Maine Pops Conducts 2024 Fall Concert at Westbrook Performing Arts Center

The Maine Pops Concert Band completed its 2024 fall concert before a fairly large audience inside the Westbrook Performing Arts Center in Westbrook, ME on November 3, 2024.

Nearly 85 members of the Maine Pops performed seven compositions in its first performance since its summer concert at the Bath Library Gazebo in August.

In the concert program, Director David Watts wrote, "My inspiration for selecting our repertoire for this season came from people listening to music and making the comment, ‘What’s the name of that song? I can’t place where I’ve heard it before.’”

Watts emphasized to the audience the role of this fall concert. "Some music simply transcends understanding. It
moves our soul," said Watts. "It lives in the recesses of our minds and can bring us joy, sadness, or simply Transport us to another time or location. Let the pieces today transport you."

The band performed the following compositions:

Eighties Flashback (medley)
The Rakes of Mallow
Excerpts from Appalachian Spring
Summer of ’69 (medley)
Adagio for Strings
Light Cavalry Overture
Seventy-Six Trombones

The event opened with a pre-concert performance by the Maine Pops Flute Choir as patrons entered the center.

The next Maine Pops Concert will be its annual Christmas Benefit Concert, slated for Sunday, December 15 at Falmouth High School in Falmouth, Maine. Doors will open at 2 p.m. for a 2:30 p.m. concert.

Maine Pops Concert Band to Perform Annual Fall Concert November 3 in Westbrook

The colorful sight of fallen leaves on the often-damp streets and lawns of Southern Maine continue the transition from summer fun along the beaches to the anticipation of snow and colder weather. With the autumn chill comes the need for indoor entertainment as local music programs begin performances marking the fall and leading to the holiday season.

One of those local bands is the Scarborough-based Maine Pops Concert Band, which will perform their annual fall concert – “Great Composers – Greater Music” – on Sunday, November 3 at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center, located at 471 Stroudwater Street in Westbrook, Maine. The 90-minute performance begins at 2:30 p.m.

To celebrate the great composers, Maine Pops Director David Watts has selected a variety of compositions for performance in Westbrook. The fall concert features music ranging from marches to medleys and classical to popular music. These works include compositions by Leroy Anderson, Aaron Copland, Franz von Suppe, Meredith Willson, and Samuel Barber. Watts also selected a pair of medleys for audience members looking for a “flashback” to the 1960s and 1980s.

The band is soliciting a recommended $15 donation per person to attend the fall performance. Students can attend free of charge.

Now in its 36th year, the Maine Pops – under the direction of Watts – has become one of the largest community concert bands in Maine. There are currently over 100 musicians registered to perform with the band during the 2024-2025 season. Most will be in performance on November 3; the band’s first concert since their August engagement at the Library Park Gazebo in Bath, Maine.

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

SAVE THE DATES: Maine Pops Concert Band Announces Concert Dates for 2024-2025 Fall, Holiday, and Spring Concerts

The Maine Pops Concert Band – based in Scarborough, Maine – has announced the dates for its fall, holiday, and spring concerts for its 2024-2025 season.

The 100-member community concert band will perform its fall concert on Sunday, November 3, its holiday concert on Sunday, December 15, and its spring performance on Sunday, April 27. All concerts will begin at 2:30 p.m. The band is working to establish venues for each of the concerts, based on concert facility availability. As soon as venues are confirmed, the band will announce further details.

After concluding a successful summer concert season with eight performances conducted throughout the greater Portland area, the Maine Pops returns to rehearsals on September 4 at Scarborough High School. The band rehearses every Wednesday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. at Scarborough High’s band room unless school requirements are scheduled.

As of September 2, nearly 100 musicians have renewed their commitment to the Maine Pops and more renewals are expected. Although membership is open to community musicians and does not require auditions, the Maine Pops is currently limiting recruitment to specific instrumental needs. Currently, the band needs oboists. If local musicians are interested in joining the Maine Pops, please contact band president Bob Swerdlow at president@mainepops.org.

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

Maine Pops Concert Band Concludes Summer Season with Bath Performance

(Photo by Larry Langmore)

A very busy and productive Maine Pops summer concert season ended with a well-attended performance at Bath’s Library Park Gazebo on August 16 in Bath, ME.

An audio recording of the Bath performance is now available on line through the link in this paragraph. (Recording by Arthur McClanahan)

The Bath concert marked the band’s seventh summer performance of 2024. The season began with a small ensemble of musicians who performed in support of the U.S. Coast Guard’s regional change of command ceremony in June, Days later, the band performed at the R.B. Hall Festival in Bridgton, followed by concerts at Camp Ketcha (Scarborough), two Portland senior housing communities, and Portland’s Heseltine Park.

Our final summer concert program included the following 12 compositions:
Star-Spangled Banner
Amparito Roca
Motown Portrait
Veni, Vedi, Vici
I’m Shipping Up to Boston
Just a Closer Walk with Thee
Gallant Seventh
Italian Festival
Dam Busters
The Rolling Stones on Tour
Battle Hymn of the Republic
The Stars and Stripes Forever

The band now receives a nearly three-week break to recover, perform instrument maintenance, and prepare for the start of fall seasons rehearsals, Those sessions are tentatively slated to begin on Wednesday, September 4, beginning at 7 p.m. at Scarborough High School.

