San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra

For over 25 years the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra has presented the finest performances of symphonic music to the communities of Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley. It is the region's leading symphony orchestra and one of its premiere performing arts organizations. Led by founding Music Director James Domine, the Orchestra is a showcase for some of the finest musicians and composers in Southern California. The Orchestra's principal home is the Performing Arts Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills where its yearly concert series features symphonic, opera, and ballet repertoire. The SFVSO's dedicated members also frequently collaborate with community service organizations and local businesses to produce community outreach programs designed for diverse audiences of all ages. The San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra maintains a strong season ticket subscription base and its concerts are frequently sold out. It is also a recipient of grants from the County of Los Angeles Music and Performing Arts Commission, the City of Los Angeles, Rotary Club, Boeing, AOL-Time Warner, various corporate foundations, as well as support from individual subscribers and concert patrons. The SFVSO is a member of the League of American Orchestras and the Association of California Symphony Orchestras.

James Elza Domine was born October 9, 1953 in Pasadena, California. At an early age he displayed a precocious interest in music, playing violin in the school orchestras and taking piano lessons. He began formal study of composition and theory at age 16. Domine made his first serious compositional efforts in the form of three suites for solo guitar in E minor, D major and A minor. These suites were subsequently arranged as concerti for guitar and chamber orchestra, and form the point of departure for his repertoire both as performer and composer.

Domine entered UCLA in the Fall Quarter of 1971 and received a Bachelor's Degree in Music. He studied composition, as well as the classical guitar repertoire, and played violin in the orchestra. His first public success as a composer came on May 10, 1977 when his Requiem conducted by Roger Wagner was received with a standing ovation by an enthusiastic audience that filled Schoenberg Hall. In 1979 Domine entered the University of Southern California on a full scholarship, where he studied composition and theory, and earned his Master's Degree.

The same year he founded the Van Nuys Civic Orchestra, a community-based group that eventually became the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra. The SFVSO has featured a year-round concert series at Pierce College in Woodland Hills and plays a leading role in expanding the musical horizons of Southern California residents. As Music Director and Conductor, Domine has led the Orchestra in hundreds of concert performances, and was delighted to have secured the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza's Scherr Forum Theatre for the 2011-2012 season.

The complete catalog of Domine's musical compositions includes symphonies, concerti, chamber music, a ballet, an opera, "Luke and Sarah," solo instrumental pieces and choral music in a wide variety of styles and genres. These works may be heard at "jamesdomine.com." In addition, in keeping with the time-honored tradition of classical musicians participating in the popular music arena, Domine plays lead guitar and writes songs for the Blues Bandits, Molay Band, Screaming Clams and Symphomaniax. Music from these ensembles is featured on this web site.

Domine has written a novel entitled, "The Naked Man," published in 2006, a story of contemporary life in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles. The book is currently available from on-line publisher LuLu.com and forms the basis for his musical theater play,"Tomahawk," which received its premiere at the Actors Forum Theater in North Hollywood, California in January 2008. His most recent play, "The Dogs of War," premiered to critical acclaim in 2011 at the Hollywood Fringe Festival.

James Domine currently teaches music at Pierce College in Woodland Hills California, where he has developed a dedicated cadre of symphony aficionados and grateful concertgoers. He is currently working on completing the requirements for a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from Boston University.

Ruth Bruegger is concertmaster of the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra.  She was also the featured soloist for the December 1, 2012 inaugural performance of the Violin Concerto No. 1 by James Domine.

Daniel Grab, cellist, is a Los Angeles native graduate of USC's Thornton School of Music. There he studied under the late Eleonore Schoenfeld, and more recently with her protégé Alexander Suleiman, earning both a Bachelor of Music and Graduate Certificate. For three semesters, Daniel was selected to participate in a chamber music program led by soloist Midori Goto and performed multiple times with the violinist. As a member of the USC Thornton Symphony, Daniel had the opportunity to share the stage with numerous world class musicians from Itzhak Perlman to Stevie Wonder. His former teachers include Rachael Lonergan, Andrew Cook, Dr. Richard Naill, Dan Smith, and former Los Angeles Philharmonic section principal Ron Leonard.

