The snow was much more than predicted, and it likely had some impact on the attendance. Yet there was still a large audience at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center to support the Maine Pops Concert Band’s annual holiday benefit concert, held December 14 in Westbrook. The 90-minute concert raised funds for the Scarborough-based Project Grace in Scarborough, and the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland pet food bank.
Following a pre-concert performance by the Maine Pops Flute Choir as patrons entered the auditorium, the full concert band under David Watts’ direction performed the following compositions:
Overture to a Winter Festival – arranged by James Curnow
Silver Bells – Jay Livingston and Ray Evans (arr. James Swearingen)
Carol of the Bells – arranged by Chip Davis and Robert Longfield
Brazilian Sleigh Ride – Percy Faith (arr. Lloyd Conley)
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Richard Pola and George Wyle (arr. Chris Sharp)
White Christmas – Irving Berlin
Festive Sounds of Hanukah – arranged by Bill Holcombe
We Three Kings – John H. Hopkins, Jr. (arr. John M. Pasternak)
Candlelight Carol – John Rutter (arr. Jay Dawson)
Go Tell it on the Mountain – arranged by Jay Dawson
Greensleeves – arranged by Alfred Reed
A Christmas Portrait – arranged by Jerry Nowak
Sleigh Ride – Leroy Anderson
Hallelujah Chorus – George Frederic Handel (arr. Jack Bullock)
Many thanks to the Westbrook Performing Arts Center for hosting for the second consecutive year, and to John Cranton of Scarborough Community Access Television for recording today’s concert for broadcast on Scarborough Spectrum Channel 2 and for our use on our YouTube channel.
It’s time for a break from rehearsals and performances, but the band will resume rehearsals on January 7 to begin preparation for its April spring concert. More details on date, site and program will be announced later.
