Aleksandr Zatsepin

Aleksandr Sergeyevich Zatsepin (born 10 March 1926 in Novosibirsk, RSFSR, Soviet Union) is a Soviet and Russian composer, known for his soundtracks to many popular movies, notably comedies directed by Leonid Gaidai. People's Artist of Russia (2003).

Aleksandr was born on 10 March 1926 in Novosibirsk in the family of the surgeon Sergei Dmitriyevich Zatsepin and teacher Valentina Boleslavovna Oksentovich. In 1941, Aleksandr's father was arrested under Article 58 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. After his release, he did not return to his family. The mother raised her son alone.

After graduating from high school number 12, he entered the Novosibirsk Institute of Railway Engineers. In March 1945 he was expelled from the university and drafted into the army. While in the military service, he independently mastered playing several instruments. The platoon commander, where Aleksandr served, was the future famous artist Yevgeny Matveyev, who invited Aleksandr to participate in the army amateur performances. As a result, he was admitted to the Novosibirsk Army Song and Dance Ensemble.

During his tour in Alma-Ata, Zatsepin decided to apply to the music school, but he was recommended to immediately enter the conservatory. In 1956 he graduated from the Conservatory in Alma-Ata, piano and composition (teacher E.G. Brusilovsky). His diploma work was the ballet "Old Man Hottabych", which was staged at the Alma-Ata Opera and Ballet Theater. He worked as a music designer at the Kazakhfilm studio. In the same 1956 he wrote the music for his first film — Our Dear Doctor. To record music, Zatsepin often had to come to Moscow, since Kazakhfilm did not have the necessary working conditions. As a result, the head of the Moscow Symphony Jazz, Viktor Knushevitsky, suggested that he move to the capital.