Vita Cleveland

Biography

Born and raised in Cleveland, OH., Vita E. has been surrounded by the power of art since they could remember. At the age of 14, they made a pledge that they would use the art that inspired them to influence thought, change, and freedom to express. This pledge would lead to the reception of a Bachelor’s in Percussion Performance from Baldwin-Wallace University, and years as a percussion instructor, from Pre-K to university level.

Vita’s passion as a Black Trans artist, activist, and educator, has led to the start of many milestones; from being a finalist in the Capturing Fire Poetry slam in DC, to being a member of the Chicago BTGNC Collective, the Black Lives Matter Chicago Chapter. She’s recently finished a summer long role as percussionist, vocalist, and mentor, at the Creede Repertory Theatre, and a role as drummer for the full-stage debut of the hip-hop musical, Once Upon a Rhyme. Her response track to Janelle Monae, “Hell Y’all Ain’t Talmbout,” was cited in The Source’s “10 Songs Soundtracking the #BlackLivesMatter Movement.” Vita’s YouTube channel seeks to create real ass representation, and advocacy for the experiences of marginalized people, which is informed by their experiences as a NeuroDivergent, Queer, Black Trans Femme Artist.

She has been seen onstage in Lynn Nottage's Secret Life of Bees as Violet, and recently played drums for the equity workshop of Medusa by Rachel Dean and Wes Braver.