Author: Steve Barrett

Steve Barrett is a retired government public affairs official with 43 years of experience (23 military, 20 with Federal Government). Married since 1987. Twin daughters are high school language teachers. Hobbies include music photography as a USBands marching band competition photographer (2012-present), high school band/chorus/theater photography in Maryland from 2002-2017 and 2018-present in Maine, playing trumpet and flugelhorn, reading and Scrabble. Played trumpet/flugelhorn recreationally with the Anne Arundel Community College community jazz band from 2007-2017. Now performs recreationally with the Maine Pops Concert Band and is an elected member of the band's board of directors. Holds a Master of Arts Degree in Communication from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism from the University of Maryland University College. Barrett is originally from Montour Falls, NY.

Maine Pops Concert Band to Perform 35th Anniversary Fall Concert on November 19 at Falmouth High School

The leaves are past “peak,” and the temperatures have dropped to the low 30s in the evening. It is autumn in Maine, and it is time for the Maine Pops Concert Band to finish its 35th anniversary with the second of two anniversary concerts.

On Sunday, November 19, the Maine Pops will perform in the Falmouth High School auditorium, beginning at 2:30 p.m. The school is located at 74 Woodville Road. This is a change in venue from what was previously announced earlier this fall.

Originally slated for Scarborough High School, the band had to change locations due to Scarborough High’s Oak Hill Players completing performances of 42nd Street that weekend at the Winslow Homer Center for the Arts.

In staying with the anniversary theme set at its spring concert, director David Watts has again selected material that represents past performances by both the Maine Pops and to the Italian Heritage Center Band – created in 1988 and forerunner of the current Maine Pops. The fall concert features a variety of music – ranging from marches to medleys and classical to popular music. The compositions for the fall concert are:

A Joyful Fanfare – Franci Cesarini
Just a Closer Walk with Thee – arr. By Don Gillis
Lux Aurumque – Eric Whitacre
Root Beer Rag – Billy Joel (arr. Michael Sweeney)
Italian Festival – medley arr. Glenn Osser
Amparito Roca – Jaime Texidor
A Motown Portrait – medley
Pavanne– Morton Gould
Jupiter: The Bringer of Jollity (from The Planets) – Gustav Holst
Russian Christmas Music – Alfred Reed
The Stars and Stripes Forever – John Philip Sousa

In addition to the fall concert in Falmouth, the Maine Pops will also perform two Christmas holiday benefits concerts in December. The first will be Wednesday, December 13 at the Mountainside Community Church, located at 18 Mountain Road in West Falmouth. The second will be Wednesday, December 20 at St. Luke’s Cathedral at 143 State Street in Portland. Proceeds from the two concerts will go toward humanitarian programs sponsored by each congregation.

For more information about scheduling, joining, contributing, or sponsoring the Maine Pops Concert Band, please visit http://www.mainepops.org.

Maine Pops Concert Band Begins Fall Rehearsals, Announces 2023 Concert Dates to Close 35th Anniversary Year

Hurricane Lee has passed us by, cooler temperatures are arriving, and the leaves will begin changing colors soon. It is autumn in Maine – time for fall harvest, pumpkin spice everything and the fall season for the Maine Pops Concert Band.

The final phase of the Maine Pops’ 35th Anniversary celebration began September 6 when fall rehearsals started at Scarborough High School. Now two weeks into the season, the Maine Pops is focused on 10 musical selections it will perform at its 2023 fall concert, slated for November 19 at a place to be determined, beginning at 2:30 p.m.

In staying with the anniversary theme set at its spring concert, director David Watts has again selected material that represents past performances by both the Maine Pops and to the Italian Heritage Center Band – founded in 1988 and forerunner of the current Maine Pops. The fall concert will feature a variety of music – ranging from marches to medleys and classical to popular. Composers represented in the 2023 fall concert program include Gustav Holst, Eric Whitacre, Morton Gould, Franco Cesarini, John Phillip Sousa, and Billy Joel.

The band will release a full list of the performance compositions prior to the concert.

In addition to the fall concert in Scarborough, the Maine Pops also released the dates for its two Christmas holiday benefits concerts in December. The first will be Wednesday, December 13 at the Mountainside Community Church, located at 18 Mountain Road in Falmouth, ME. The second will be Wednesday, December 20 at St. Luke’s Cathedral at 143 State Street in Portland. Proceeds from the two concerts will go toward humanitarian programs sponsored by each congregation.

The Maine Pops Concert Band is a 501(c)3 educational non-profit corporation. Contributions may be tax-deductible.