During his tenure as Music Director, James Domine has led the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra from obscurity to the leading role it now plays in the cultural life of the Valley and surrounding regions.
    An important goal for Domine has been to showcase the work of Southern California's many outstanding instrumentalists and composers in programs that feature the traditional symphonic repertoire along with contemporary greats. His long-term goal is to establish the Symphony as a permanent regional professional orchestra.
    The musical life of James Elza Domine began before the age of twelve, by which time he had studied piano, violin, and music composition.  He had already written several major works by age thirteen.  At sixteen, he mastered much of the classical guitar repertoire as a performer.  Maestro Domine was selected as "Most Talented" during his senior year at Taft High School.  Domine received his Master's Degree in Music from the University of Southern California after completing his Bachelors of Arts Degree from UCLA. Prior to graduation, he was music director of major Catholic and Protestant churches in both the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas.  Born in Pasadena, he is a resident of the San Fernando Valley.  During his time at USC, Domine formed the Van Nuys Civic Orchestra, dedicated to showcasing talented local composers.  His composition and conducting skills were molded during this five-year internship as he presented contemporary and traditional "classical" music, introducing over ten of his concerti, symphonies, and tone poems.  In response to interest on the part of individuals and businesses in the West Valley, Domine formed the new and spirited West Valley Symphony, the finest professional symphonic ensemble in the greater valley area.
    Very actively involved in the community, Domine was most recently Governor of Rotary District 5260 for 1999-2000. He serves on the Board of Directors of Valley Cultural Center (Sponsors of the Concert in the Park summer series) and of the Friends of the Madrid Theater. He is Past President of the Winnetka Chamber of Commerce, Past President of the West San Fernando Valley Rotary Club, and serves in an advisory capacity for many community organizations. After the 1994 earthquake, Domine initiated a plan to convert a Canoga Park movie theater into a performing arts center to provide a much-needed cultural facility for the West Valley. The Madrid Theater, opened in 1999, has become an important regional venue for theatrical performances. 
    Domine recently completed a new classical music video for Time-Warner entitled Ceremonial Dances. Directed by Alan Popkin, the video features choreography by Shana and Sara Stevenson, set to music from the 4th movement of Domine's Symphony in C Minor, a work which was premiered by the San Fernando Valley Symphony in September of 1996.  A Domine composition for guitar and orchestra, the California Mission Suite was the basis for a classical music video which was nominated for 1986 Emmy and ACE awards. Another video, "For Simon Rodia", was nominated for an ACE award in 1988. Based on Domine's setting for soprano and orchestra of L. M. Koff's poem, it depicts the struggle of the arts to survive in Los Angeles.
    Other compositions by Domine which have been premiered by the Symphony include his Viola Concerto, Piano Concerto no.1 in B-flat Minor, Guitar Concerto in E Minor, Concertino for Clarinet and Strings, and Requiem for Choir SATB and orchestra. He is now in the process of finishing his opera, Luke and Sarah, libretto by James R. Murphy. The opera is scheduled to be premiered next year, although excerpts have already been performed at several San Fernando Valley Symphony concerts. He is also interested in folk music, having arranged two orchestral suites; Serenata de Jalisco and the Symphonic Dances. The first is based on authentic mariachi songs, while the second is a set of Eastern European traditional dances. 
    A recipient of the Valley Cultural Foundation's Gershwin Award, Domine has received numerous grants and awards for his musical activities from Federal, State, County and City governments as well as private foundations such as Meet the Composer, the Weingart Foundation and others.
    Aside from his work as a composer and conductor, Domine teaches music at Pierce College and is the owner of the Copy Center, a printing business, in Winnetka, California.  James is currently working on a cello sonata.  He enjoys writing contemporary poetry, playing softball as a member of a local league, and spending time with his eleven-year-old son.