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March 2-5, 2022 Long Beach, California

Tonality Vox Femina Los Angeles

Established in 2016, Tonality is an award-winning en-
semble known for “open hearted singing” (Lauri’s List).
Tonality’s most recent award is the 2020 Chorus Amer-
ica/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, a
prize given for commitment to singing and commission- Founded in 1997, VOX Femina Los Angeles (VOX)
ing new works. Led by founder and artistic director Al- gives women voice through the performance of
exander Lloyd Blake, Tonality is an ensemble that rep- high-quality choral literature. Diverse in culture, age,
resents the diverse cultures and ethnicities within the Los race, belief, and sexual identity, VOX is a chorus com-
Angeles area. Within a year of its forming, Tonality’s mitted to commissioning new works and raising aware-

mission evolved to use their collective voices to present ness about issues that affect women. Since its debut,
concerts on themes of social justice in hopes to act as a VOX has presented over 300 performances across the
catalyst toward empathy and community activism. United States, Mexico, and Canada, as well as numer-
ous appearances at ACDA and Chorus America confer-
Alexander Lloyd Blake works as an ences. VOX is well known for commissioning over 50
award-winning conductor, composer/ar- new works for women’s voices, collaborating with over
ranger, vocal contractor, singer, and music 35 contemporary composers.
activist. He was named Musical Ameri-
ca’s 30 Professionals of the Year in 2019 Iris S. Levine is founder and artistic director
and received the Louis Botto Award for Innovative ac- of VOX Femina Los Angeles, L.A.’s pre-
tions and Entrepreneurial Zeal from Chorus America. mier women’s chorus. Levine is the interim
Blake is the founding artistic director of Tonality and provost and vice president of Academic

also serves as the choir director at Los Angeles County Affairs at California State Polytechnic Uni-
High School for the Arts. Blake completed a DMA from versity in Pomona. As faculty, she conducted the Kellogg
the University of Southern California, an MM from the Chamber Singers, taught beginning conducting, choral
University of California Los Angeles, and a BM from conducting, and music education courses. Levine earned
Wake Forest University. her DMA from the University of Southern California
and an MM from Temple University in Philadelphia.

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