Draft:Alexander Tovar

Alexander Tovar (born 1984) is an American composer known for his versatile compositions spanning various genres including classical, film scores, and musical theater. He has collaborated with renowned artists such as Philip Glass, Gustavo Dudamel, Van Dyke Parks, and Nico Muhly. Tovar's works have been performed worldwide, including notable venues such as the Cannes Film Festival, and have garnered critical acclaim, earning him awards such as Best Score at the Milan Film Festival Awards.

Early Life and Education
Alexander Tovar was born in 1984 in Los Angeles, California, into a family with a rich musical background. Displaying prodigious talent from a young age, he composed his first opera by the age of 10. He received formal training in piano, trumpet, and guitar, and attended Alexander Hamilton High School, where he played trumpet in the prestigious jazz band. During his senior year, Tovar composed a piece for full orchestra, attracting the attention of Robert Kraft, President of Fox Music, who introduced him to Philip Glass.

Career
Fresh out of high school, Tovar moved to New York City to work with Philip Glass and Nico Muhly. He later returned to Los Angeles, studying philosophy at Pasadena City College before pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Music Composition at the University of Southern California (USC). Tovar's compositions gained recognition during his time at USC, notably his piece "Eudaemonia," which was selected for the New Music for Orchestra concert and broadcasted live on 91.5 KUSC.

After college, Tovar wrote a piece for Gustavo Dudamel, performed live at Disney Hall as part of Dudamel's inaugural gala event in Los Angeles. He subsequently worked with Van Dyke Parks on projects such as the Elton John and Leon Russell album "The Union," produced by T-Bone Burnett.

In 2010, Tovar's original score for the film "Crown Prince of Heaven" premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. He then ventured into theatrical productions, collaborating with his father, Gilbert Tovar, on works such as the musical farce "Mr. Genius" and the full-scale opera/musical "Much Ado About Rosey."

Tovar expanded his creative endeavors into filmmaking, writing, directing, editing, acting, and scoring his own original feature-length films. His works include "Nothing in Los Angeles" (2013), a love letter to the city, and "Show Business" (2015), a screwball romantic comedy for which he won Best Score at the Milano International Film Festival Awards.

In addition to his artistic pursuits, Tovar is committed to education and community engagement. He teaches music and film to adults with disabilities at Performing Arts Studio West in Inglewood, California.

Selected Works
In 2023, Tovar released "Madrigals and Sinfonietta," featuring innovative compositions incorporating a diverse array of instruments such as steel drums, cimbalom, and French synthesizers. The same year, he composed his first symphony (Symphony No. 1), blending traditional orchestral elements with Spanish guitar and solo soprano. Tovar's repertoire also includes chamber music, such as his String Quartet No. 1 and "Man with a Movie Camera," scored for Piano Quintet, which premiered to a sold-out audience at The Cat's Crawl in East Hollywood in March 2024.

Interviews and Press
Tovar has been featured in various media outlets and interviews, including Voyage LA, Film Courage, and Meet the Biz with David Zimmerman.