Daniel recently released a debut CD as part of the rock/folk duo "Meekos and Me" under the guidance of Invengo Records CEO Joshua Rumer. The project challenges the cello's role in popular music, employing the instrument as a truly integral part of the group's sound.  As part of another unique collaboration, Daniel has recently partnered with acclaimed singer/songwriter Paul Waters in a project that expects to enter the studio in summer 2012.  Between these two groups, Daniel has performed at countless iconic Southern California venues such as: The Hotel Cafe, The Mint, The Viper Room, The Airliner, King King, The Soho, and Saint Rocke.

Daniel has been a private cello teacher in the Los Angeles area for the last five years.  His teaching talent and dedication have produced impressive results and opportunities for his students, including: an invitation to perform as a soloist with the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra, 1st place in the 2011 Los Angeles Violoncello Society scholarship competition, 2nd place in the 2011 SYMF competition, and acceptance into exclusive summer music programs such as "Center Stage" in Three Rivers, CA.

When he isn't practicing, teaching, rehearsing, or performing, Daniel enjoys pursuing his other passion, surfing.

Emmy and Annie nominated composer Charles Fernandez has been a composer, orchestrator, bassoonist and conductor in Los Angeles since 1983.

His recent premieres include: ”Cruise and Star” for Saxophone Sextet and Harp, and two previous commissions for Dr. Larry Stoffel and CSUN: “For the Matadors” for the 50th anniversary of California State University and “Bachus Illatus” for the Los Angeles Bach Festival. 

As a media composer he has composed for television series such as Universal's Casper Cartoon Series (for which he received two Emmy and one Annie nomination); Disney's Little Mermaid; Disney's Aladdin; Disney's Doug; Disney's 101 Dalmatians; Dalmatians' Toonsylvania, Disney's Bonkers, Cartoon Networks’ Robot Chicken as well as films such as Doug's 1st Movie; All Dogs II, Pebble and the Penguin, among many others. He has also served as orchestrator and conductor on countless trailers and film projects.

My great thanks to Maestro Domine for generously sharing the podium with me, and to all the members of the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra who wonderfully made this music come to life.

Nancy Roth, violinist and violist, is currently concertmaster of the Culver City Symphony, Marina del Rey Summer Symphony and the Burbank Philharmonic.  She is also principal second violinist of the Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay and a member of the Pasadena Symphony.  She is a former member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, was co-principal violist of the Graz Philharmonic in Austria, and she served many years as concertmaster of the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra and the Carson-Dominguez Hills Symphony.  Nancy has been a featured soloist with numerous Southern California orchestras including the Culver City Symphony, Carson Symphony, Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra, Southland Symphony Orchestra, Valley Symphony and Rio Hondo Symphony.  She has given recitals and radio broadcasts in the United States, Austria and Mexico, and she is currently a member of the new music group "TEMPO" based at CSUN.  Nancy is a member of the String Family Players (quintet), which performs educational programs for the Music Center On Tour, and she has been on the faculty of the Max Aronoff Viola Institute Summer Music Festival.  She has played baroque violin and viols with James Tyler in the London Early Music Group and Los Angeles Musica Viva.  Nancy holds a Bachelor of Music from CSUN, a Master of Music from the Juilliard School and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from USC.

Timothy Le is fifteen years old and began studying violin at age four. He is currently studying with Ms. Linda Rose. Participating with the CSUN Youth Orchestra since third grade, he now plays in the Philharmonic Orchestra. Timothy received a LACMA Award and gave a Certificate of Merit Honors Recital in 2007. He also won the Southwest Youth Music Festival Competition in July 2007. In summer 2011, Timothy participated in the highly selective Music@Menlo Chamber Music Festival under the direction of Wu Han and David Finckel. In 2012, he was second in the branch solo and first in the branch ensemble VOCE Competition.

In February 2012, Timothy was chosen to be the Concert Master of the California Association of Independent Schools Music Festival at the View Point School under the baton of Dr. Ivan Schulman, and in April 2012 his JCM trio ensemble performed the Brahms Piano Trio No. 1 at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. In addition, Timothy is a regular soloist at the Laguna Niguel Presbyterian Church and has appeared on the Saigon Broadcasting Television Network. For the last five summers, he has participated in the Gold Coast Chamber Music Festival under the direction of Professor Andrew Cook. In June 2012, he won the MTAC Concerto Competition and, on October 13, 2012, will perform with the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro James Domine.  In July 2012, he was invited to solo the complete Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 with the St. Petersburg State Hermitage Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Binh Vu. In August 2012, Timothy was invited to Vienna, Austria, to solo with the Vienna Residence Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Michele Santorsola, in a performance of the Mozart Concerto No 3. Timothy has also received a scholarship from the Laberge Music Foundation.

