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 Continues Its Rebuilding Membership Effort for Portland-area Musicians

With the completion of its spring concert In May, the Maine Pops Concert Band is now preparing for the 2022 summer concert season. Musicians are continuing their Wednesday night sessions, reviewing music the director has selected from its fall and spring concert performance repertoire; adding a few extra compositions that are favorites of the outdoor season.

As the band continues to emerge from the two-year impact of COVID-19, it is still in need for community musicians to join its ranks and return the band to pre-pandemic numbers. This summer, as the band heads into its 2022-2023 season in September, it is continuing its campaign to bring additional members into the organization.

“Our mission is to support community though concert band music and we continue to play, both virtually and in-person when safe,” said Bob Swerdlow, President of the Maine Pops.” Now, the Maine Pops needs to broaden its instrumental base by inviting past musicians back and recruit new musicians for the band.

Last season, the band performed most of their concerts with about 50 musicians; good numbers, but far below the 90-to-100 musicians the band had prior to the pandemic. In some cases, Maine Pops musicians retired and relocated away from the Portland area. However, many musicians simply were not ready to rejoin large ensembles to perform indoors – especially those with pre-existing health conditions. Vaccinations and boosters, combined with a general feeling of normalcy, have helped increase numbers, but it now time to reach out and recruit to prepare for the new season.

For now, the Maine Pops still maintains its vaccination requirements for rehearsals and concerts, and abided by COVID-19 policies of each performance venue. This practice is for the safety of the musicians and its audiences. The band was able to safely conduct its fall, holiday, and spring concerts during the 2021-2022, providing the welcomed sound of live musical performance to Portland-area audiences. As policies and requirements change regarding COVID-19, the band will adjust to abide by those guidelines.

The Maine Pops Concert Band accepts players of all nationalities, creeds, ages, and occupations. The band is always looking for new members. Interested musicians need not audition, but the band expects new members to be proficient in their selected instrument. Currently, there are specific needs for flute, clarinet, trumpet, and trombone, but welcomes all musicians who play standard concert band instruments to join.

Applicants can go online at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScP3bTxIxXAODR3c2DWK3BqZKORLgqgR6M0cGZfIL5wxfrVjA/viewform, or they can download a printable form https://drive.google.com/file/d/10zpsmmfonxXMu4O_L1YWHfthPafeBEpd/view and submit their registration at a rehearsal.

If interested in becoming a Maine Pops Concert Band performer, please email Bob Swerdlow at president@mainepops.org.

Maine Pops Goes “Coast-to-Coast” for its May 22 Spring Concert in Portland

The Maine Pops Concert Band will conduct its first spring concert since April of 2019 when it performs Sunday, May 22 at St. Luke’s Cathedral in Portland, beginning at 2:30 p.m. The theme of concert is “Coast-to Coast: A Musical Road Trip,” and will consist of eight concert band selections spanning a variety of music genre.

Compositions will include R. Vaughan Williams’ “Folk Song Suite for Military Band,” “Mambo” from Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story,” Vaclac Nelhybel’s “Festivo,” and Genaro Codina’s “Zacatecas” march. Also on the program are two medleys: Joe Derhake’s arrangement “Coast to Coast” featuring musical selections tied to a selection of American cities, and Jerry Brubaker’s medley arrangement of “Hamilton.” Duke Ellington’s “Caravan” and Samuel Hazo’s “In Heaven’s Air” complete the concert music selection.

"I’m excited to share some new arrangements of old songs, plus some wonderful classic band repertoire spanning a period of over 100 years," said Maine Pops Concert Band Director David Watts. "This ‘musical road trip’ will take us from coast to coast throughout North America and across the big pond. The band has worked exceptionally hard this winter and spring in preparation for, what I feel will be, a very entertaining concert."

Since COVID-19 sanctions eased, the Maine Pops has performed three concerts during the fall 2021 season in the Portland area. However, the last spring concert performed was held April 28, 2019, at Cape Elizabeth High School.

It’s been a condensed rehearsal schedule for the Maine Pops as the Omicron variant to COVID-19 delayed the start of the spring season. Rehearsal sessions resumed two months late, with the March 2 session at Mountainside Community Church in West Falmouth being the first. Two weeks later — on March 16 — the band received clearance to return to Scarborough High School – its rehearsal home prior to the pandemic.

