Tonality: What We Will Be

One of the best and most forward-thinking vocal ensembles to be found in Los Angeles is Tonality. Headed by Artistic Director Alexander Lloyd Blake, they tackle head-on many of the issues facing us today, but wrap it in music so beautiful you’ll find it impossible to resist. What We Will Be is Tonality’s online benefit concert that takes place on December 8th to raise money for the ensemble.

Throughout the pandemic, they have created nine original music videos that have been released throughout the year. During this event they will revisit those videos, explore their significance to Tonality and how they came into being. This concert marks the culmination of their 2020 virtual season.

What We Will Be will feature the world premiere of a new work by composer Shawn Kirchner. He collaborated with Tonality on a new composition that at first is set to the words of America the Beautiful. But he soon moves onto lyrics that explore our country’s history through a different, and more accurate, lens.

Social justice issues are front and center with Tonality. They have collaborated with composers Reena Esmail, Moira Smiley and Alex Wurman in addition to Kirchner. They have also performed with a wide range of other artists including Laura Downes, Taylor Mac and Pete Townsend.

None of this would matter if the music wasn’t good. And it is. Very. That’s why people like Kristy Edmunds of CAP UCLA is on their Board of Directors and included the ensemble in their Tune-In Festival in October.

Tickets for What We Will Be: A Benefit Concert for Tonality are $20 and can be purchased here. The event begins at 10:00PM EST/7:00PM PST.

Update: This post has been updated with the correct start time of 7:00 PM PST/10:00 PM EST. Cultural Attaché regrets the error.