The Deer Valley High School Education Advancement Foundation will host its third annual gala dinner event on March 21 from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Lone Tree Golf Course Event Center. This year’s theme is Spring in the Valley.

The evening begins with cocktails and appetizers, and features a performance by the DVHS Jazz Band, a formal dinner, live and silent auctions and a performance by one of the Bay Area’s foremost pop bands, The Clarences. Proceeds from the event benefit programs at Deer Valley High School, including the Leadership program, Visual and Performing Arts Department and the library.

The Clarences’ drummer, Bill Leach, is chairman of Deer Valley’s Visual and Performing Arts Department. His band mates are Amanda White and Molly Blue, special education teachers in the Oakland area; professional musician Robert A. Medeiros; and audio recording specialist Gary Delucchi.

The Clarences recently auditioned for NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” Band members are still waiting to hear if they made the final cut, but while they were in the studio, NBC grouped about 10 acts (including The Clarences) to tape promo 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,” said Leach. “We really think America will love our band.”

The Clarences were recently offered a one-hour, live radio broadcast at Stanford University, and will also donate their time to the American Cancer Society in a Relay For Life benefit at Los Medanos College on June 27. For more information about these performances or to see and hear the band, go to www.theclarences.com. For tickets and more information about the Deer Valley fundraiser, call Sue Wiser at 925-756-6700, Wanda Hom at 925-779-0227 or Event Manager Deborah Miller at 925-354-7650.