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? "An Evening of Country Hits"
WHERE? Gardiner W. Spring Auditorium
WHEN? Monday, January 27, 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 the Ovitt Family are proud to present "An Evening of Country Hits" on Monday, January 27, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.  The concert will be held at Gardiner W. Spring Auditorium located on the campus of Chaffey High School at 1245 N. Euclid Ave. in Ontario.  The Woodwind Celebration Ensemble will present a pre-concert recital in the auditorium lobby 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 January concert features a repertoire of Country and Western music highlighted by special guest artists Jim Curry and Gil Zendejas, Show Band Soloists Natasha Le, Francisco Mowatt, guest conductor Susan Petrocelli... and the outstanding musicians of the Show Band.

Jim Curry began his music career writing and performing "The Time of Your Life" for his senior play.  The song was then voted to be the 1975 class song and Jim was awarded a Rotary Scholarship to study music in college.  Even at this early stage in his life Jim's natural voice resembled that of singer/songwriter John Denver.  Embracing the similarities, Jim continued to sing and specialize in the songs of John Denver.  The untimely death of John Denver's in 1997 was a tragedy that was felt the world over.  Such a void in the musical world left John's ardent fans demanding that his music survive.  CBS television responded by producing a made for TV movie: Take Me Home, the John Denver Story in which Jim landed an off-camera role singing as the voice of John Denver.  Jim has taken his show on the road to Performing Arts Centers and Casinos in the US and Canada and out to sea as one of the most popular shows on the Holland America Cruise Line.  When John Denver wanted to add a full orchestra to his live shows and recordings, he teamed up with Grammy Award winning arranger, composer and conductor Lee Holdridge.  Lee's symphony arrangements, along with John's songs became the trademark sound of many of John's hits.  Now, Jim and Lee have brought the rebirth of John Denver's timeless songs.  The Show Band will accompany Jim on three Denver hits, "Rocky Mountain High," "Annie's Song," and "Take Me Home, Country Roads," and two original songs "Memories of Home," and "The Time of Your Life."

Gil Zendejas, a Board Member with the Chaffey Joint Union High School District, began his musical journey as a teenager, singing in churches and being named twice to the California State Youth Choir.  He performed in musical theater in lead roles in Fiddler on the Roof and The Wizard of Oz.  While serving in the United States Air Force, he won several military-sponsored talent contests and would regularly show off his talents at Karaoke events.  Later, he would become the lead singer of the contemporary Christian band, GOD'S WILL, who recorded one album, entitled, Love the Fight!  He performed for a short while on various country music club stages, including the world-famous, Crazy Horse, in Southern California.  He continues to perform as a vocal soloist in church.  Gil will sing two Garth Brooks hit songs "Rodeo" and "If Tomorrow Never Comes."

The Show Band is proud to feature two of their outstanding musicians.  Natasha Le will perform Floyd Cramer's piano hit "Last Date."  Saxophonist Francisco Mowatt will play the fiddle on Hank Williams' country hit "Hey, Good Lookin'."  Longtime Show Band supporter, narrator, and librarian Susan Petrocelli will take the podium as a guest conductor.  Susan was a piano student throughout her youth and also sang in her school choir.  She will conduct the Kenny Rodgers hit song "Through the Years."

The outstanding musicians of the Show Band will be highlighted on several country selections that include "Ghost Riders In The Sky" and "Happy Trails."  The performance will be narrated by Sue Ovitt, a member of the Chaffey Joint Union High School District Board of Trustees and Lara Porter, the Chaffey District's Special Education/Transition teacher.

Click to download this Flyer

Please be sure to join us for an exciting evening of Country and Western music and 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