Concert Program

A Note from the Artistic Director

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

English and Spanish

800-273-8255

One morning in Asheville, NC, I was approached by a police officer while on my way to retrieve some things from my car. The officer stopped and questioned me, and he asked for my identification. After he dismissed me, I was left confused and embarrassed, and I struggled to figure out the reason why I was approached by the officer. I did not do anything wrong. It became obvious to me that it was because I am a man of color.

This type of incident occurs far too often in our society, and it has to stop. Based on that experience, I knew that I needed to do something. No more racism, no more exclusion, no more discrimination. I decided to do what I do best: make music. I decided to form a choir whose purpose is to increase awareness through music. After meeting every member of Tonality, I realized that I was not alone, that many others possess a passion for unity, for bringing people together.

Since its formation a short time ago, Tonality has received support from artists who also value diversity and social justice through their music. India Carney from U.S. Season 8 of The Voice says, “Tonality is going to broaden horizons for music and show a diverse array of faces for classical music as we know it.” Grant Gershon, Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, states, “Choral singing is about sharing our voices, our traditions, and our experiences. Tonality has the potential to bring the amazingly diverse voices, traditions, and experiences of Los Angelenos together in a powerful new way.”

Tonality, now a Grammy award-winning ensemble, has grown immensely since that first rehearsal on June, 6, 2016. The singers come from a variety of backgrounds, ethnicities and countries. They are professional singers from Los Angeles who care about the future of our country and our world, and we sing in unity to actively demonstrate the beauty of diversity.

We hope that this concert offers a safe space for those who are dealing with mental illness and friends and loved ones who support. While this concert speaks of challenges of mental health and suicide prevention, we also hope that this concert will serve as a reminder that each of you are loved, appreciated, and valued in our community. Thank you for coming and sharing your hearts with us.

Alexander Lloyd Blake
Executive/ Founding Artistic Director

Concert Program

Resta di darmi noia

Music by:
Carlo Gesualdo de Venosa
Text by:
Carlo Gesualdo de Venosa

Resta di darmi noia,

pensier crudo e fallace,

ch'esser non può già mai quel che a te piace!

Morta è per me la gioia,

onde sperar non lice

d'esser mai più felice.

English Translation:

Cease giving me trouble, 

cruel and deceitful thought. 

for what you desire can never be. 

Joy is dead to me, 

therefore I'm allowed no hope

of ever being happy again.

Hear My Prayer, O Lord

Music by:
Henry Purcell
Text by:
Psalms 102:1

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my crying come unto Thee.

Deep River

Music by:
arranged by Alexander Lloyd Blake
Text by:
African-American Spiritual

Deep river,

My home is over Jordan.

Deep river Lord,

I want to cross over into campground.

Don’t you want to go

To that gospel feast,

That promised land where all is peace

Tulips

Music by:
Shawn Kirchner
Text by:
Sylvia Plath

The tulips are too excitable, it is winter here.

Look how white everything is, how quiet, how snowed-in.   

I am learning peacefulness, lying by myself quietly

As the light lies on these white walls, this bed, these hands.   

I am nobody; I have nothing to do with explosions.   

I have given my name and my day-clothes up to the nurses   

And my history to the anesthetist and my body to surgeons.

I didn’t want any flowers, I only wanted

To lie with my hands turned up and be utterly empty.

How free it is, you have no idea how free——

The peacefulness is so big it dazes you.

Before they came the air was calm

Then the tulips filled it up like a loud noise.

Now the air snags and eddies round them  

They concentrate my attention the way a river

Snags and eddies around a sunken, rusted engine

The tulips are too red in the first place, they hurt me.

Their redness talks to my wound, it corresponds.

They are subtle : they seem to float, though they weigh me down, 

A dozen red lead sinkers round my neck.

The tulips should be behind bars like dangerous animals;

They are opening like the mouth of some great African cat,   

And I am aware of my heart: it opens and closes.

It’s a bowl of red blooms, out of sheer love of me.

The water I taste is warm, and salt, like the sea,

And comes from a country far away as health.

