Professional opera singer Breanna Sinclairé was raised in Baltimore, and was encouraged to sing in the church choir and listen to recordings of Jessye Norman, Marian Anderson and Leontyne Price. She began her transition during her senior year at the California Institute of the Arts, setting her sights on singing the lead role in Carmen.
After graduation from CalArts, Breanna received her Masters from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and was the first transwoman of the opera program. Like many trans people, particularly trans women of color, Sinclaire struggled with housing insecurity and was homeless for a time while working toward her Masters Degree.
In June 2015, Sinclairé made history as the first transgender woman to sing the national anthem at a professional sporting event, when she sang at a game between the Oakland As and the San Diego Padres. She made her debut with San Francisco Symphony on December 31, 2018 as the first trans singer to perform with the orchestra.
