Transgender opera singer settles into new identity

[LostInTime]

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At 27, as this violinist becomes comfortable as a classical vocalist, she's settling into one other new identity.

Until a few years ago, Tona was Thomas.

During an elementary school field trip to see the National Symphony Orchestra, the boy who would become Tona zeroed in on the principal violinist. She doesn't remember now what captured her attention. She just remembers telling the school's orchestra teacher that she wanted to be like that lead musician.

"You can be anything you want," he said.

That notion still guides Tona today.