Angelica Rowell and Rohan Ramanan, soloists

Conversations with Strangers

Music by:
Natalie Dietterich
Text by:
Note from the composer - This text was assembled from fragments of conversations I had with people whom I had never previously met. I was moved by the deeply personal things people were willing to share, despite our lack of a direct relationship toward one another. I have chosen phrases that follow three particular strangers I have met, and their hardship, representing the struggles of many that go unconsidered as we pass by and continue with our lives.

It will be four years in May

Her addiction’s a quick fix to feeling better, feeling normal

Every once in awhile she comes back

I took eighteen of them

I don’t know if I was really trying to kill myself

These hands, they sleep

I was there for three years off and on

She wants everything

At some point you have to live

Take What You Need

Music by:
Reena Esmail
Text by:
Reena Esmail

Take a moment

Take a breath

Take time

Take care

Take heart

Take hope

Take a step

Take a chance

Take courage

Take charge

Take a stand

Take pride

Take joy

Take pause

Take a moment

Take a breath

Take what you need

Take a moment

Take a breath

Take time

Take care

Take heart

Take hope

Take a step

Take a chance

Take courage

Take charge

Take a stand

Take pride

Take joy

Take pause

Take a moment

Take a breath

Take what you need

Take what you need

Take what you need

Take a moment

Take a breath

Take time

Take care

Take heart

Take hope

Take a step

Take a chance

Take courage

Take charge

Take a stand

Take a pride

Take joy

Take pause


Take a moment

Take a breath

Take what you need…

Cara Zydor Fesjian, soloist

Big White Room

Music by:
Jessie J, arranged by Nathan Heldman
Text by:
Jessie J

Sittin’ in a big white room alone

Tilt my head back, feel the tears fall down

Close my eyes to see in the dark.

I feel young, broken, so, so scared.

I don’t wanna be here anymore,

I wanna be somewhere else

Normal and free, like I used to be

But I have to stay in this big white room

With little old me

I’m going crazy

I’m losing my mind

I’m going crazy

In this big white room of mine

Sitting in a big white room alone

Close the door

Don't want the pain to come in

I clench my fist

And try to stay strong

I cry, feel sick

My heart is beating out of control

Can I run run faster than you

I wanna feel my body again

Feel the wind in my hair

But I have to stay in this big white room

'Cause no one else cares, no

I'm going crazy

I'm losing my mind

I'm going crazy

In this big white room of mine

Everybody's looking at me

Everybody's staring at me

What do I do now

Smile, yeah

I'm going crazy

I'm losing my mind

I'm going crazy

In this big white room of mine

Natalie Gonzalez, soloist

No, Child. No Child

Music by:
Alex Wurman
Text by:
Alex Wurman

The child within shows not a glimpse of pain.

Holding all of it in,

Mighty child refrain.

The powers that be are all a bit insane

Swallowing what us free

Cutting off the main.

You can’t have known you ran to hide.

And now you’ve grown

Your memories died.

Conform he must fall in and stay in line

He won’t betray their trust

His needs must realign

They push and shove

their spirit is confined

Keep searching out for their love

And they will be just fine

You can’t have known

You ran to hide

And now you’ve grown

Your memories died

And when you’ve truly grown

You’ll know you’re not alone 

It’s time to free my body and my mind

The happier I’ll be

When nurturing is mine

Be calm, provide

With my tenderness to give

The hurting will subside

And I’ll be free to live

I can’t have known

You simply ran to hide

And now that I have grown

I know I’m not alone

Cassandra Duschane and Isaiah Chacon, soloists

Please Stay

Music by:
Jake Runestad
Text by:
Text adapted from tweets using #IKeptLiving – expressions of hope from those who battle depression and chose to live.

No! Don’t go!

Don’t let your worst day be your last.

The storm is strong, but it will pass.

You think you can’t go on another day,

but please stay. Just stay.

Hope is real. Help is real.

You are breath, you are life,

you are beauty, you are light.

Your story is not over.

You are not a burden to anyone.

Please stay. Just stay.

Shannon Fish, soloist

You Find Yourself Here

Music by:
Dale Trumbore
Text by:
Dale Trumbore

You find yourself here,

different somehow,

learning to build a life worth living.

You carry it home.

You learn to abandon what isn't important,

to sit still,

to stay in one place.

You learn to watch over yourself

when there's no one else

to watch over,

and no one to watch over you.

You see yourself reflected;

you learn to love what you see.

