Our mission is to provide a vocal community free of gendered expectations, by and for Transgender and Nonbinary singers, to explore and express ourselves through music.
About STANCE
By building a community of trans and nonbinary singers, we aim to foster an environment where changing voices are authentically embraced. Our vision is an inclusive and accessible singing community where intersecting identities are centered at all levels of the organization. Through our music, both singers and audiences are encouraged to find embodiment and connect to our full selves, physical and emotional.
Our Vision
Our Leadership Team
Haven Wilvich
Founder & Executive Director
she/her
Haven first dreamed of a trans and nonbinary led community choir in 2016 when she got fustrated with how difficult it is being a feminine Bass singer in traditional choirs. When she's not focused on community building, she does vaccine research, watches birds, and kayaks Washington's many beautiful bodies of water. Haven also serves as the Fundraising Chair, Volunteer/Forte Chair, and Board Chair Emeritus.
Dr. Cee E. Adamson
Artistic Director
she/they
In the distinguished sphere of classical music, Dr. Cee E. Adamson (she/they) stands as a beacon of versatility and excellence, seamlessly weaving together her roles as a choral conductor, opera singer, voice teacher, arts administrator, and student affairs practitioner with grace and passion. As a mezzo-soprano, Cee occupies a fluid place as an operatic talent, capable of treading the beguiling and liminal space between the countertenor and mezzo-soprano, and her vocal versatility has been well showcased in roles as Oberon in Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Giulio Cesare in Handel's Giulio Cesare, The Sorceress in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, and tragic and comic roles from Mercedes in Carmen to Florence Pike in Albert Herring. Cee was also requested to appear as a featured supernumerary in Glimmerglass Opera’s production of Philip Glass’s Orphée. As a choral educator, Dr. Adamson assumes the role of a visionary choral director whose leadership has transformed vocal ensembles into beacons of musical excellence. Cee is known for her meticulous attention to vocal technique and ensemble precision and her ability to cultivate a deep emotional connection within her choirs, resulting in authentic performances that resonate deeply with audiences and performers alike. Through her academic and professional practice, Cee aims to reshape the narrative around who is seen and heard in classical vocal and choral music. Visibility is not just important; it is critical—it means ensuring that underrepresented populations and identities are represented across all facets of the arts, from historical pioneers to contemporary innovators. In December 2024, Cee completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Washington, specializing in vocal performance under the guidance of Dr. Carrie Shaw, as well as choral conducting with Dr. Geoffrey Boers and Dr. Giselle Wyers.
Mikey Prince
Assistant Artistic Director & Accompanist
he/they
Mikey found STANCE in 2022 after looking into trans choirs across the US to research trans-centered choral pedagogy. When he is not joyously music-making with community in STANCE, Mikey is joyously music-making with K-5 students as a music educator in Seattle Public Schools.
Board of Directors
To reach our Board of Directors, please email board@stanceseattle.org.
Adaleigh Martin*
Chair
she/her
Emma Thorn King*
Co-Chair
they/she
Michael Woodward
Treasurer
he/him
Andy Chapel*
Secretary
he/him
Lotus The Vibe
Racial Equity Chair / Cultural Advocacy Chair / Recruitment Chair
they/she
Vedin Pavlovic
Accessibility Chair
they/them
fluffy*
Singer Liaison
she/they
* = Singer with STANCE
We would like to acknowledge that we rehearse and perform on the land of the first peoples of Seattle, the Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Stillaguamish, Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla tribes, past and present and commit to honor with gratitude the land itself and the stewardship of these indigenous tribes. We encourage you to join us in this commitment by contributing to the local Heron's Nest Outdoor Education and Restorative Justice program and Real Rent Duwamish.
We respectfully acknowledge the enslaved people, primarily of African descent, on whose exploited labor this country is built, with little to no recognition. Today, we are indebted to their labor and the labor of the many Black and brown people that continue to work in the shadows for our collective benefit. We also support the #BlackVoicesMatter movement and pledge to work towards anti-racism in all aspects of our music.
Land Acknowledgment & Commitment to Racial Justice
STANCE Sponsors
STANCE would not be possible without the support of our sponsors and partners, and we are so grateful for their support. As Seattle's first choir by and for trans and nonbinary singers, we are engaging in the radical act of centering trans joy. If our vision aligns with your business’s values, we would like to invite you to become a sponsor of our next concert, currently being planned for Pride month 2024.