Besides his music awards, Timothy has also won numerous science awards. He is currently attending Sierra Canyon School, where he enjoys setting up and supporting computer networks.

Twelve year old Nathan Le began his cello studies at the age of four; he has studied with Nancy Yamagata and Andrew Cook, and currently studies with Ronald Leonard.

Nathan has participated in the CSUN Youth Orchestra for the past six years and is currently principal cellist with the Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. In 2009, he won and received a scholarship from the L.A.Cello Society. He was the first place winner of the Memorial Award Competition in 2011, first alternate in VOCE State and MTAC Concerto Competitions in 2011, a winner of the Fe’ Bland Scholarship in 2010, the Elaine Armstrong Award for Outstanding Cellists at the Long Beach Mozart Concerto Competition in 2010, and the Antelope Valley Concerto Competition in January 2011. He was one of the top two winners of the Rosemonde Laberge Music Foundation in 2011 and 2012. Recently he won the Young Artist Concerto Competitions of the Torrance Symphony and the Bellflower Symphony. This April, Nathan’s piano trio performed the Arensky Piano Trio in D minor at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. He participated in the Gold Coast Chamber Music Festival in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, and in the highly selective Music@Menlo in 2011 under the direction of Wu Han and David Finckel

Nathan and his piano trio performed Mendelssohn's Piano Trio in D minor in April 2010. In April 2012, he performed the three movements of the Haydn Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major with the St. Petersburg Russian State Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Binh Vu, who has been a major inspiration to Nathan from the beginning of his studies. Nathan recently had the opportunity to solo with the Torrance Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Frank Fetta.

In July 2012, Nathan soloed Saint Saens Concerto No.1 in A minor with the St. Petersburg State Hermitage Orchestra in St. Petersburg, Russia, under the baton of Maestro Binh Vu. On August 5, 2012, he was invited to Vienna, Austria, to solo with the Vienna Residence Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Michele Santorsola, in a performance of the Haydn Concerto No. 1 in C Major.

In addition to studying piano with Ms. Violette Hu, Nathan also studied composition with Maestro James Domine for three years and, in December 2010, performed his first Cello Concerto with the Pierce College Chamber Orchestra. In December 2011, Nathan and his brother Timothy played the Double Concerto for Violin and Cello in D minor, composed by Nathan, with the Pierce College Chamber Orchestra. He has recently completed his first piano quintet and his first symphony.

Nathan is an 8th grader at Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, California. He enjoys Rubik’s cube, ping pong, foosball, math, and science.

Larry Tuttle’s path to composing has been a long and circuitous one.  He took up double bass at an early age, and played compulsively in every orchestra he could find (Youth Symphony, school and university orchestras, All-City orchestras, music camps, you name it).  He studied bass at the University of Washington under James Harnett and Ron Simon, and spent a summer playing principal bass at the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan.  A course in ear training with jazz great Gary Peacock was especially enlightening.

Bass guitar and rock music provided a lengthy left turn.  Larry recorded two albums on Warner Brothers records with progressive rock band Russia.  His first efforts at composing began then as a co-writer of rock songs.  Several years later he discovered the Chapman Stick, and joined a hybrid instrumental group called FREEWAY PHILHARMONIC.  Larry wrote extensively for that group, whose music was a total hodge-podge of classical, pop, improvisation and whatever, with a heavy emphasis on the whatever.

Currently Larry is half of the composing and performing duo STRING PLANET - Larry writing and playing Chapman Stick alongside partner Novi on viola.  Larry also composes for TV and film, specializing in strings (of course) and all things imaginative and quirky.  Larry wrote the main title for the PBS show LIFE PART II.  His music has been used in feature films such as ARTHUR (2011 version) and THE CHANGE-UP, and television shows including THE GOOD WIFE, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, THE TODAY SHOW and THE L WORD.  You can see and hear all about it at www.stringplanet.com.

PROGRAM NOTES – CHORALE AND FIDDLE TUNE

CHORALE AND FIDDLE TUNE was pretty much an accident.  Well, if not an accident, then at least an unintended consequence.  Neither fiddling nor chorales were part of the plan.  They just showed up at the door unannounced and refused to go away.

