Deer Valley teacher ready to rock for a good cause

Most students at Deer Valley High School know Bill Leach as the guy in charge of the Visual Arts Department and the Antioch Unified School District's 2008 Teacher of the Year.

They haven't had the chance to see him sitting behind a set of drums rocking to the beat as he performs with his band The Clarences. On Saturday night, Leach and his band will perform and help out one of his favorite causes — Deer Valley High School.

The Clarences agreed to donate their talents to help support the school's Education Advancement Foundation. The foundation is hosting its third annual fundraiser with an evening of dinner, dancing and a silent auction at Lone Tree Golf Course.
Events like these are near and dear to the band's heart, Leach said, because not only is he a teacher, but two other members of the band, Molly Blue and Amanda White, are both special education teachers in the Oakland area.

"We really have a soft spot in our hearts for the young, creative students in our educational system," Leach said. Aside from performing after dinner, Leach will also serve as event host and auctioneer.

Leach describes The Clarences as a melody-driven, power pop rock band. Besides the three school teachers, the band consists of Robert A. Medeiros and Gary Delucchi. It blends basses, drums, glockenspiels, guitars, keyboards, percussion, synthesizers, tambourines and vocal harmonies. All of its music is original, with the exception of one song that it recently had to learn in order to apply as a contestant for NBC's America's Got Talent.

"It was an interesting weekend," Leach said. "We played a gig in San Jose, then piled into two vans and headed south."
The band is still waiting to hear whether it made the final cut, but while it was in the studio, NBC grouped about 10 acts, including The Clarences, and taped promotional spots for the new season.

"Out of the thousands of people auditioning, it was a thrill to be picked to be part of the promo reel. We really think America will love our band," Leach said.

Each band plays an instrument or two, as well as provides vocals for the band. The band has been performing together for about two years, but Leach himself only joined the group last summer.

The Deer Valley fundraiser raises money for various causes, including the leadership program, visual and performing arts departments, the school library and the technology advancements. Last year, the event paid for a new sound system, new information kiosks around the campus, improved library facilities, and many other improvements.
For more information on The Clarences, visit its Web site at www.theclarences.com.
If you go

WHAT: Deer Valley High School's annual fundraiser
dinner, Spring in the Valley
WHEN: 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Lone Tree Golf Course, 4800 Golf Course Road
INFO: While tickets are still available, there is limited seating and no tickets will be available at the door. Reservations may be made in advance by contacting Sue Wiser at 925-756-6700 for tickets at school, Wanda Hom at 925-779-0227 for other tickets. For donations and sponsorships, contact Deborah Miller at 925-354-7650.