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 “Bringer of Jollity” Concert at Falmouth High School January 21

The fall leaves of November are long gone, winter snow is fast approaching Southern Maine, and the temperatures have dropped to the low teens each evening. Yet for the Maine Pops Concert Band, it’s now time to finally finish its 35th anniversary celebration.

On Sunday, January 21, the Maine Pops will perform its “Bringer of Jollity” concert inside the Falmouth High School auditorium, beginning at 2:30 p.m. The school is located at 74 Woodville Road, in Falmouth, ME.

This concert was originally slated as the band’s November 19 fall performance, but was postponed due to circumstances beyond the band’s control. Having rehearsed the selection of fall music since September, Maine Pops Director David Watts said the band deserves to perform the music it’s worked so hard on the past six months. The concert was rebooked for Falmouth High School and all material slated for the November performance will be played January 21.

In staying with the anniversary theme set at its spring concert last April, Watts selected material that represents past performances by both the Maine Pops and the Italian Heritage Center Band – created in 1988 and forerunner of the current Maine Pops. Compositions will feature a variety of music – ranging from marches to medleys and classical to popular music. Composers of the music selected for the concert include Eric Whitacre, Billy Joel, Jaime Texidor, Morton Gould, Gustav Holst, Alfred Reed, and John Philip Sousa.

Following the January concert in Falmouth, the Maine Pops will resume rehearsals on January 24 at Scarborough High School to prepare for its April 28 spring concert. The April 28 concert will begin at 2:30 p.m. but the location of the spring concert is pending final approval.

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

2023-12-20 Maine Pops Concert Band Christmas Benefit Concert at St. Luke’s Cathedral in Portland

he Maine Pops Concert Band concluded its Christmas holiday benefit concert series tonight with a performance at St. Luke’s Cathedral on State Street in Portland, ME.

A very large crowd attended the 90-minute performance which also included a 15-minute prelude by the band’s flute choir. The band performed the following compositions:

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
A Fireside Christmas
Bashana Haba ‘ah
Brazilian Sleigh Bells
Lux Aurumque
Pat-a-Pan
Winter Rhapsody
Sleigh Ride
Gesu Bambino
Still, Still, Still
Christmas Music for Winds
Hallelujah Chorus.

The band will now take a two-week break and resume rehearsals on Wednesday, January 10 at 7 p.m. The location will be determined soon, as Scarborough High School will be conducting their winter band concert that evening.

(Photos by Steve Barrett.)

2023-12-13 Mountainside Community Church Holiday Benefit Concert

The first of two holiday benefit concerts is complete – a very successful performance by the Maine Pops Concert Band at Mountainside Community Church in Falmouth, Maine.

A very large audience jammed the pews inside the church sanctuary to hear the Maine Pops perform the following holiday compositions:

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
A Fireside Christmas
Bashana Haba ‘ah
Brazilian Sleigh Bells
Lux Aurumque
Pat-a-Pan
Sleigh Ride
Gesu Bambino
Still, Still, Still
Christmas Music for Winds
Hallelujah Chorus

In addition, Mountainside pastor Mac Ray announced that the audience raised nearly $1000 to support the Falmouth Food Pantry – a donation matched by Mountainside for a $2000 total donation.

The band will have their final holiday concert of 2023 on Wednesday, December 20, at St. Luke’s Cathedral in Portland, beginning at 7 p.m. Prior to the concert, the band’s flute choir will perform ensemble work around 6:45 p.m.

(Photos by Steve Barrett)

Maine Pops Concert Helps Mountainside Community Church Raise $2000 for Falmouth Food Pantry

The Maine Pops Concert Band’s December 13 Christmas benefit helped raise $2000 for the Mountainside Community Church to donate to the Falmouth (ME) food pantry.

Pastor Mac Ray of Mountainside Community Church made the donation announcement at the conclusion of the Maine Pops’ annual fundraising performance. Ray said an earlier fundraising effort in Falmouth had been scheduled for the food pantry, but was cancelled due to the Lewiston shooting incident. He thanked the Maine Pops for again providing assistance to the church’s fundraising efforts and he thanked all who contributed to the effort.

A very large audience jammed the pews inside the church sanctuary to hear the Maine Pops – under the direction of David Watts – perform the following holiday compositions:

The band has one more holiday benefit concert in 2023. The Maine Pops will perform on Wednesday, December 20, at St. Luke’s Cathedral in Portland, beginning at 7 p.m.

Maine Pops Concert Band Announces its 2023 Holiday Concert Schedule

The Maine Pops Concert Band – serving communities in the greater Portland area – has announced its concert schedule for the 2023 holiday season.

The band will hold its first holiday concert at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 13 at the Mountainside Community Church, located at 18 Mountain Road in Falmouth, ME. The event continues a long tradition of holiday concerts between the Maine Pops and the church and proceeds from the Mountainside performance will go to humanitarian efforts in the Portland region.

Band Pops Conductor David Watts has selected the following music for the Mountainside concert:
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
A Fireside Christmas
Bashana Haba ‘ah
Brazilian Sleigh Bells
Lux Aurumque
Pat-a-Pan
Winter Rhapsody
Sleigh Ride
Gesu Bambino
Still, Still, Still
Christmas Music for Winds
Hallelujah Chorus

The December 13 concert will have a livestream available through the Mountainside Community Church. The link to the livestream is https://youtube.com/live/nWsI106MeX0?feature=share and will start at 6:45 p.m.

On December 20, the band will return to St. Luke’s Cathedral, located at 143 State Street in Portland, for its final holiday benefit concert. The performance – also slated for 7 p.m. – is also an annual event on the Maine Pops calendar. As with the Mountainside performance, proceeds are going to the church’s humanitarian efforts in and around the Portland area.

For more information, please contact president@mainepops.org or sbarrett@mainepops.org.

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

Maine Pops Concert Band Fall Concert for November 19 Postponed

The Maine Pops Concert Band’s 35th Anniversary Fall Concert, slated for Sunday, November 19 at 2:30 p.m. inside the Falmouth High School Auditorium, has been postponed. The band’s final rehearsal for this performance – slated for November 15 at Scarborough High School -was cancelled.

Officials with the Maine Pops Concert Band are looking at potential dates in the beginning weeks of 2024 to reschedule the performance. Updates will be posted to its web site and social media channels.

The band reminds its loyal patrons that the two holiday benefit performances – December 13 at Mountainside Community Church in Falmouth and December 20 at St. Luke’s Cathedral in Portland, are still on schedule.

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.