Antonio Eduardo Alonso
- PhD, Emory University, 2017
- MA, Loyola Marymount University, 2011
- BMus, Northwestern University, 2002
Dr. Tony Alonso works at the intersection of theology and culture, with a focus on liturgical, material, and musical practices. Alonso's first book, Commodified Communion: Eucharist, Consumer Culture, and the Practice of Everyday Life (Fordham University Press, 2021) offers a theological account of contemporary consumerism and its relationship to the Eucharist. It was awarded the 2021 Hispanic Theological Initiative Book Prize, an award that recognizes the best book written by a junior Latinx scholar on theology or religion each year. His second book, The Intimate Notion of Things: Material Transformations in U.S. Catholicism since Vatican II—under contract with Fordham University Press and supported by a Teacher-Scholar Vital Worship Grant from the Calvin Institute for Worship—explores the meanings, receptions, and legacies of the Second Vatican Council in the United States through the prism of specific material objects. In 2019 he 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 from the Catholic Theological Society of America. He has authored essays for a range of journals including Theological Studies, Modern Theology, Religion and American Culture: A Journal of Interpretation, Worship, and Liturgy.
Alonso currently chairs the Person, Community, and Religious Life area of Emory University’s Graduate Division of Religion and serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Aquinas Center for Theology. Beyond Candler, he has served as treasurer for La Comunidad of Hispanic Scholars of AAR/SBL; liturgical liaison for the Catholic Theological Society of America; member of the North American Academy of Liturgy Nominations Committee; fellowship committee member for the Louisville Institute; resource person for the Hispanic Theological Initiative; and mentor for the Fund for Theological Education.
In addition to his scholarly work, Dr. Alonso is a Latin Grammy-nominated composer of sacred music. The author of over 200 published compositions and arrangements, he was commissioned to compose the responsorial psalm for the first Mass Pope Francis celebrated in the United States in 2015. His album of Cuban sacred music Caminemos con Jesús (GIA Publications, 2020) received a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Christian Album (Spanish Language). Prior to his work at Candler, Alonso served as a music minister in diverse Catholic communities in Los Angeles and Chicago.
Publications
Gloriosi: Music of the Paschal Triduum / Música del Triduo Pascual, GIA, 2022
Commodified Communion: Eucharist, Consumer Culture, and the Practice of Everyday Life, Fordham University Press, 2021
Caminemos con Jesús, GIA Publications, 2020
Revival II: Traditional Hymns for Contemporary Ensembles, GIA, 2019
In Endless Song: An Anthology, GIA, 2018
Encounter: From the Heart of Pope Francis, GIA, 2018
Revival: Traditional Hymns for Contemporary Ensembles, GIA, 2018
Joy and Peace: Eucharistic Acclamations for Holy Communion, GIA, 2016
Chapters and Articles
“Damaged Goods,” Worship 97 (Apr. 2023): 108–126
“Latinx Contributions to Liturgical and Sacramental Theology,” in The Wiley- Blackwell Companion to Latinoax Theology, ed. Orlando O. Espín (Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2023): 292–310
“Sometimes Our Only Song is Weeping,” with Adam Tice, musical publication (Chicago: GIA Publications, 2023)
“Misericordia, Señor / Be Merciful, O Lord,” musical publication (Chicago: GIA Publications, 2023)
A Blemished Offering: Economy, Eucharist, and the Limits of Epiphanic Conversion,” Theological Studies, 83, no. 2, June, 2022
“Tres Días: From Bilingual to Intercultural Triduum,” Pastoral Music, 4, no. 2: 18–25, January 2022
"Music as Embodied Memory in a Time of Crisis," The Yale ISM Review, Vol. 6.1, Spring 2021
"Embracing Extravagance, Abandoning Limits," International Journal for the Study of the Christian Church, vol. 20, no. 1, January 2, 2020
"Singing the Community of the Beautiful," in Worship, vol. 92, Liturgical Press, March 01, 2018
Book Review,,Cuéntame: Narrative in the Ecclesial Present by Natalia Imperatori-Lee, Reading Religion, American Academy of Religion August 16, 2018
"Union of Voices, Unity of Hearts," in Pastoral Music, vol. 41, no. 1, National Association of Pastoral Musicians, Nov. 2017
"The Psalms: Bread of Heaven in the Wilderness of Our Exodus," in The Hymn, vol. 68, no. 14, October 01, 2017
"Listening for the Cry: Certeau Beyond Strategies and Tactics," in Modern Theology, vol. 33, no. 3, Wiley Blackwell, July 01, 2017
Contributor and Editor, "Theology Education Between the Times," in Spotlight on Theological Education, American Academy of Religion, April 2017
"Consumed: Celebrating Liturgy in a Consumer Culture," in Worship vol 87, no. 5, September 01, 2013
"Singing Our Lives to God," in On Our Way: Christian Practices for Living a Whole Life, Upper Room, 2010
Awards
2021 Hispanic Theological Initiative Book Prize, Commodified Communion: Eucharist, Consumer Culture, and the Practice of Everyday Life (Fordham University Press, 2021)
Vital Worship Grant for 2021 by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
The Catherine Mowry LaCugna Award, Catholic Theological Society of America, 2019
Emory Center for Faculty Development SWAP Grant, Emory University, 2019
CNN, "Holiday lights are not just reserved for December in these communities" (January 6, 2022)
Open Plaza, " Commodified Communion" (December 2021)
America, "This songbook inspired by a classic work of Latino theology was nominated for a Grammy" (November 27, 2020)
The Georgia Bulletin, "Candler’s Catholic Studies director nominated for Latin Grammy" (October 29, 2020)
The Recording Academy, "2020 Latin GRAMMY Awards Nominees Announced" (September 29, 2020)
National Catholic Reporter, "Masses go digital with livestreamed services; find out how to join," (March 21, 2020)
The Georgia Bulletin, "Cardinal delivers strong message on suffering of Christians worldwide" (October 4, 2018)
"The Psalms: Bread of Heaven in the Wilderness of Our Exodus", Keynote with Emily Brink for the Hymn Society of the U.S. and Canada, Waterloo, ON July 17, 2018,
"Music and Liturgy" Orlando Diocese
"What You Have Done for Me" September 27, 2017
Apostolic Journey of His Holiness Pope Francis to Cuba, the United States of America and visit to the United Nations organization headquarters on the occasion of his participation at the Eighth World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia (19-28 september 2015)
Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB, interviews Tony Alonso on the topic of "active participation," live from the PrayTell studio on the floor of the 2016 Annual Meeting of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians
Tony Alonso talks with Assistant Senior Editor Kate Williams about his newest mass setting, "Mass of Christ, Light of the Nations." July 6, 2017
Selected Courses
History and Theology of Eucharistic Worship
Liturgical Theology
Modern Catholicism
Public Worship
U.S. Latino/a/x Theologies