On June 12 and 13, the Seattle Trans and Nonbinary Choral Ensemble (STANCE) hosted a concert at University Congregational Church of Christ in the U District, described as a celebration of Trans joy in hard times, when violence against Trans people is too common. Entitled “What Trans Joy Sounds Like,” the concert’s goal was to remind people of reasons to stay positive in these tumultuous times and not give in to despair. (Another performance is scheduled for June 25 on Vashon Island.)

On a warm summer day, as people began to fill the pews, with the Transgender flag draped behind the stage, it had all the markings of an eventful evening. The concert began with a few speeches and poems about perseverance and self-discovery. Among the notable speakers was Seattle City Councilmember Dionne Foster. 

The selection of songs was rather diverse, including a variety of newer musical numbers and some more widely recognizable compositions, including by composers such as Dale Trumbore, Mitchell Grassi, and Christopher H. Harris. Before intermission, the chorus offered a nice rendition of “What It Sounds Like” from the Netflix series K-Pop Demon Hunter, preceded by a personal story by one of the singers, Mira Deacon, in which she shared the difficulties of trying to be herself before transitioning, when the person you’re living as is not authentically you. 

In the second half, the audience was encouraged to participate in “You Created a Song,” by Timothy Takach. A majority of the solo performances were also in the second half, with the last song being purely a solo piece.

It was a joyous recital that accomplished its goal of celebrating Trans joy and uplifting the community through song.