ONTARIO CHAFFEY COMMUNITY SHOW BAND
https://www.showband.net
Dr. Gabe Petrocelli, Director
R. Jack Mercer, Founder

TO: Our Show Band Family
FROM: Your Band Director
WHAT'S UP? "A Celebration of Music"
WHERE? Gardiner W. Spring Auditorium
WHEN? Monday, June 16, 2025
WHAT TIME? 7:30 pm Sharp
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? $0000000000.00

Dear Friends and Music Lovers,

The musicians of the Ontario Chaffey Community Show Band and Gary & Miriam Keith are proud to present "A Celebration of Music" on Monday, June 16, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.  The performance will be held at Gardiner W. Spring Auditorium on the campus of Chaffey High School located at 1245 N. Euclid Ave. in Ontario, CA.  The Woodwind Celebration Ensemble will present a pre-concert recital at 7:00 p.m.  Complimentary coffee and cookies will be served in the lobby prior to the concert.  The performance is FREE to the public.

The June concert is the retirement performance for Show Band Director Dr. Gabe Petrocelli.  Assistant Director Pat Arnold will become the third director of Show Band when he begins his tenure in the 2025-26 concert season.

The show features an exciting repertoire of popular, jazz, and classical music highlighted by an array of talented instrumental and vocal soloists.

Show Band alto saxophonist and audio technician Francisco Mowatt will open the concert with an exciting solo in the Stevie Wonder hit song "Isn't She Lovely."

The program's special guest artist is the outstanding concert pianist Dr. Maria Perez.  Dr. Perez, originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, has built a diverse and fulfilling career in music.  Her early musical training took place in Puerto Rico before she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance with distinction from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.  She continued her studies with a Master's and Doctor of Musical Arts Degrees from the University of Washington in Seattle.

As a soloist, Dr. Perez has performed a wide range of concertos and recitals in Puerto Rico and the United States.  Her experience also includes appearances with various orchestras such as the Claremont Symphony Orchestra, Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, Beach Cities Symphony, Ontario Chaffey Community Show Band, Rancho Belago Symphony, Laguna Woods Symphony, and the Hour of Power Orchestra of the Crystal Cathedral.  She has been featured on several television programs and live radio talk shows, highlighting her versatile musical skills.

Dr. Perez will perform a collection of original works composed by Dr. Petrocelli that include "Waltz Fantasia," "Napoli," and "Canciones para Piano #1."  She will also be featured in an arrangement of George Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm."

Pat Arnold will be featured on tenor saxophone in the beautiful ballad "Love Dance" and perform a vocal duet with Show Band clarinetist Joscelyn Washington entitled "You Don't Bring Me Flowers."

Show Band 1st Trumpeters David Grasmick and Steve Collins will perform a medley of two Jack Mercer favorites that he performed on trumpet many years ago.  David will play the timeless Hoagy Carmichael song "Stardust" and Steve will follow with W.C. Handy's "St. Louis Blues."

The performance will also feature an exciting original jazz tune performed by a group of outstanding jazz musicians consisting of Pat Arnold, Steve Alaniz, Reed Gratz, Chris Berry, and Homero Chavez.

The Claremont Community School of Music String Ensemble will also be performing as part of the overall musical ensemble.

The performance will conclude with "I'll Be Seeing You," a vocal solo featuring Chaffey Adult School Principal Dr. George Matamala.

The June performance will be highlighted by the outstanding musicians of the Ontario Chaffey Community Show Band... THE GREATEST SHOW BAND IN ALL THE LAND!

The concert will be narrated by Chaffey Joint Union High School District Assistant Superintendent and board member of The Friends of the Show Band Dr. Kern Oduro, and Secretary of The Friends of the Show Band Board Pastor Gary Keith.

Click to download this Flyer

Please be sure to join us for a wonderful evening of music and final indoor performance of the 2024-2025 concert season.  Do not forget to invite your family and friends!  You can also support the Show Band by visiting and feeding our Hungry Tuba located in the lobby of the auditorium.  This concert will be broadcast on local Ontario cable Channel 3.  Check your cable listings for the date and time.  For additional information regarding these performances or the rest of Show Band's upcoming concert season, please check our website at www.showband.net and follow the Show Band on Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram.

The community can help support the Ontario Chaffey Community Show Band by becoming a patron of The Friends of the Ontario Chaffey Community Show Band.  Become a Bronze Baton donor for $25-$249; Steel Baton $250-$499; Silver Baton $500-$999; Gold Baton $1,000-$1,500; Platinum Baton $2,500; Emerald Baton $5,000 and Diamond Baton $10,000.  Individuals or businesses may also become a Show Sponsor for $1,000.  For more information on sponsoring a show, contact director Dr. Gabe Petrocelli at gabe@showband.net.  All Donor names will be included on every program and our website for the entire concert season.  Baton and Show Sponsors will also receive complementary DVDs of each performance.  The Friends of the Ontario Chaffey Community Show Band is a registered charity under Internal Revenue Code Section 501 C (3); EIN # 46-1422958.  Checks may be made out to: Friends of the OCCSB, P/O Box 1512, Ontario, CA 91762.

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The Ontario Chaffey Community Show Band was founded in 1985 by R. Jack Mercer and is now under the direction of Dr. Gabe Petrocelli with assistant directors David Schaafsma and Pat Arnold.  Band members represent at least two dozen communities throughout Southern California.  Adult and student musicians are invited to participate.  No auditions!  Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings from 7 to 9:00 p.m. at the Chaffey High School Jack Mercer Band Room.  The band performs monthly concerts in the Gardiner W. Spring Auditorium and at other venues throughout the community.  All performances are free to the public.

Your Band Director,
Gabe