St. Luke’s Cathedral is located at 143 State Street in Portland. The concert is open to the public and the band is asking patrons for a donation of $10 per person that will benefit St. Luke’s humanitarian efforts. According to the cathedral’s web site, mask-wearing is no longer required for worship or other activities at St. Luke’s. However, the cathedral staff asks that patrons please respect parishioners who wish to wear masks and join their commitment to welcome people to the cathedral.

Established in 1988, the Maine Pops Concert Band is a non-profit community group that encourages musicians of all ages and abilities – from school age to senior citizens – to foster a life-long love of music, music history, performance, and heritage.

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

Maine Pops Concert Band Returns to Scarborough High for Rehearsals

The Maine Pops Concert Band will return to Scarborough High School for regular rehearsals, beginning Wednesday, March 16. The return marks the first time the band will rehearse in its familiar home in over two years.

The band plans to continue rehearsals at Scarborough through the spring, leading up to its 2022 Spring Concert, slated for May 22 at St. Luke’s Cathedral in Portland, beginning at 2:30 p.m. The band room will not be available for rehearsal sessions on March 30 (Maine Scholastic Concert Band Festival), April 20 (Spring Break), and June 1 (Middle School Concert). An alternate rehearsal site will be announced for those dates.

In making the announcement to band members through its weekly internal newsletter, the Maine Pops reminds musicians that there are still COVID-19 protocols in place, even with the easing of restrictions at most of the area schools. Band members are required to mask in the school hallways leading from the entrance to the band room. Once in the band room, masked may be removed, although the band is encouraging the use of masks until seated.

Scarborough has removed the band risers that members were familiar with when it last rehearsed there on March 11, 2020, opting now for a single-level rehearsal space. Members are encouraged to arrive early to set up sections, with proper spacing between musicians. The band will also need folks to return the band room to its normal arrangement once rehearsal ends. Chairs will be available, but musicians are asked to bring their instruments, music, a music stand, bell covers, and a stand light (if needed).

As always, the health and safety of our band members is important. Members are continue to keep their COVID-19 vaccinations current, and they are encouraged to excuse themselves from rehearsals if ill.

Maine Pops to Resume In-Person Rehearsals on March 2

After a lengthy break following the holiday performance season due to the Omicron variant to COVID-19, the Maine Pops Concert Band will resume weekly rehearsals March 2 in preparation for the 2021-2022 Winter-Spring Season.

The Maine Pops Board of Directors – during its February 9 meeting – agreed that in-person rehearsals would begin on March 2 at the Mountainside Community Church in Falmouth. This would be the first gathering of Maine Pops musicians since the Christmas benefit concert held at the Mountainside venue on December 15.

Although hospitalization and case rates regarding Omicron are dropping throughout Maine, the variant is still present and of concern. The band will continue to exercise caution, and resume health and safety steps implemented last fall during our indoor rehearsal schedule. COVID-19 vaccinations remain an important part of the band’s operations. All members must be “up-to-date” with their vaccinations, meaning that musicians having received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) when eligible.

In resuming these sessions, band president Bob Swerdlow emphasized that members must make their own decisions about attending the indoor rehearsals, indicating that the band is not going to mandate attendance for those not ready to resume. “If you decide not to come for now, that’s okay,” said Swerdlow. “We are happy to have you re-join rehearsals once conditions improve.”

A new step toward lowering risk to musicians will be sectional rehearsals that will begin March 2 at Mountainside. Brass and percussion will rehearse in the church’s fellowship hall as in previous sessions, but the woodwinds will rehearse separately in the church sanctuary. The split allows more space between musicians, and provides an opportunity for sections to initially concentrate on specific music. The plan is to spend the first month in sections, then combine the band in early April for normal rehearsals. Band director David Watts will spend time with both groups at each rehearsal, but he is also looking to have a couple of band director members conduct sessions that he is not attending.

The band will continue to adhere to the health and safety policy of Mountainside Community Church. All musicians must be masked when not rehearsing.Those having instrumental masks may use them if they wish. There will be breaks to “air out” the rooms during each two-hour session. Musicians must use bell covers on instruments whenever possible.

The band will provide updates regarding the spring rehearsal schedule on the band’s internal social media pages, on the public website, and through the “Maine Pops Tribune.”

Maine Pops Concert Band Suspends Winter Rehearsals as Omicron Variant Remains

The Maine Pops Concert Band has suspended in-person band rehearsals until further notice because of the continuing case numbers involving the Omicron variant to COVID-19.

