Zane Dalal,
Conductor-In-Residence, SOI
Zane Dalal was born and educated in England. Awarded an Organ Scholarship to the University of Oxford, he held the position of Choirmaster and Organist at Oriel College Chapel. During his tenure the choir made several tours to major cathedrals within the United Kingdom. He holds Masters Degrees in Music from both the University of Oxford, U.K and from Indiana University, at Bloomington.
Mr. Dalal made his debut in Orchestral Conducting at Indiana University. He became one of their most distinguished conducting students, performing a wide range of new works, concerti and symphonic repertoire. In 1989, he was named the Assistant Conductor of the Opera Department and was extensively involved with several diverse productions, and conducted a well received performance of Humperdinck's Hänsel und Gretel. Mr. Dalal was also on faculty at the University of Oklahoma where he was Music Director of the Symphony Orchestra and Conductor of the University Opera Theater, from 1991 to 1993.
He has also participated in several music festivals and competitions including the international conducting competitions in Besançon and Lugano in 1990 and the first competition named for Leonard Bernstein in 1995, placing as finalists in all three. He has conducted, in rehearsal or performance the symphonies of St. Louis, Cincinnati, Minnesota, Oklahoma City, Utah, Dallas, Kansas City, Jerusalem, L'Orchestre des Pays de La Loire and the Florida Philharmonic.
In 1994 his performance of Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony with the American Youth Symphony, at Royce Hall in Los Angeles - prompted an enthusiastic endorsement from Maestro Zubin Mehta. Also that year Mr. Dalal led the Utah Symphony Orchestra in a special gala concert. Preceding this event, he recorded a compact disc with them.
He was one of nine conductors at the American Symphony Orchestra League National Conductor’s preview, in Kansas City. Mr. Dalal was invited to assist with the Dallas Symphony acting as cover conductor for selected concerts with Maestro Andrew Litton and guest conductors. Mr. Dalal was invited to lead the Florida Philharmonic on a two program-four concert ‘outreach’ tour of the South Florida region. This successful endeavour, culminated at the Pompano Beach Amphitheater where Mr. Dalal was honoured to accept the key to the city.
Mr. Dalal conducted the Chicago Civic Orchestra in a special conductor’s preview, by invitation of Daniel Barenboïm and conducted The Florida Orchestra during their search for a Resident Conductor.
Since 2007, Mr. Dalal has been Resident Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of India at the NCPA in Mumbai. Mr. Dalal has also provided a lecture series in music appreciation, initiated pre concert lectures, initiated education days for young children and oversees the NCPA “Suzuki Method” initiative. He has been extensively involved in helping the NCPA bring western music to a wider audience in India.
For more information, visit: www.zanedalal.com