The objective was to compose a piece that would start from a simple beginning, take you on a journey through different moods and scenarios and then arrive at a satisfying conclusion.

The beginning is basically a groove - very gentle and slightly mystical, but a groove nonetheless, a remnant (or a ghost) from all my years spent writing for a rhythm section.  If trumpets, oboes, flutes, bassoons and clarinets don’t seem like groove instruments, well, you can see my problem.  I was learning to divorce myself from the ever-present guitars, pianos, drums and basses which seem to be hard-wired into my musical psyche.

The high point of the piece for me comes at the place where the chorale and the fiddle tune play simultaneously – a slightly off-center collision of styles that hits an uplifting note and hopefully leaves behind an after-glow of optimism.  All the music at the beginning is building to that particular moment and everything that happens afterwards is winding its way slowly back down the hill.

CHORALE AND FIDDLE TUNE was originally written for CELA (Composers Ensemble Los Angeles), and the members of that fantastic group have my special thanks for helping me to road test it, work out the bugs and get the piece up and running.  Thanks also to James Domine and the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra for programming the work.

Mr. Kibbe was born and raised in the San Diego area, where he received his earliest musical education, which included lessons on the snare drum, accordion, saxophone and tap dancing. His first composition was composed in junior high school, and his first completed “real” work, a Fugue, (after Bach) was performed by his high school concert band in 1963. As of this writing, Kibbe’s total creative output is over 175 concert works, including pieces for band and orchestra, as well as concertos, and a large variety of chamber music for strings, winds, piano and percussion. His works have been commissioned by the City of Los Angeles, the Pacific Serenades concert series, Quatrocelli, to name a few. His compositions have been performed throughout the United States, Mexico, Europe, Israel and China.  Kibbe recently traveled to the East Coast to attend the premiere of his TRIBUTE for band, commissioned by the Buffalo/Niagara Concert Band

Information about Michael Kibbe and his music can be found on the internet at www.michaelkibbe.com

PROGRAM NOTES – TABLOID NEWS

TABLOID NEWS, opus 156 is a compilation of three short pieces written for various groups in 2005 and subsequently expanded for full orchestra.  It consists of three movements:

 CROP CIRCLES was composed for my son Peter, a cellist, for a recital with piano.  It is meant to convey the shock and disorientation at discovering these mysterious creations; quirky manifestations of the playful human imagination!

 A dark night in the forest, strange sounds, an eerie light in the distance, frantic efforts at escape: ALIEN ABDUCTION!  This movement, evocative of the numerous sci-fi films we have all seen, was composed originally for the 12-player group Composers Ensemble Los Angeles and has been performed by that group several times.  It seemed a natural (or UN-natural?) companion piece to CROP CIRCLES.

 The third movement, CHUPACABRA, was first cast as a work for a very odd assortment of instruments, later re-done for orchestra.  It is inspired by the bizarre reports emerging in the 1990s (now widely believed in many Latin American cultures) of a mysterious creature that preys on goats!  A sort of blood-sucking goat vampire!  A feel of traditional Mexican music briefly opens the piece.  Then things move ahead rapidly when the tuba sounds the movement title: Chu-pa-CAB-ra.

 This, then, is the essence of TABLOID NEWS: all myths, all in fun!

Jennifer has played in numerous orchestras and bands all over Southern California, including playing principal horn for the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra and the Moorpark Symphony Orchestra.  A year after switching from the trumpet to the horn, she won the principal French horn spot for the Jr. L.A. Philharmonic during 2002-2004, and the 2004 Moorpark Symphony Concerto Competition.  A year later, Jennifer became a member of the American Youth Symphony and YMF's Debut Orchestra.  In 2008, Jennifer was the principal horn player for Disneyland's All-American College Band, where she danced while playing, and was their featured gymnast.  This year, Jennifer is on-call for Cirque du Soleil—meaning that if Cirque decides to use a French horn in any of their upcoming shows, she will pick up and go wherever they say.

Jennifer has also acted in many stage productions as well as commercials, TV, and film.  She's seen as the French horn girl in the 2009 movie "Fame," the tumbling cheerleader for Fox's TV show "Glee," the girl with the horn in the TV show "Modern Family," among others.  You can also watch for Jennifer on the upcoming season of "America's Got Talent!" 