The Maine Pops Board of Directors, after a lengthy discussion on January 5 during its monthly teleconference call, decided that in best interest of safety to its members, it would delay the start of the 2022 Winter-Spring rehearsal schedule. The board will meet again on February 9 to reassess the issue with the hopes of resuming in-person rehearsals in February.

The band was scheduled to resume rehearsals on January 12 at 7 p.m. at the Mountainside Community Church in Falmouth.

Although the band has required that all members be vaccinated and receive booster shots, the more contagious Omicron variety can still cause various levels of illness to those who contract the variant. The board decided that even with the vaccinations and booster shots, they determined that the chances of contracting the omicron variant in a close music performance environment were too great.

Even though rehearsals are suspended until at least February, band president Bob Swerdlow is encouraging band members to download the spring season music now being posted on the band’s virtual library and begin rehearsing at home. Ten selections have been chosen so far for the season and all new music is now available. In addition, a few compositions – standard repertoire for our spring and summer performance – should be kept in the music folders. A formal list of “stand-by” music will be announced soon.

The Maine Pops Board asks all members to continue practicing and remain alert to schedule changes as we attempt to kick-start the spring campaign. The Maine Pops Tribune, our two Facebook social media sites, LinkedIn, and the bands webpage at www.mainepops.org will post updates and information when it becomes available.

Maine Pops Concert Band Looking for Sponsors, Donations to Recover and Rebuild Band During Post-Pandemic Era

Like many musical ensembles in Maine, the Maine Pops Concert Band has been through some tough times during the COVID-19 pandemic. They’ve dealt with restricted or closed rehearsal venues and seen a series of scheduled concerts cancelled. Even through the band remained active, it performed with fewer members and spent eight months in make-shift home recording studios to produce a virtual Christmas concert and a series of single releases published on the band’s web site and social media channels.

With the return of live, outdoor summer and fall rehearsals, and the completion its first public performances after nearly two years, the Maine Pops has slowly recovered much of its membership, recruited new musicians, and regained most of its balanced and full pre-pandemic sound.

But as the band’s musical resurgence continues, it is still in need for support from its Greater Portland Metropolitan Community; support in the form of community sponsorship and donations to help defray costs. This winter, as the band heads into its holiday break, !it is resuming its campaign to bring additional funding into the organization and keep and needs help.

“Our mission is to support community though concert band music and we continue to play, both virtually and in-person when safe,” said Bob Swerdlow, President of the Maine Pops. “We now need your help to ease the financial burden the pandemic has created.”

The COVID-19 pandemic in Maine has been hard on many non-profit organizations, especially on concert bands. Swerdlow said the pandemic has been expensive for the Maine Pops and its earned revenue is down substantially. “The band did not collect membership dues for the 2020-2021 season, and we have had no concert ticket sales, advertising, or sponsorship revenue for nearly two years. Yet, many of our expenses persisted right through the pandemic.

“We continue to employ our music director, David Watts, who has been exceptionally flexible and creative in his work with the band during this difficult time,” said Swerdlow. “We also continue to buy music, maintain our online presence, and incur all other necessary expenses.”

Swerdlow said that during the pandemic’s early stages, it became clear that it was not safe for bands to play in person. “Our biggest concern, from the beginning of the pandemic, has been the safety of our members,” he said. “Wind instruments, by their nature, disperse aerosols, and many of our members are old enough to be at high risk. For caution’s sake we cancelled our Spring 2020 concert and all in-person rehearsals. We were not sure the Maine Pops would survive.”

The band’s board of directors spent many hours in Zoom meetings discussing options, and in August 2020, Swerdlow sent a video (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PtqHEhWo70qswo-zydfOrm9ZaXfdm-aC/view?usp=sharing) to the band outlining its approach. The message to the band was clear: “We need to be safe now, but we are strong, and we plan to be back. We are a close-knit community of dedicated musicians, and the Maine Pops is here to stay.”

From that video release, the band increased their efforts to rebuild and perform, starting with virtual, Zoom-based, muted rehearsals performed in homes. By December, band members had produced a 51-minute Christmas holiday concert – a performance that helped the band raise over $1500 in charity donations to local food pantries.

