The Oyster River Cooperative School District (ORCSD) is pleased to share that acclaimed musician Tona Brown visited with district students, sharing her personal story and her love and passion for the arts.
DURHAM – The Oyster River Cooperative School District (ORCSD) is pleased to share that acclaimed musician Tona Brown visited with district students, sharing her personal story and her love and passion for the arts.
Brown kicked off her visit to the district on Thursday, March 23 by meeting with Oyster River Middle School faculty, staff, and students. Students asked Brown about her professional achievements, her identity, and her favorite music.
Brown then rehearsed with the full orchestra and the chamber orchestra. She also offered violin masterclasses to three Oyster River students, which greatly improved their technique and their ability to play the piece of their choice.
"It has been a magnificent experience to watch the Oyster River students grow and develop as musicians," said Brown. "And it’s so unique to have a professional come and play with the students, especially for a public school. I applaud their music teacher, Andrea von Oeyen, and the administration for giving me the opportunity to teach and experiment. Everyone's performance has been exceptional."
On Friday, March 24, Brown met with Oyster River High School (ORHS) students, faculty, and staff. ORHS's Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) group held a panel discussion where panelists asked prepared questions about Brown's professional achievements, her racial and gender identity, and her personal journey.
"For me, the JEDI group is about making sure all students are included and celebrated in our school district. Hearing from Tona allowed students who share her experiences to feel validated and find a role model and gave all students a chance to hear her wonderful ideas and perspectives," high school student Zoe Selig said. "We loved hearing from Tona last year when we met her virtually and we are grateful she could visit us in person this time to share her stories, advice, and experiences."
Friday evening, Brown performed in a concert with students at the Oyster River Middle School Concert Hall. Selections from the concert included Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, and more. The full recording of the concert can be viewed here.
"Bringing Tona Brown to our district to work with our musicians has been a truly amazing experience. Hosting such an accomplished artist is incredibly rare for public schools," said music teacher Andrea von Oeyen. "She is an individual that values hard work, takes her teaching and musicianship seriously, and is a role model to us all. Tona's kindness and teachings will be something that will stay with the students and me for a very long time."
Brown first got in touch with the school district in 2020, when high school student Aaron Hoag, working on an assignment about diversity in music, learned of her through his research. After becoming aware of the project, Brown decided to get involved and connect with the student and his class. Brown has since stayed in contact and worked virtually with the district's orchestra last year.
"It was a great honor for the Oyster River Cooperative School District to welcome a talented and impactful artist like Tona Brown," said Superintendent James Morse. "She is an inspiration and role model for so many, and we would all like to thank her for sharing her experiences and spending quality time with our students."
About Tona Brown
Tona Brown, acclaimed violinist and Mezzo-Soprano, has an international performance career throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. Brown is also a successful entrepreneur and teacher and is an advocate for transgender issues and the arts, often speaking and performing at colleges and universities. She is the first transgender woman of color to perform the National Anthem for a sitting president and was the first transgender woman to headline at Carnegie Hall where she performed a program of African American composers with an all-inclusive LGBT cast of performers.