Jennifer holds a Bachelor's degree from UCLA and a Master of Music degree from USC.

You can check out Jennifer's website at www.jenniferfrenchhorn.com, and her many fun clips on YouTube.

REBECCA SCHAUER

            Rebecca spent her toddler years climbing onto the piano bench and sight reading music for hours every day. She began formal piano studies at age three, and flute studies from age ten through age fourteen. By the time she reached her eighteenth birthday this year, Rebecca had compiled an impressive list of musical accomplishments. She was a first place winner in more than thirty local, regional, and state piano and flute competitions and festivals. She participated in the Los Angeles Music Center’s Spotlight Awards, PBS’s From the Top program, and was an MTAC State Panel winner, one of the selected top thirty high school age pianists in the state. Rebecca auditioned for, and was accepted to the California Summer School for the Arts Class of 2010, held at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). In addition to her studies and recitals, she participated in the filming of a public service announcement which aired on the Ovation Channel. Rebecca was awarded the Governor’s Medallion with the designation “California Arts Scholar”, the highest award given by the state for excellence in the arts.

            Rebecca is an AP Scholar, and CSF Gold Seal Bearer honors graduate of Agoura High School in Agoura Hills, California, Class of 2011. She played on the school’s water polo and swim teams, and received numerous scholastic awards and scholarships, including the Presidential Award for Merit, and two Scholar-Athlete awards for varsity swim. She co-founded a campus community service club, and was the sole pianist with the school’s prestigious Jazz A Band.

            Rebecca is an incoming freshman at the University of California Berkeley, as a physics and astronomy major. 

Tamara Gyulnazarova began playing violin at the age of 8, with her mom, professional violinist Zhanna Gyulnazarova, as her primary teacher. She started working with Professor Abram Shtern, who was her consulter for a few years and, by 12, had won prizes in the local Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC) Competitions, including the Contemporary Music Festival, Scholarship Competition, Bach Festival, among others. She completed the Certificate of Merit program with honors at the age of 16 and was annually selected for the Honors Recital and Convention. As a freshman, she won the CSUN Concerto Competition, and has performed as soloist and as concertmaster at venues such as the Shrine Auditorium and Disney Hall with the Junior Philharmonic. She was appointed concertmaster of the CSUN Symphony Orchestra in 2009/2010 conducted by Dr. Roscigno. Tamara was the first place winner of the 2010 Gail Newby Concerto Competition which gave her the opportunity to perform with the Antelope Valley Symphony in March 2010. She has been a member of the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro James Domine, for several years now and appeared as a soloist in the 2009/2010 season performing Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major, and again as soloist with the SFVSO on January 28, 2012, in a performance of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D major. Aside from music, Tamara enjoys playing chess, cooking, reading, and sewing.

In 1972 an employment counselor asked Rich Capparela, "If you could be anything in the world, what would you be?" Without hesitation he replied, "A classical music radio announcer!" Today Rich is one of the best-known classical music radio personalities in the United States.

Capparela announces concert broadcasts in Southern California for the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, and the New West Symphony. His recording company, Cardiff Studios, produces commercials and programming for U.S. arts organizations, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

The July 1998 "Best of L.A." edition of Los Angeles Reader chose Capparela as "The Best Classical D.J. in Los Angeles." In December of 1998 Rich debuted at Carnegie Hall as a narrator in a performance of Benjamin Britten's World of the Spirit. In November of 1999 he made his first appearance with the Boston Pops and conductor Keith Lockhart, narrating The Night Before Christmas. Beginning in 1998 Rich became a member of the annual Grammy Awards screening committee for classical music. In 2001 he voiced the theatrical trailer for the Rachel Griffiths film Amy and portrayed the Emperor of China in the 26-week animation series Flutemaster, which began airing throughout the United States in 2003. In December of 2001 as part of Los Angeles Music Week Capparela was honored in chamber by the Los Angeles City Council for his contributions to the city's music community. In 2002 Capparela provided program notes for LAGQ: Latin, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet's debut album for the Telarc label. The album received a Grammy Nomination in the "Best Crossover Album" category. Rich continued his association with the Grammys in February of 2004 when he presented the year's classical Grammys in Los Angeles.

