About The Director
About The Director
Greg Brucker earned a BA in Music in 2001 from UC Davis and an MA in Education and California Teaching Credential through the University of Phoenix in 2007.Currently, Mr. Brucker is the Director of the Emerson-Da Vinci and Harper Junior High Orchestras in Davis, California. In 2013, 2014, and 2016 the Emerson, Da Vinci & Harper Combined Advanced Orchestra was selected to participate in the California Music Educators Association’s (CMEA) Annual “All State Band and Orchestra Festival.” In 2013 and 2016, the students earned a Unanimous Superior Rating for their performance. In 2010, under his shared baton, The Davis Combined Jr. High Advanced Orchestra was invited to perform at the American String Teachers Association’s National Orchestra Festival and was named Best Junior High Classical Ensemble by Downbeat Magazine.
Outside of Davis, Mr. Brucker is the Director of the Vivace and Prelude Strings Orchestras of the Sacramento Youth Symphony and Academy of Music. In 2012, Mr. Brucker was selected as CMEA Capitol Section Honors Orchestra Director for the Middle School Orchestra. From 2013 until 2018, Mr. Brucker served as the Orchestra Representative of the CMEA-Capitol Section, organizing the yearly Capitol Section Honors Orchestras and working to bridge our greater area's programs together.
When not directing orchestras, Mr. Brucker owns the Davis Bass Studio, teaching a range of dedicated double bass students from the greater Sacramento Valley area. Many students from the studio have auditioned into and participated in the California Honors and All State Orchestras over the last decade. Former students have moved on to study the double bass at conservatories including The Shenandoah College Conservatory, Penn State, University of the Pacific, University of Puget Sound, Sacramento State, The San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Colburn Conservatory, and several other universities across the country, in Canada, and in Europe.
Mr. Brucker is also professional Double Bassist in the Sacramento Valley. He currently is Principal Double Bass for The Folsom Lake Symphony Orchestra and has recently performed with the Stockton Symphony as a substitute double bassist. During his performance career, he has held the Principal Double Bass position of the Auburn Symphony, Camellia Symphony Orchestra, Merced Symphony, and The UC Davis Symphony Orchestra, has held section positions in the Apollo and Solano Symphonies, and has performed with many chamber groups around the Sacramento Valley and Foothills.
Outside the world of symphonic performance and direction, Mr. Brucker spent 5 years studying and performing baroque music with the UC Davis Baroque Ensemble under baroque violin master Michael Sand and harpsichordist Phebe Craig, and 5 years studying and performing avant-garde and improvisatory jazz with saxophone great John Tchicai. In 2010, he also performed with avant-garde folk recording artist Jandek, and has joined many local jazz and rock musicians in different groups over the last 15 years.
Mr. Brucker has also spent much time as a community activist working to support every local Parcel Tax campaign efforts over the last decade to continue the vast quality public education opportunities Davis residents have grown to know and love in their schools. Most recently, he served on the Measure H Community Committee in 2016. He also served from 2011 – 2017 as a Davis Teachers Association Site Representative, helping to bridge the union and the parcel tax campaigns during those years. In April 2012, Mr. Brucker received recognition as a “Forward Thinker” by the organization California Forward for his advocacy efforts to for the arts in education. In 2013, Mr. Brucker received the Hal Reid Faculty award from the Emerson Jr. High PTA and greater community for his greater work in educational advocacy and for “demonstrating leadership in a variety of areas and show extraordinary dedication to their school and students.” Mr. Brucker, his wife Laura, daughter Maya, and son Ben, currently reside in Davis, California.