Name: Back To Our Roots
Start: 2025-09-15T19:30:00-07:00
Location: Gardner W Spring Auditorium

The musicians of the Ontario Chaffey Community Show Band are proud 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, located 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 Francisco Mowatt and dancer 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!