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

TO: Our Show Band Family
FROM: Your Band Director
WHAT'S UP? Back To Our Roots
WHERE? Gardiner W. Spring Auditorium
WHEN? Monday, September 15, 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 to start their 40th Concert Season with a show titled "Back To Our Roots" on Monday, September 15, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.  This milestone performance will be held at historic 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 concert will be filled with musical highlights from the 40 years of Show Band entertainment performed for the City of Ontario and our local communities.  We'll have an exciting repertoire of various music genres including marches, swing, rock 'n' roll, and Latin music.  The announcers for this special concert will be Steve and Ruth Groethe, who have a special tie with the history of the Show Band, that you'll only learn about if you attend the concert!

One of the earliest compositions selected for the concert is a trumpet trio entitled "A Trumpet Celebration" by James Curnrow.  The trio of trumpeters performing this composition will be David Grasmick, Steve Collins, and Mike Pfister.  You don't want to miss this exciting number chosen by Founding Director, and trumpeter himself, Mr. Jack Mercer.

The concert will feature two singers that are well known to the Show Band family, Brian Detwiler and Marilyne Sherwood!  Each singer has performed many times with the Show Band over the years and that night they'll be singing some of the first tunes they sang with the Show Band.  You'll love hearing Marilyne singing the beautiful song "You Made Me Love You" as well as Brian singing the first song he sang with the Show Band... "Blue Skies"!  Ahh, my heart is already warming just thinking about these performances.

Two of the long-standing members of the Show Band that will be performing that night are saxophonist/violinist Francisco Mowatt and dancer/musician Kathy Soderlund. Kathy will be featured dancing to "Besame Mucho" and Francisco will be featured on his alto saxophone.

The musicians of the Show Band will be featured on several selections, including "Charter Oak" March, "Disney Medley" to be conducted by assistant director David Grasmick, "Swings The Thing" to be conducted by assistant director Dave Schaafsma, a rock medley titled "Big Fun In The Sun," and "The Bandmaster" written by Director Emeritus Dr. Gabe Petrocelli for the retirement of our founder, R. Jack Mercer.

Please be sure to join us for a wonderful evening of music and the start of our 2025-2026 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 Patrick Arnold at pt@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 Patrick Arnold with assistant directors Dave Schaafsma and David Grasmick.  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,
Patrick Arnold