STANCE - Seattle Trans and Nonbinary Choral Ensemble

What STANCE - Seattle Trans and Nonbinary Choral Ensemble does

STANCE - Seattle Trans and Nonbinary Choral Ensemble is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit choral organization (EIN: 88-2081310) operating as Seattle's first and only choir led by and for transgender and nonbinary singers aged 18 and older. Founded in 2022 — six years after co-founder Haven Wilvich first conceived the idea in 2016 — the ensemble delivers two anchor concert cycles annually (fall Trans Day of Remembrance concerts and spring Pride concerts) plus a talent-showcase fundraiser, featuring programming that centers contemporary choral music, pop, Broadway, and works by BIPOC and queer composers. The supporting Cantes sub-ensemble handles outreach performances at festivals and community events. STANCE is led by Artistic & Executive Director Dr. Cee E. Adamson (DMA, University of Washington, 2024) and Assistant Director Mikey Prince, with operational governance from an 11-seat volunteer Board of Directors.

The organization's core product is in-person choral performance at venues including University Congregational UCC (home venue), Vashon Center for the Arts, and Benaroya Hall (via the Rainbow City Performing Arts collaboration). STANCE has no proprietary technology platform; member operations run on Chorus Connection, website and ticketing on Wix, marketing through Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Constant Contact, and merchandise via TeePublic's print-on-demand marketplace.

Revenue is generated through four streams: individual donations (preset tiers from $10 to $500, recurring or one-time), a six-tier corporate sponsorship program ranging from $150 (Red) to $10,000 (Purple) with SMB and large-company dual pricing, ticketed concert admissions, and small arts grants from institutional funders including 4Culture (King County), ArtsWA, Arts Fund, and The Puffin Foundation. The 2026 STANCE Showcase set a single-event fundraising record at $15,500; total organizational revenue is not publicly disclosed but is consistent with sub-$500K regional nonprofit arts budgets. Membership scaled from a 77-member capacity benchmark in 2023 to over 100 active singers in the 2025-2026 season.

Name

STANCE - Seattle Trans and Nonbinary Choral Ensemble

Legal name

Seattle Trans and Nonbinary Choral Ensemble

Website

https://stanceseattle.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

STANCE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit choral ensemble in Seattle, founded 2022, serving transgender and nonbinary singers aged 18+ through two annual concert cycles, outreach performances, and community programming funded by donations, sponsorships, ticket sales, and arts grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Choral Ensemble

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)

Keywords

• Community choral ensemble
• Transgender nonbinary choir
• Nonprofit performing arts
• Community vocal performance
• LGBTQ choral singing

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individual supporters, available as one-time or monthly recurring gifts. Donors can designate campaigns and receive public acknowledgment.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Six-tiered sponsorship program (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple) with pricing scaled for small businesses (under 100 employees) and large companies (100+ employees). Tiers range from $150 (Red, small business, social media mention) to $10,000 (Purple, large company, homepage logo, program cover, concert announcement). Sponsorships are per season/concert cycle.
3. Ticket Sales: Concerts sell tickets for admission; Pride 2026 concerts are ticketed events held at University Congregational UCC, Vashon Center for the Arts, and Benaroya Hall. Ticket portal is managed through the STANCE website.
4. Merchandise Sales: STANCE sells branded merchandise (t-shirts, phone cases, pillows, tote bags, mugs, and more) through TeePublic, an external print-on-demand platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

STANCE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit choral ensemble based in Seattle that produces and presents live choral concerts performed by transgender and nonbinary singers. The organization delivers two major concert cycles annually (a Trans Day of Remembrance concert in the fall and a Pride concert in the spring), supplemented by community outreach performances and an annual fundraiser showcase. It also operates a community membership program through which transgender and nonbinary adults participate as singers in rehearsals and performances.

