Choral singing has long had a gender-bending history, but women singing tenor is a recent phenomenon. (Chris Maddaloni / CQ Roll Call via Getty Images) When I was 18 years old, I wanted to sing tenor.

WASHINGTON – When Toby Spence was diagnosed with thyroid cancer last year, his first response was denial. The 43-year-old lyric tenor from England had built a life around his voice. The diagnosis and ...