2024-08-14 Maine Pops Performs Make-Up Concert at Portland’s Heseltine Park

Although delayed a month due to thunderstorm activities on July 17, the Maine Pops Concert Band was able to return to Portland’s Heseltine Park to perform for residents of the Woodfords Corner Community.

There were no weather problems this evening, but the band did have to make a few modifications to the original program, dropping "Jupiter" from the evening event. However, David Watts added "A Joyful Fanfare" and "Amparito Roca" to the playlist for a fairly large audience that brought lawn chairs, a picnic dinner and ice cream from the vendor adjacent to the park.

This evening’s performance consisted of:
The Star-Spangled Banner
A Joyful Fanfare
The Gallant Seventh
A Motown Portrait
I’m Shipping Up to Boston
A Closer Walk with Thee
633 Squadron
The Rolling Stones on Tour
Amparito Roca
Battle Hymn of the Republic
The Stars and Stripes Forever

The Maine Pops Concert Band will conclude its 2024 summer season with a performance at Bath’s Library Park Gazebo on Friday, August 16 at 6:30 p.m. Once completed, the band will take a two-week break before fall concert rehearsals begin in September.

Maine Pops’ Cape Elizabeth Concert Cancelled; Band to Perform at Portland’s Heseltine Park August 14

The Maine Pops Concert Band’s scheduled concert at the Cape Elizabeth Village Green on August 14 at 6:30 p.m. has been cancelled.

However, the band has replaced the Cape Elizabeth engagement by slating an August 14 concert through the Friends of Woodfords Corner community at Heseltine Park in Portland. The concert is a make-up engagement for a July 17 performance cancelled by lightning and thunderstorms. The concert will start at 6:30 p.m. and is a free performance.

The band is still on schedule to perform at the Bath Library Gazebo Park on Friday, August 16, at 6:30 p.m. The Bath concert will conclude the Maine Pops’ summer season and give the musicians a lengthy break before beginning fall season rehearsals on September 4.

Maine Pops Concert Band Performs for 100 State Street Senior Residents in Portland

The last of the Maine Pops Concert Band private concerts took place at the senior community center located at 100 State Street in Portland.

About 55 members of the concert band squeezed into the performance terrace to entertain residents who sat either in the complex courtyard or listened from their apartments. The band performed 11 compositions under overcast skies and the threat of circling seagulls.

Tonight’s program:

The Star-Spangled Banner
Where Eagles Dare
Just A Closer Walk with Thee
633 Squadron
Italian Festival
Victory at Sea
The Dam Busters
The Rolling Stones on Tour
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Shipping up to Boston
The Stars and Stripes Forever

The band will take a two-week break, returning to performance on Wednesday, August 14 with a 6:30 p.m. concert at the Cape Elizabeth Village Green in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

July 17 Maine Pops Concert Band Performance at Heseltine Park Cancelled due to Incoming Thunderstorms

Due to the arrival of potentially hazardous thunderstorms entering the Portland area this evening, the scheduled Maine Pops Concert Band July 17 performance at 7 p.m. in Portland’s Heseltine Park has been cancelled.

The band regrets not being able to perform tonight in the Woodfords Corner community park for its residents and the Portland community. However, safety of the residents and the members of band is most important. The band thanks you for understanding.

No date for a potential rescheduled performance has been set at this time.

2024-07-10 Maine Pops Concert Band Conducts Annual Park Danforth Concert for its Residents

The Maine Pops Concert Band’s outdoor concert at the Park Danforth Community Center in Portland was moved indoors due to the threat of rain. No rain occurred, but given the high humidity and heat alert conditions through the day, it was best the band and its audience stayed indoors.

About 60 member of the Maine Pops preformed for the senior citizens’ community, again filling the summer program with many of its 2024 spring concert compositions during the 65-minute performance.

Where Eagles Dare
Just A Closer Walk with Thee
633 Squadron
Italian Festival
Victory at Sea
Dam Busters March
The Rolling Stones On Tour
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Gallant Seventh

The Maine Pops’ next performance will be held Wednesday, July 17 at Heseltine Park in Portland, beginning at 7 p.m. This is second of four public concerts the band will conduct this summer. Admission is free, and audience members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, picnic dinners and a love for music.

2024-07-03 Maine Pops Concert Band Conducts Ketcha Outdoors Concert in Scarborough

It was called "Pops and Popsicles"- the first of the Maine Pops Concert Band’s private concerts held July 3 at Ketcha Outdoors in Scarborough.

The band performed a series of music from both its 2023 Fall Concert and its 2024 Spring Concert before a private audience of Ketcha Outdoors parents and children enrolled in Ketcha’s summer programs. In performing at Ketcha, tonight’s 70-member band also provided thanks to the staff for their year-round support as one of the band’s back-up rehearsal sites.

Music performed at Ketcha Outdoors included:

Star Spangled Banner
Where Eagles Dare
Shipping up to Boston
Just A Closer Walk With Thee
Motown Portrait
The Rolling Stones On Tour
The Year 1812, Solemn Overture, Op. 49
Dam Busters March
Stars & Stripes Forever

The Maine Pops is conducting a private performance on Wednesday, July 10. It’s next public concert will be Wednesday, July 17 at 7 p.m. in Portland’s Heseltine Park.