During the 2020-2021 pandemic, the band also:
• Recorded and released virtual performances of “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” “A String of Pearls,” “Seventy-Six Trombones” and “Tuxedo Junction” between February and May 2021.
• Recorded and released a virtual R. B. Hall Day performance of R. B. Hall’s “New Colonial March” featuring over 50 musicians from all over Maine and beyond.
• Posted all virtual performances on the “Maine Pops” YouTube channel.
• Began outdoor in-person rehearsals for vaccinated members in July 2021.
• Performed our Fall 2021 – “Americans, We” — our first live post-COVID concert, at St. Luke’s Cathedral in Portland on November 21 with pandemic restrictions in place for both the musicians and the audience.
• Performed “A Cathedral Holiday” concert at St. Luke’s in Portland on December 4 and will perform “Charity Christmas Concert” at Mountainside Community Church in Falmouth on Wednesday, December 15 at 7:30 pm. Again, pandemic restrictions were in place.
• Streamed all live concerts on the “Maine Pops” Facebook page.

After falling from a roster of over 80 to fewer than 20 players during Zoom rehearsals, Swerdlow said the band has now rebuilt to over 50 members, including more than a dozen new musicians The band has resumed receiving membership dues for 2021-2022, bringing needed revenue. The band also received donations from its November 21 concert.

However, the band needs more funding as the band begins planning for its spring and summer season with hopes for a full concert schedule. Members of the band’s marketing committee are working to contact current sponsors to maintain their support, while also venturing other community assets for support. “Your donations are critical to our future,” said Swerdlow. “With your help we will continue to build community through music for years to come.”

The Maine Pops is a 501(c)3 educational non-profit corporation. Donors can mail their tax-deductible donations to Laura Merten, Treasurer, Maine Pops Concert Band, 72 Harbor Place, South Portland, Maine 04106. Donors may also contribute through Venmo (www.venmo.com), enter 207-712-7119 and confirm the payee is ‘Victoria Swerdlow’, who manages these payments.

To become a sponsor, please email Bob Swerdlow at president@mainepops.org.

Maine Pops to Perform Benefit Concert at Mountainside Community Church on December 15

The Maine Pops Concert Band will perform its final Christmas holiday benefit concert on Wednesday, December 15, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The band will perform "Charity Christmas Concert" at Mountainside Community Church, located at 18 Mountain Road in Falmouth, ME. This in-person concert resumes the long-standing concert cooperation between Mountainside Community Church and the Maine Pops; an effort conducted as a virtual event last year during the COVID-19 pandemic. The performance benefits Mountainside’s fundraising efforts focused toward collecting funds for the homeless in Portland.

The concert is being live-streamed by Mountainside Community Church and will be available at 7:30 p.m. at https://www.mountainsidecc.org/concert-livestream.

The music for this concert includes a medley from “The Polar Express,” Richard Saucedo’s arrangement of “Dashing Through the Snow,” “Silver Bells,” John Cacavas’ arrangement of “Christmas Music for Winds,” Gustav Holst’s “On this Day Earth Shall Ring,” John Lovrien’s “Minor Alterations” and Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride.” The band selected ten compositions for performance, and may add a couple selections from its Fall 2021 concert.

In conjunction with the health and safety requirements of Mountainside Community Church all attending guests must wear masks during the band’s performance. Doors will open to the public at 7 p.m.

The Maine Pops Concert Band is a 501(c)3 educational non-profit corporation. Individuals and organizations wishing to become a band sponsor should contact the band president at president@mainepops.org. Contributions may be tax-deductible.

First of Two Maine Pops Christmas Benefit Concerts Slated for December 4 at Portland’s St. Luke’s Cathedral

The Maine Pops Concert Band will perform the first of two Christmas holiday benefit concerts on Saturday, December 4, beginning at 2:30 p.m.

The band will perform "A Cathedral Holiday" at St. Luke’s Cathedral, located at 143 State Street in Portland. This in-person concert resumes the long-standing concert cooperation between St. Luke’s and the Maine Pops; an effort conducted as a virtual event last year during the COVID-19 pandemic. The performance benefits St. Luke’s fundraising efforts focused toward supporting the St. Luke’s School in Duny, Haiti.

The music for this concert includes a medley from “The Polar Express,” Richard Saucedo’s arrangement of “Dashing Through the Snow,” “Silver Bells,” John Cacavas’ arrangement of “Christmas Music for Winds,” Gustav Holts’ “On this Day Earth Shall Ring,” John Lovrien’s “Minor Alterations” and Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride.” The band selected ten compositions for performance.