You live with yourself,

you live.

You find yourself here,

different somehow,

learning to build a life worth living.

You carry it home.

You Will Be Found

Music by:
Pasek and Paul, arranged by Nathan Heldman
Text by:
Pasek and Paul

Have you ever felt like nobody was there?

Have you ever felt forgotten in the middle of nowhere?

Have you ever felt like you could disappear?

Like you could fall, and no one would hear?

Well, let that lonely feeling wash away

Maybe there’s a reason to believe you’ll be okay

‘Cause when you don’t feel strong enough to stand

You can reach, reach out your hand

And oh, someone will coming running

And I know, they’ll take you home

Even when the dark comes crashing through

When you need a friend to carry you

And when you’re broken on the ground

You will be found

So let the sun come streaming in

'Cause you’ll reach up and you’ll rise again

Lift your head and look around

You will be found

There’s a place where we don’t have to feel unknown

And every time that you call out

You’re a little less alone

If you only say the word

From across the silence

Your voice is heard

Even when the dark comes crashing through

When you need a friend to carry you

And when you’re broken on the ground

You will be found

So let the sun come streaming in

'Cause you’ll reach up and you’ll rise again

Lift your head and look around

You will be found

Out of the shadows

The morning is breaking

And all is new, all is new

It's filling up the empty

And suddenly I see that

All is new, all is new

You are not alone

Lorenzo Zapata and Kim Dawson, soloists

IKYK

Music by:
Ogi Ifediora; Arranged by Tehillah Alphonso and Ogi Ifediora
Text by:
Ogi Ifediora

Brother, I see your heavy load.

It seems too hard to bear.

But I’ll walk with you down this road.

This is a burden to share.

Why would you go alone

and hide what is going on?
Don’t do this on your own 

‘cause I’ve been here all along, baby.

I know you know that I’ll be there

whenever you need me.

Oh, I hope it shows that we all care,
and my love comes freely.

Bahp ba da dahp

Come on, we’ve got some work to do.

This could take us some time,
but, oh, but when all of the work is through, 

I know that you will shine.

Oh, Why would you go alone

and hide what is going on?
Oh, Don’t do this on your own

‘Cause I’ve been here all along.

I know you know that I’ll be there

whenever you need me.
Oh, I hope it shows that we all care,

my love comes freely.

You don’t need to doubt it.

You won’t be without the best team,

a family, you and me.


Don’t care who’s about it.

You can’t lose ‘cause we’re the best team.

We won’t leave you guessing.

You don’t need to doubt it.

You won’t be without the best team,
a family, you and me.

Don’t care who’s about it.

You can’t lose ‘cause we’re the best team.

We won’t leave you guessing.

I know you know that I’ll be there

whenever you need me.

Oh, I hope it shows that we all care,

and our love comes freely.


Oh, I know you know that I’ll be there

whenever you need me.

Oh, I hope it shows that we all care,

and our love comes freely. 

Oh, You don’t need to doubt it.

You won’t be without the best team,

a family, you and me.

Don’t care who’s about it.

You can’t lose ‘cause we’re the best team.

We won’t leave you guessing.

I know you know that I’ll be there

whenever you need me.

I hope it shows that we all care,
And my love comes freely. 

Oh, uh.

Ogi Ifediora, soloist

Performers

Soprano

  • Hagar Sara Adam
  • Ali Brutskaya-Stempkovskaya
  • Cassandra Duschane
  • Cara Zydor Fesjian
  • Mariah Rae
  • Becca Tomasko

Alto

  • Abi Berry
  • Kim Dawson
  • Natalie Gonzalez
  • Angelica Rowell
  • Kay Sibal
  • Rachel Steinke

Tenor

  • Sammy Avila
  • Joe Caigoy
  • Isaiah Chacon
  • Davon DeBerry-Martin
  • David Morales
  • Zachary Zaret

Bass

  • Jonathan Byrum
  • Dylan Gentile
  • Josh Gronlund
  • Aaron Jung
  • Matthew Lewis
  • Max Smith

Instrumentalists

  • Charlie Coffeen, piano
  • Dylan Gentile, piano
  • Nick Petrou, bass guitar
  • Zev Shearn-Nance, percussion
  • Scott Johnson, violin I
  • Jasmine Forooghi, violin II
  • Nic Lampert, viola
  • Benz Marston, cello

