in order to be provocative or controversial. It’s a direct quote from a conductor that is/was the music director of a small Midwestern American opera company. I was 20 years old and had just sung an audition that I was actually proud of. Following the audition, as my accompanist and I were leaving the hall, the gentleman thanked me for my audition and showered me with compliments. Then, in a very serious tone he uttered those words as if he were compelled to warn me.

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In truth, nothing could prepare me for the life-altering experience of being diagnosed and treated for breast cancer. From the moment I asked my family doctor to examine me because something “seemed off,” I knew the news was bad.

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