Product overview

STANCE - Seattle Trans and Nonbinary Choral Ensemble is a community choir organization offering choral performances and community programs. The core offering is the main choir (100+ singers) performing two major concert cycles annually: Pride month concerts and Trans Day of Remembrance concerts. Supporting programs include the Cantes outreach ensemble, talent showcases, and digital concert programs. The organization does not operate a technology platform but provides in-person musical performances and community-building events for the trans and nonbinary community in Seattle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full Choir Concerts Ticketed live ensemble concerts featuring 100+ transgender and nonbinary singers performing contemporary choral music, pop, Broadway, and new works for general audiences, families, and the Seattle LGBTQ+ community.
• Annual STANCE Showcase Fundraiser

Quantifiable outcome

• Grew from a grassroots movement to over 100 active singers in under 3 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Rainbow City Performing ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Rainbow City Performing Arts is an organization of performance ensembles creating a diverse and inclusive environment for musical expression that promotes equity and visibility of LGBTQIA+ people. STANCE collaborated with them at Benaroya Hall in June 2026 for 'Voices of Change,' performing Ralph Vaughan Williams' Serenade to Music alongside Rainbow City Orchestra and Puget Soundworks. Rainbow City Performing Arts also provided support for STANCE's One More Light (TDOR 2023) concert.
• TRACTION PNWcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022TRACTION (TRANS COMMUNITY ACTION) founders recognize that societal shift is needed in how trans and gender-diverse people are seen and understood. They support STANCE as a visibility and community-building partner, and STANCE thanks TRACTION PNW as a sponsor for their first season and One More Light concert, with special recognition of Shelley O'Neill, Michael Woodward, and Michelle Matlock.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Vox Femina Los Angeles: LA-based women's chorus with a mission rooted in feminist and LGBTQ+ community building, presenting regular season concerts and community engagement. Comparable as a membership-based identity-affirming choral nonprofit.
• San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus: One of the largest and oldest LGBTQ+ choruses in the US, with a long history of community performances, touring, and advocacy-driven programming. Comparable as a mission-driven LGBTQ+ choral organization with a community chorus structure and similar concert model.
• Anna Crusis Women's Choir: Philadelphia-based feminist and LGBTQ+ affirming women's chorus operating on a community-membership, donations/sponsorship-funded model. Comparable as a mission-driven, identity-centered community choir that produces seasonal concerts and is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
• Trans Chorus of Washington DC: Trans-led choral ensemble in the Washington DC area offering a trans-affirming vocal community and public performances. The closest mission-direct peer to STANCE as a choir explicitly organized for transgender and nonbinary singers.
• New York City Gay Men's Chorus: Established NYC-based LGBTQ+ chorus with a long history of community concerts, civic visibility, and corporate partnerships. Comparable mission and operating model as a high-profile LGBTQ+ choral ensemble.
• Rainbow City Performing Arts: Seattle-based organization of LGBTQIA+ performance ensembles (orchestra, choruses) promoting equity and visibility. STANCE has performed with them at Benaroya Hall, making them a direct peer in mission, geography, and choral/instrumental programming.
• One Voice Chorus: Mixed LGBTQ+ and allies community chorus with a comparable model of community concerts, donor-supported operations, and Pride-adjacent programming. Highly comparable in structure and audience to STANCE.

Others

• GALA Choruses: International network of LGBTQ+ choruses providing advocacy, resources, and convenings for member choirs. Relevant as an industry association and peer ecosystem for STANCE's potential growth into a federated network of trans/nonbinary choirs.

Regional players

• Seattle Pro Musica: Long-established Seattle-based choral ensemble presenting professional contemporary and classical choral programming. Comparable as a regional choir operating in the same Seattle market, but not mission-aligned around trans/nonbinary identity.
• Northwest Chorale: Pacific Northwest community chorus presenting regular concert cycles and operating on a membership and donation model. Comparable as a regional Pacific Northwest choral ensemble with similar scale and programming cadence, though without the trans-centered mission.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@STANCEchoir
• Facebookfacebook.com/STANCEchoir
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stanceseattle
• Instagraminstagram.com/stancechoir
• TikToktiktok.com/@stancechoir

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about STANCE - Seattle Trans and Nonbinary Choral Ensemble