ASL Interpreters

  • Pro Bono ASL
    • Danny Castro, Deaf Performer
    • Lupe Correa, Deaf Performer
    • Monica Abelar-Muñoz, Interpreter
    • Gregorio Nieto, Interpreter
    • Chrissy Villafuerte, Interpreter

Special Thanks

Tonality Board of Directors

  • Dr. Alexander Lloyd Blake, Executive/Founding Director
  • Dr. David Connors, Chairperson
  • Caroline McKenzie, Vice-Chairperson
  • Joe Trapanese, Secretary
  • Dr. Kimberly Bradshaw, Treasurer
  • Roman GianArthur
  • Kelci Hahn
  • Shawn Kirchner
  • Michael Mikail
  • David Morales
  • Rita Morales
  • Jordan Reddout
  • Julie Smith
  • Daniel Tapetillo

Honorary Board Members

  • Michael Abels
  • Kris Bowers
  • Lara Downes
  • Dr. Melissa Dunphy
  • Brian Lauritzen
  • Nikky Finney
  • Kevin “K.O.” Olusola
  • Joel Thompson

Advisory Board Members

  • Dr. Derrell Acon
  • Stacy Brightman
  • Melissa Denton
  • Kristy Edmunds
  • Ted Hearne
  • Luke McEndarfer
  • Thomas Mikusz
  • Jen Rogers
  • Sara Scott
  • Leslie Thomas
  • Booker White

We sincerely thank:

  • Kristen Simpson, Assistant Conductor and Rehearsal Accompanist
  • Alex Morales, Company Manager
  • Melissa Lai, Supertitles Runner
  • Jacob Alvarez-Ruiz, Production Manager
  • Lauren Potter, Social Media
  • Bucklesweet Media, Public Relations
  • Allen Moon, David Lieberman Artist's Representatives
  • David Lieberman, David Lieberman Artist's Representatives
  • Stan DeWitt, Grace First Presbyterian, Long Beach
  • Dakota Fitzsimmons, The Ebell of Los Angeles
  • Meredyth Deighton, The Ebell of Los Angeles
  • Laura Rowe, LGBTQ Center, Long Beach
  • Raelynn Franklin, The Phoenix
  • Keithy Orellana, The Phoenix
  • Ben Acuña, The Wall Las Memorias
  • Edgar Zepeda, The Wall Las Memorias

Acknowledgments

2023-2024 Supporters of Tonality

  • California Arts Council
  • California Community Foundation LA Arts Recovery Fund
  • California Impact Grant
  • City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs
  • Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture Organizational Grant
  • Michael and Irene Ross Endowment of the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles
  • Tejemos Foundation

Tonality Sustainers ($10,000 & above)

  • Alexander Blake
  • Tejemos Foundation

Tonality Sponsors (up to $10,000)

  • Leigh Jones-Bamman
  • Peter Rutenberg
  • Israel Schachter
  • Joseph Trapanese

Tonality Contributors (up to $5,000)

  • David Connors
  • Sara Scott

Tonality Supporters (up to $2,500)

  • Shawn Kirchner
  • Jodie Landau
  • Kevin Olusola
  • Caroline Robinson

Tonality Builders (up to $1,000)

  • Michael Abels
  • Kenneth Foster
  • Roman GianArthur
  • Stuart Marks
  • John McGuire
  • Booker White

Tonality Friends (up to $500)

  • Jamie Crawford
  • Brian Gorelick
  • Eva Jones
  • Carolyn Kelley
  • Guy Maeda
  • Karen Murphy O'Brien
  • Pavane Music Inc
  • Julie Smith
  • Joel Thompson
  • Brandon Faber & Matthew Turner Shelton
  • Frank & Catherine Zachary

Tonality Community (up to $100)

