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? "Music From Far Away Places"
WHERE? Gardiner W. Spring Auditorium
WHEN? Monday, March 17, 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 C.P. Construction Company are proud to present "Music From Far Away Places" on Monday, March 17, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.  Celebrate St. Partick's Day by making sure you attend the exciting concert 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.

Our March concert features an exciting repertoire of music from around the world; included are the countries of Ireland, France, Argentina, Spain, Cuba, Italy, Sweden, Germany, Korea, Japan, and the United States.

Special guest artists are Dr. Sylvia Mann, Director of the Southland Symphony Orchestra and University of La Verne Orchestra and professional harp soloist Ellie Choate.  Show Band soloists include dancer Kathy Soderlund, clarinetist Neil Vargas and vocalist Joscelyn Washington.

Dr. Sylvia Lee Mann - composer, conductor, violist, educator, and performer, appears with many musical ensembles in the Southern California area and across the nation.  Currently a faculty member at Chaffey College and the University of La Verne. Dr. Mann is the Pastor & Minister of Music at Bethel Congregational Church, UCC of Ontario, CA.  She is the Music Director & Conductor of the Southland Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Temecula Valley Jr. Youth Symphony, La Verne Symphony Orchestra, and a popular guest conductor throughout Southern California.  In addition, Sylvia is honored to be a featured guest conductor at Carnegie Hall (New York City) Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage for the 42nd season of MidAmerica Productions International NY.  She will be conducting a special concert in the Spring of 2025.

Sylvia completed undergraduate studies at Chapman, and graduate studies at the University of Southern California & London University.  As a violist and violinist, she studied with many distinguished teachers.  As a composer, her mentors include William Kraft, Gunther Schuller, and Samuel Adler.  Her conducting studies included such notable teachers as Daniel Lewis, Gunther Schuller, and Neville Mariner.

Sylvia's music is heard on the concert stage, in film, television, and media outlets.  Works have also been commissioned and performed by many orchestras, and she was featured in the Culver City Symphony's historic concert, "The American Beat - Women Composers."  Dr. Mann will conduct her composition entitled "Heritage Suite."

There is nothing like the elegance and elemental beauty of harp music to enhance the most important moments of one's life.  In the hands of Southern California harpist Ellie Choate, the harp touches the musical soul with a magical ambiance.

From the multiple Grammy award winning CD, Genius Loves Company with Ray Charles, to the Ojai Festival with Pierre Boulez; from the motion picture scoring stage to daytime television; from weddings and corporate events to a healing and therapeutic session of bed-side harp, Ellie Choate brings her professionalism and deep understanding and love of the harp to listeners throughout Los Angeles, Orange County and all of Southern California.  Ellie will perform Spanish composer Joquin Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez, Movement 2."

Also featured on the program is Show Band 1st Clarinetist Neil Vargas who will perform a solo in a composition written by American and French jazz musician and composer Sidney Bechet entitled "Si Tu Vois Ma Mere," ("If You See My Mother").  The solo is a direct transcription of the one performed by Bechet in the 1950's.  Show Band musician Kathy Soderlund will be featured as a dancer in "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" and "Malaguena."  The outstanding musicians of the Show Band will entertain their concert goers in "Irish Folk Song Suite" composed by Dr. Gabe Petrocelli, along with "Vive La France," a medley of well-known French songs that will also feature vocals by Show Band musician and vocalist Joscelyn Washington.

The performance will be narrated by Chaffey Adult School Principal Dr. George Matamala and Montclair High School English Teacher Bess Silva.

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Please be sure to join us for an exciting evening of 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