Tony Alonso is a theologian and composer whose work is animated by the diverse needs of the contemporary church.
A Cuban-American Roman Catholic, Tony's compositions embrace multicultural musical expressions and reflect a commitment to strong ritual song. His music appears in compilations and hymnals across Christian denominations throughout the world. In 2015, this work was recognized with an invitation to compose the responsorial psalm for the first Mass Pope Francis celebrated in the United States.
Tony's scholarly work lies at the intersection of liturgical theology, ecclesiology, and cultural studies. He has presented at scholarly and pastoral conferences and events across North America and Europe. He has also authored several essays and articles in journals such as Modern Theology, Worship, and Liturgy. In 2019, Tony was awarded the Catherine Mowry LaCugna Award for new scholars for the best academic essay in the field of theology within the Roman Catholic tradition by the Catholic Theological Society of America. He holds a Bachelor of Music in choral conducting from Northwestern University, a Master of Arts in theology from Loyola Marymount University, and a PhD in religion from Emory University.
Tony is Assistant Professor of Theology and Culture at Candler School of Theology at Emory University where he also serves as Director of Catholic Studies.