Transpose: Ithaca Queer Singers Alliance

Co-Directors

Jonah Hirst

Interim Co-Director and Community Facilitator

Jonah Hirst is a singer-songwriter and multimedia artist from Cape Cod, MA. After graduating from Brandeis University with a degree in Music Composition, Jonah moved to Ithaca and became involved with the local queer music scene. He first joined Transpose: Ithaca Queer Singers Alliance in 2016 and would go on to co-found the AFAB4, Ithaca’s transmasculine vocal quartet, as well as release a solo EP of original music called Stones. Jonah believes in the intrinsic beauty of every voice, and strives to cultivate a musical community centered on joy, kindness, and the empowerment of queer and trans people.

Sona Minasian

Interim Co-Director and Accompanist

Sona Minasian (he/they/xe/xir) is a music teacher, choral director, collaborative pianist, and an Ithaca College ‘23 Music Education Alumni. He had concentrations in piano and voice and studied under Vadim Serebryany, Tamara Acosta and Jennifer Kay. They currently serve as music director at Forest Home Chapel in Ithaca, NY since June 2022, and have been accompanying Transpose since fall ‘22, before stepping into the interim co-director for TIQSA in fall ‘23. He currently teaches private piano and voice lessons to students in the Ithaca area. Xe spends most of their time outside of teaching collaborating with vocalists and instrumentalists who are students at Ithaca College School of Music, Theatre and Dance.