One of Rich's secret passions has reemerged within the past few years. He is once again active as a lead singer and guitarist with a four-piece cover rock band, Otherwise Normal. His other interests include the deep blue sea. He's been a scuba instructor and has conducted tours to the Caribbean and the Fiji Islands. He's also tried his hand at skydiving. Rich and his wife Marcia, a private school administrator, live in Santa Monica, California.

Rich was the guest host and narrator for the orchestra's gala fundraising concert on January 22, 2011.

A mesmerizing classical soloist on all woodwind instruments and a Billboard Top-Ten Jazz Artist, internationally acclaimed recording artist Gary Herbig has done it all. His resume includes tours with Harry James and Elvis, as well as with Tower of Power and the Percy Faith Orchestra, to name a few.

His artistry has been heard on the sound tracks of movies and TV shows, as well as on recordings of some of the most illustrious stars in the music industry. If you've heard the clarinet solo on the TV program Cheers, or the wailing sax on Roseanne, then you've already been treated to his musical talents. Gary has played on pop chart toppers such as Olivia Newton John's Physical and Donna Summer's Bad Girl, and on jazz records by legends Herbie Hancock and George Benson.

Gary 's artistic odyssey has taken him around the world, but his heart remains in Big Sky Country. A Missoula native son, he is the first to say that receiving a scholarship enabled him to attend The University of Montana, and the education he received changed his life. A proud music alumnus, class of 1969, Gary remains very grateful for that scholarship and returns to Missoula several times a year to help student musicians aspiring to follow in his footsteps.

Mr. Herbig performed Maestro Domine's Tomahawk Suite and Concerto Quasi Improvisando at the orchestra's 22 January 2011 gala fundraising concert.

Ernie was born in Rockville Centre, New York in 1998. He showed an early interest in music at 10 months
of age when he would sing along with the operas that he heard on the radio. (Pavarotti and Domingo were his favorites.) He began his cello studies at the age of 5 with Beth Park Zhao and is currently studying with Daniel Grab. His favorite activities include bike riding, reading comic books, sketching, and learning about classic cars.

Ernie performed Faure's Elegie at the Orchestra's 22 January 2011 Gala Fundraising Concert. He also played with the Orchestra at its 28 January 2012 Concert.

Maestro Sandro Zaninovich (aka “Mr. Zee”) is an internationally recognized Conductor and Composer who received wide recognition for his various contributions to the international music scene. A native of the Republic of Croatia, Zaninovich graduated from the Zagreb Academy of Music (capital of Croatia) in 1961. His first professional position was the Conductor of the Zagreb Radio Symphony Orchestra. He then moved to the United States in the late 1960s where he attended UCLA and received his Master of Arts degree and Ph.D. candidacy in Music.

His early musical beginnings trace back to his school days when he performed as a pianist and clarinetist, and as a bandleader with various dance bands, performing different styles with emphasis on jazz.
During his diverse musical career in the U.S., Maestro Zaninovich was active in a myriad of positions, ranging from a pianist with the "Mexicali Brass" band to being a guest conductor with the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra.

In 1972 he founded the Beverly Hills Chamber Orchestra and served as its Music Director and Conductor. Internationally, he has been a guest conductor with a number of orchestras in Europe. Sandro Zaninovich has been an instructor of music at UCLA, Los Angeles City College, and various music-learning institutions in his native Croatia. He has two degrees from his native Croatia and Masters at UCLA, where he was also a PhD candidate. His experience charts across three continents where he has conducted. Maestro Zaninovich also served as "Chairman of the Jury" for an international piano competition in 1989 in Singapore.

An award-winning composer, Sandro Zaninovich has written a number of works for orchestra, piano, violin and cello; chamber music, music for theatre, television, and educational video productions. Among other achievements, he was the winner of UCLA's Atwater-Kent Award for “Improvisations for Twelve,” as well as the first winner of the Henry Mancini Award for Composition and the Production of Music for Motion Pictures and Television Films. Since 1974, Maestro Zaninovich has created and operated numerous musical endeavors, including his SanKor Music Publishing and Recording Corporation.

Zaninovich’s special attention goes to his work with talented young music students. With the help of his able partner and assistant, Zakary Mayall, he organizes and directs Accompanied Recitals International (ARI), at which the young musicians perform with professionals. These events have wide support with music teachers, parents, and sponsors.