In conjunction with the health and safety requirements of St. Luke’s Cathedral, all attending guests must provide proof of vaccination from the COVID-19 virus and all must wear masks during the band’s performance. Doors will open to the public at 2 p.m.

St. Luke’s also plans to live stream the performance, which will be available at: https://video.ibm.com/channel/Ev3GjBysEwX.

The Maine Pops Concert Band concludes its fall/winter performance season on December 15 when it performs at the Mountainside Community Church, located at 18 Mountain Road in Falmouth, ME. Like the concert at St. Luke’s, the Mountainside concert is a benefit performance. Donations to the church will go to the purchase clothing and food, supplementing the church’s weekly donations to the homeless in Portland.

“We’re Back!” Maine Pops Concert Band’s November 21 Concert is its First In-Person Concert since December 2019.

The Maine Pops Concert Band returned to public performances on November 21, conducting its first in-person concert in two years from St. Luke’s Cathedral in Portland, Maine.

The concert was an extremely welcomed event not only to Maine Pops members, but also to the gathered audience attending band’s return to the stage for a live musical performance. The last time the Maine Pops performed an in-person concert was the Christmas holiday benefit concert December 18, 2019 at the former West Falmouth Baptist Church (since renamed the Mountainside Community Church).

In thanking the audience for attending, Maine Pops Director David Watts shared the sentiments felt by many band musicians. “I appreciate you coming out,” said Watts, adding that it’s wonderful to have people here to watch and enjoy the band’s return after the long absence. Watts spoke of his pre-concert chat with the band before going on stage, telling the audience that “it just almost doesn’t seem real to finally be back and performing…this is great.”

Following the playing of the “Star Spangled Banner,” attendees were treated to a variety of music that included a Benny Goodman medley, a new arrangement of the hymn “Precious Lord, Take My Hand,” a Bruno Mars medley, and Toto’s “Africa.” The program continued with highlights from the musical “Chicago,” Eric Whitacre’s “Sleep,” and John Williams’ “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” before concluding with Henry Fillmore’s “Americans, We.”

For those who missed the live performance or the live stream, the Maine Pops Concert Band’s fall concert for 2021 can be viewed at: https://video.ibm.com/recorded/131160736.

Prior to its final number, band president Robert Swerdlow thanked the audience for its attendance and their donations, as well as the volunteers, sponsors, and musicians that made this emergence possible. He thanked Ben Shambaugh, the Dean of St. Luke’s Cathedral, for hosting the concert, then made a special presentation to Watts – a framed letter from the Maine Pops Board of Directors and a gift, recognizing his efforts to keep the music going throughout the pandemic. The citation reads:

“On behalf of our membership, the Board of the Maine Pops Concert Band recognizes and commends David Watts for exceptional commitment, professionalism, and creativity. During the 2020-2021 COVID-19 crisis his leadership, flexibility, and persistence helped the Maine Pops Concert Band fulfill its mission to foster community, encourage musicianship, promote Concert Band repertoire, and foster a life-long love of music for our members and our audiences.”

The fall concert was the culmination of a long-term process to return the Maine Pops to normalcy. After shutting music operations down in March of 2020, the Maine Pops remained inactive until October, when the band began holding Zoom meetings and online, muted rehearsals, using recorded soundtracks of music as a guide. This led to a 52-minute virtual Christmas concert in December 2020, followed by a five-part series of virtual music releases through the band’s YouTube channel.

The Maine Pops resumed in-person, outdoor rehearsals in Falmouth, starting in July and remaining outdoors until late October. They are currently rehearsing in the fellowship hall of the Mountainside Community Church in Falmouth while looking for a more permanent indoor rehearsal venue.

Maine Pops Concert Band to Perform at St. Luke’s Cathedral in Portland November 21

The Maine Pops Concert Band returns to the performance stage for the first time since December 2019 when it performs November 21 at St. Luke’s Cathedral, located at 143 State Street in Portland, beginning at 2:30 p.m.

Under the direction of David Watts, the 60-member community concert band will perform nine compositions, including John Williams’ “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” Eric Whitacre’s “Sleep,” a medley of hits from Benny Goodman, Bruno Mars, and the musical “Chicago,” and Toto’s “Africa.”

Admission to this concert is free to the public, but the band will accept donations to help with expenses, part of its recovery efforts following a 17-month in-person layoff due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In compliance with St Luke’s health and safety requirements, the church will require concert attendees to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and patrons will be asked to mask while inside St. Luke’s for the performance.