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History of the Band | Band Staff
The Ontario/Chaffey Community Show Band is a non-profit organization supported
primarily by the City of Ontario and
Chaffey High School. The Ontario
City Council allocates block grant money so that the band has funds to purchase new music
and meet other operating expenses.
Band members are not just from Ontario, but represent at least 2 dozen nearby communities
as well. The band rehearses in the Jack Mercer Band Room (building behind the auditorium)
on the Chaffey High School campus, 1245 North Euclid Avenue in Ontario, on Monday evenings
from 7 to 9:30 PM. Adult musicians are always welcome to participate, just come to a
regular Monday evening rehersal.
The band performs concerts at the historic Gardiner Spring Auditorium on the Chaffey High
School campus. All performances are free of charge. The band also performs for
city sponsored events at the Euclid Avenue "Jack Mercer" Bandstand and the Ontario Convention
Center.
The band originally performed in the Merton E. Hill Hall Auditorium, one of the oldest
standing school structures in southern California and location of the famous Chaffey campus
clocktower. The Gardiner W. Spring Auditorium, located a block south, was built by
the community with WPA funds during the Great Depression, and was completely refurbished in
1996 by the school alumni association. It now hosts many fine performances, including
the new Inland Empire Philharmonic symphony orchestra.
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