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Conversations with Alexander Tovar

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexander Tovar.

Alexander Tovar

Hi Alexander, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story. 
Born into a musical family in Los Angeles in 1984, my musical journey began early. By age 10, I had composed my first opera and soon began formal training in piano, trumpet, and guitar. High school found me playing trumpet in Alexander Hamilton High School’s jazz band, where I also wrote a piece for full orchestra, catching the attention of Robert Kraft, president of Fox Music, who introduced me to Philip Glass. 

Fresh out of high school, I moved to New York City to work with Glass and Nico Muhly. Later, I returned to Los Angeles to study philosophy at PCC before transferring to the University of Southern California, earning my B.M. in music composition. In college, my piece “Eudaemonia” was performed on 91.5 KUSC. 

After graduation, I wrote a piece for Gustavo Dudamel, performed live at Disney Hall. 

Venturing into playwriting, I co-wrote “Mr. Genius” and “Much Ado About Rosey” with my father, Gilbert Tovar. I then delved into filmmaking, writing, directing, acting, and scoring my own films. “Nothing in Los Angeles” (2013) and “Show Business” (2015) premiered at festivals worldwide, with the latter winning Best Score at the Milano International Film Festival Awards. 

My classical repertoire includes works like the “Hollywood Sonata for Two Pianos” (2017), “Requiem for Orchestra and Choir” (2019), and “Hollywood Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra” (2021). Albums like “Inner Child Music” (2017) and “Madrigals” (2023) complement my diverse portfolio, which spans musicals, documentaries, and award-winning feature films. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Art is never smooth and never provides any feeling of stability or any sense of security. It takes massive skills, determination, luck, and sometimes outright ignorance to keep working. “Don’t think too much, just keep working” has always been my motto. 

There a million. distractions and excuses not to write and your mind will play tricks on you telling you, “You’re not smart enough, this idea has already been done, nobody cares about your music, people won’t listen, you don’t have enough followers, etc.” All of this is noises that easily detracts from doing the hard work: work that involves merely sitting down and doing it and staying “stupid” and listening to your subconscious/muse. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a multifaceted artist with a diverse skill set encompassing music composition, performance, playwriting, filmmaking, and directing. My specialization lies in crafting immersive and evocative musical experiences across various mediums, from classical compositions to film scores and theatrical productions. 

I am known for my ability to seamlessly blend genres and mediums, infusing my work with depth, emotion, and creativity. Whether it’s composing a symphony, scoring a film, or writing albums. 

What I am most proud of is my ability to continuously push boundaries and explore new avenues of creativity, fusing classical, jazz, minimalism, and pop. 

What sets me apart from others is my versatility and strong work ethic. I never wait for inspiration; I simply “show up at the office” and write. 

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
The quality or characteristic that I feel is most important to my success is my relentless drive for innovation and creative exploration. My mind never rests. Even when I’m sleeping, I’m working out musical problems. I am constantly seeking new ways to express myself artistically, pushing the boundaries of my craft and challenging conventional norms. This drive fuels my continuous growth and evolution as an artist. 

Pricing:

  • $25 for a ticket to my upcoming concert: A Night of Music and the Cats Crawl in East Hollywood
  • $18 for a tote bag of the concert
  • $18 for a coffee mug of the concert

Contact Info:

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