  • Michael Anderson
  • Steffany Ayala
  • Liza Beth
  • Stacy Brightman
  • Bucklesweet Media
  • Denise Carite
  • Katie Crawford
  • Michael Davis
  • Glenda Delenstarr
  • Lisa Dent
  • Julie Eidsvoog
  • Klo Garoute
  • Tyler Griffin
  • Marina Harris
  • Evan Johnson
  • Daniel Jordan
  • Victoria Kirsch
  • Randall Lindsey
  • Rachel Maloney
  • Lisa Margaroli
  • Cynthia Marty
  • Jack McHugh
  • Brenda Reddout
  • Michael Rowan
  • Dave Schmidt
  • Moira Smiley
  • Beth Snowden-Ifft
  • Elizabeth Thomas
  • Amelia Thompson
  • David Topping
  • Pietro Torrisi
  • Maura Tuffy
  • Anne Watson Born

2023-2024 Tonality Community Advocates

  • David Connors
  • Yuki Cutcheon
  • Sam Hersch
  • Rita Morales
  • Dana Neujahr
  • Caroline Robinson

Support Affiliated Non-Profits

NoStigmas | Mental Health Support & Suicide Awareness Community

NoStigmas is a global peer-led movement raising awareness for mental health & suicide prevention by empowering wellness advocates through education, peer support & positive action. https://nostigmas.org

www.centerlb.org
thephoenix.org
www.thewalllasmemorias.org

Support Tonality Today.

Contributions made to our organization are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

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  1. Donate in person. If you wish to make a donation during or after our concert, please see one of our volunteers or board members.
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    325 N Larchmont, Suite 306
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We truly appreciate your support and generosity. Should you have any questions regarding how you can contribute, please feel free to reach us at info@ourtonality.org or (910) 358-7130.

Kindly help us to spread the word to others who care about valuing social justice in our society.

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Upcoming Events

America Will Be Tour: Duke University, NC
Saturday, January 18, 2025
|
7:30 pm
America Will Be Tour: Duke University, NC

America Will Be is a renewed vision for an inclusive America. The repertoire conjures a patriotic future for the United States for all of us. The program employs a "choral spectrum" - traditional choral sounds with contemporary styles reflecting the diversity of voices and the inspiring storytelling that Tonality skillfully weaves. As an ideal America embraces the full diversity of humanity, America Will Be asks questions about the justice system, immigration, climate change, Black Lives Matter, mental health, and LGBTQ+ equity while honoring the promise of a great America.

America Will Be Tour: Wake Forest University, NC
Monday, January 20, 2025
|
7:30 pm
America Will Be Tour: Wake Forest University, NC

America Will Be is a renewed vision for an inclusive America. The repertoire conjures a patriotic future for the United States for all of us. The program employs a "choral spectrum" - traditional choral sounds with contemporary styles reflecting the diversity of voices and the inspiring storytelling that Tonality skillfully weaves. As an ideal America embraces the full diversity of humanity, America Will Be asks questions about the justice system, immigration, climate change, Black Lives Matter, mental health, and LGBTQ+ equity while honoring the promise of a great America.

The Wallis | At War With Ourselves - 400 Years of You
Saturday, February 15, 2025
|
7:30 pm
The Wallis | At War With Ourselves - 400 Years of You

Music @ The Wallis is generously made possible by Terri and Jerry Kohl At War With Ourselves – 400 Years of You features a text by National Book Award-winning poet Nikky Finney inspired by her 2013 poem “The Battle of and for the Black Face Boy.” The music was composed by Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Abels, composer for the Jordan Peele films Us and Get Out. This powerful new work for string quartet, narrator, and chorus explores race relations, social justice, and civil rights in 21st century America. KRONOS QUARTET TONALITY MUSIC BY Michael Abels TEXT & NARRATION BY Nikky Finney CONDUCTED BY Alexander Lloyd Blake

The Wallis | Put Your Guns Down
Saturday, May 24, 2025
|
7:30 pm
The Wallis | Put Your Guns Down

Music @ The Wallis is generously made possible by Terri and Jerry Kohl Making their Wallis debut, GRAMMY-award winning vocal choir Tonality combines melodic harmonies to present concerts on themes of social justice in hopes to catalyze empathy and community activism. Put Your Guns Down discusses issues related to gun violence in the United States. Some of the selections will discuss mass shootings, police brutality, the effects on victims, school shootings, and suicide prevention. The concert also focuses on an active sense of peace as we come together to find solutions toward the epidemic of gun violence in this country. This evening’s performance will feature the world premiere of Alexander Lloyd Blake’s Running From, Running To: A Musical Reflection on Ahmaud Arbery.