San Francisco-based singer Yumi Tomsha (they/she) moves hearts and makes waves with their mezzo-soprano voice and artistry. She is dedicated to using her voice for healing and collective liberation.
Yumi has been featured as a soloist at Bargemusic, the New York Society for Ethical Culture, Hertz Hall, JACK, Queen of the Hudson Music Series, the Red Poppy Art House, and with the Heels on Wheels Roadshow. As an oratorio soloist, they have sung Vivaldi's Gloria, Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, J.S. Bach’s Mass in b minor, and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Yumi has also performed as an ensemble member with conductors Gustavo Dudamel and Herbert Blomstedt and with the Mark Morris Dance Group. In 2016, they sang as a member of the Nikolai Kachanov Singers in two world premieres at Carnegie Hall. They received a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the Longy School of Music, a Bachelor of Arts in English from UC Berkeley, and, most recently, a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of San Francisco School of Education
Yumi’s belief that everyone’s voice is intrinsically worthy guides their work as a queer, nonbinary, neurodivergent singer and teacher. Yumi taught singing for over 15 years, led vocal music residencies in NYC schools as a vocal teaching artist, and created “Trust Your Voice: A Beginner’s Singing Class.” She is now a dedicated public school ELA educator.
In addition to music and literature, Yumi is passionate about disability justice, mental health activism, running, films, and donuts.
photo by Seher Sikandar