Voices Taking Space at Community Music Center

San Francisco Bay Area's 21V, a professional treble ensemble of soprano and altos of all gender identities under the direction of Dr. Martín Benvenuto, presents Voices Taking Space on Sunday, April 12th at 4:00 p.m. at the Community Music Center in San Francisco.

21V joins forces with the New Voices Bay Area Transgender, Intersex & Genderqueer Chorus and the Community Music Center for an affirming celebration of identity, joy, and resilience. The concert also marks the launch of 21V’s pilot Transgender Youth Choir Project, inviting young trans voices into the vibrant landscape of 21st century music from across the Americas.

Through music and storytelling, the program uplifts trans voices and experiences, weaving together newly commissioned works and contemporary choral music by bold composers from across the continent. Highlights include: 

• The world premiere of Robin Estrada’s "Be Heard, Be Seen, Be Found,” commissioned for this collaborative project and written for three soloists, treble choir, and unison chorus – a powerful meditation on identity, naming, and belonging. 

• "Anna Tawaqu" by Juan Stafforini; inspired by the musicality of words in the Aymara language, it depicts a fictional character who embodies feminine and youthful energy who breaks historical cycles.  

• "When the Dust Settles” by trans Latina composer Mari Esabel Valverde, honoring the legacy of trans activist icon Miss Major Griffin Gracy.