The Gottschalk Music Orchestra will be performing the music for both classical and pop sections of the Mesopotamian Night 2009 concert. The director of this orchestra is Ernie Bucio.

The Gottschalk Music Orchestra is a group of professional musicians from the area symphonies that performs for different events, functions, and concerts. The group has performed with the Dallas Brass, Arturo Sandoval, Bill Watrous, the Inkspots and many others. The orchestra plays classical literature as well as pops and jazz programs. The versatility of the group has earned it the reputation of being a flexible ensemble ready for any assignment. It has performed at the historic State Theatre and the Gallo Center for the Arts. The group is made up of the usual complement of strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion sections and can also include a rhythm section and a big band saxophone section. The Gottschalk Music Orchestra plays concerts throughout the year at various venues throughout the valley.

Ernie Bucio has been performing music in the valley for over 35 years. His Little Big Band and Brass ensembles have played at the area’s most prestigious events. He is the conductor and music director of the Gottschalk Music Concert Band and Orchestra. His musicians have backed up artists as diverse as Maynard Ferguson, the Temptations, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Pete Escovedo, Arturo Sandoval, Bob Newhart, Rich Little, Myron Floren, Carol Channing, Ashur Betsargis, Walter Aziz, and Bob Hope. Through Gottschalk Music Center and with Hanibal and Evin Yadegar of the Barkin’ Dog Grill, he helped put on the first annual 11th Street Jazz Festival this year and put together the Legends of Jazz concert with Plas Johnson of the Pink Panther fame, Bill Watrous, formerly with Duke Ellington and Merv Griffin Show, Bobby Shew formerly with Buddy Rich and Woody Herman and Mic Gillette of Tower of Power with his big band backing them up. His big band and concert orchestra recently performed in New Orleans for the French Quarter Festival and played in the prestigious Palm Court Jazz Cafe. His Gottschalk Concert Band recently performed at the Golden Gate Park Bandshell in San Francisco. Bucio teaches at the Gottshalk Studios and works for Gottschalk Music Center.