The Ontario/Chaffey Community Show Band is excited to present an outdoor concert titled “The Best of Broadway” on Monday May 9th, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.in the beautiful Ontario Town Square located east of Euclid Avenue on the corner of “B” Street and Lemon in downtown Ontario.  Early concert goers are invited to come at 7:00 p.m. to hear “The Woodwind Celebration” clarinet ensemble and enjoy complimentary cookies and Starbucks coffee.  Some seating will be provided on the grass area in front of the band shell.  However, it is recommended that concert goers bring their own lawn chairs.  Admission to the concert is FREE.

The program features an exciting collection of hit songs from twelve different Broadway productions:  Oklahoma, Cabaret, Funny Girl, Evita, My Fair Lady, South Pacific, Fiddler On the Roof, The Music Man, A Little Night Music, Stop the World, I Want to Get Off, The Sound of Music, and West Side Story.  Featured artists include vocalists Chris McAleer, Taunia Falasca, Sheila Ruff, Rudy Diaz, Brian Detwiler, and Joe Kolmel.  In addition, dancer Kathy Soderlund will perform several numbers from “Evita.”  Also featured on the concert are the outstanding musicians of the Ontario Chaffey Community Show Band.

The Jack Mercer Memorial Scholarship will be awarded during the May 9th concert.  The scholarship was established to recognize and assist a graduating senior from the Chaffey High School Band Program who has aspirations to attend college and make a career in music education.  Maestro Mercer was the director of instrumental music at Chaffey High School from 1958-1983.  It is the intent of the scholarship to encourage a deserving and talented individual to follow in the footsteps of the great Maestro and carry on the tradition of excellence in music education.  This year’s recipient is Christopher Rodriguez.  He has been a member of the Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Symphony Orchestra Jazz Band, Colorguard, and Percussion Ensembles at Chaffey High School.  His band director, Mr. Mario Corona states that Christopher “is a young man of great musical skill and fine character who reaches out and contributes to our greater goal of making the Instrumental Music Program at Chaffey High School the best it can be.  He plans to pursue a career as an educator of music at a College/University that is still to be determined.  His drive and dedication at improving in all aspects of daily life, including music, will help him reach his dreams in life of becoming a great asset in the field of Music Education.”

The Show Band will again be performing at the Ontario Town Square on Saturday May 14th at 6:30 p.m. in celebration of Ontario Heritage Day.  Included on the program are two musical numbers that commemorate the great City of Ontario, “On On Ontario” composed by Maestro Jack Mercer and “Beautiful Euclid Avenue” penned by Paul Coronel.