Photos - Maine POPS Concert Band

The Maine Pops Concert Band completed its 2023 Summer Concert Series on August 16 with a 75-minute performance at the Cape Elizabeth (ME) Veterans Park. The performance was the band’s fourth public performance of the summer and the last of seven engagements for the Scarborough-based community band.

A late-gathering audience arrived to listen to the Maine Pops perform nearly a dozen compositions from its 2022-2023 season, filled with marches, medleys, movie symphonic scores, patriotic compositions, and traditional favorites as the band continued its celebration of 35 years.

It was a very successful summer that saw the band lose only one concert to the weather – our scheduled performance in Bath. “I think what I remember most about this summer is the connections we made with the audiences," said Maine Pops Director David Watts of the season.

For Watts, there was something special for each concert. He said everyone braving the weather at the start of the season at R.B. Hall Day on June 24 in Richmond was one memory, as the band returned to the annual festival for the first time since 2019. There, it joined over a dozen other community bands to perform in a resumption of the annual festival honoring Maine’s march king.

There were other highlights for the director; having conversations and fun with the folks sitting in the "splash zone" at The Park Danforth where the band had to move indoors during a downpour. There was the large and enthusiastic crowd at Portland’s Heseltine Park, as well as the joyous faces at 100 State Street in Portland. Watts highlighted the laughter and participation of the large crowd in Falmouth that stuck it out right through the rain that came during our finale, and he enjoyed the engagement of audience members at Cape Elizabeth on August 16. To Watts, all were wonderful season highlights for the band.

To recap the summer, the Maine Pops performed three public neighborhood concerts: in Portland’s Heseltine Park, Falmouth’s Village Green, and Cape Elizabeth’s Veteran’s Park. The band also conducted two private sessions for a pair of retirement communities in Portland – The Park Danforth and at 100 State Street.

“Everyone in the communities was so appreciative of our performances,” said Watts. “There were smiles and pats on the backs everywhere this summer — the summer of the Maine POPS Pirates (reference to our costumed performances of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End). We took no prisoners.”

Likely the biggest highlight of the band’s summer schedule was its selection to perform for the U.S. Coast Guard commissioning ceremony for the USCG Cutter John Patterson, held August 10 in Portland. The band performed a pre-ceremony concert featuring patriotic tunes and marches, then performed the ceremonial music associated with the commissioning. Hundreds of attendees, including U.S. Senator Angus King, and U.S. Coast Guard Vice Commandant Admiral Steven D. Poulin.

Watts said “…the proud moment of our band being asked to provide music for the commissioning ceremony of the Coast Guard’s new cutter will be something everyone involved will remember for the rest of our lives.”

“As a director, I’m most proud of the way the band performed at each concert, “said Watts. “Every location brought different set-ups, different acoustics, and different challenges because of weather and members taking time off. But I felt we were like a well ‘tuned’ team (pun intended!). I had such a deep ‘bench’ to pull from. We brought a diverse repertoire into the summer season and were very well-prepared for any challenges. I so appreciate the band putting their faith in me to lead and rising to anything I put in front of them this year.”

With the summer concert season complete, the band will take a few weeks off, then return to rehearsals on Wednesday, September 6 from 7-9 p.m. inside the Scarborough High School Band Room for the fall season. Watts says he hopes everyone is ready to work on the final celebratory concerts of the band’s 35th anniversary.

The Maine Pops next concert will be held on Sunday, November 19 at 2:30 p.m. Site for the concert will be announced when the venue is confirmed.

Maine Pops Concert Band to Perform August 16 in Cape Elizabeth

The Maine Pops Concert Band will conclude its scheduled 2023 public summer concert season on Wednesday, August 16 with a performance at the Cape Elizabeth Town Green, beginning at 7 p.m. The concert site is in the Cape Elizabeth downtown area adjacent to Maine Route 77.

Under the direction of David Watts, the 55-member summer ensemble will present a 60-to-75-minute concert featuring material from its fall 2022 and spring 2023 concerts. The music includes marches, medleys, selections from movies and musicals, and a couple of classical works. The concert is free to all wishing to attend. Bring a lawn chair, pack a picnic dinner, and enjoy the performance.

It’s been a busy summer for the Maine Pops, a band that serves the Greater Portland Region. In June, the Maine Pops participated in the successful return of the annual R.B. Hall Music Festival in Richmond; a festival cancelled the past three years due to the coronavirus pandemic. The band provided two private concerts to Portland area retirement homes and held public concert performances in Portland, and Falmouth. In addition, the Maine Pops was honored to provide the ceremonial music for the commissioning of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter “John Patterson” on August 10 in Portland.

Established in 1988 and celebrating its 35th anniversary this season, 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 scheduling, joining, contributing, or sponsoring the Maine Pops Concert Band, please visit http://www.mainepops.org.

Maine Pops Concert Band to Perform Early August Concerts in Bath and Falmouth

The Maine Pops Concert Band will continue its 2023 summer concert season with a pair of public performances on August 4 and August 7.

On August 4, the band will perform at Bath’s Library Park Gazebo, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The following Monday, the band travels to Falmouth and will perform at 6:30 p.m. the Falmouth Village Park (behind Walmart).

These concerts will be the third and fourth of five scheduled public performances by the Maine Pops this summer. The band will conclude its summer concert series in Cape Elizabeth on August 16. In addition to its public schedule, the Maine Pops conducted a pair of private performances benefiting residents of local area retirement communities.

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

Maine Pops Concert Band to Resume In-Person Rehearsals July 1

After 16 months of suspended rehearsals and performances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maine Pops Concert Band will resume in-person rehearsals on July 1, 2021.

The band has slated weekly rehearsals every Thursday evening in July and August from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Falmouth Village Park in Falmouth, Maine. The sessions are the start of the band’s transition back from a virtual performance mode to a full concert band schedule. The Maine Pops have not rehearsed in person since March 11, 2020.

Maine Pops musicians are highly encouraged to take advantage of this nine-week outdoor period to download music, prepare individual instruments, and "work out the performance kinks" as the band focuses on a return to indoor rehearsals in September.

The band is also looking to recruit musicians from the greater Portland area to join the ensemble. Since the pandemic, many band members have either relocated to other parts of Maine or moved to other states. Those interested in joining the band should visit the band’s website at https://www.mainepops.org/the-band/#howtojoin.

The Maine Pops Concert Band has not been completely idle during the pandemic. Much has been done over the past 10 months to keep the band’s musicians actively performing via virtual means. Members of the spent the spring of 2021 in virtual rehearsal, with about 30 members recording music for five single performance releases between February and June. The band also released a Christmas concert in December of 2020 and conducted weekly online rehearsals to keep musical skills active.

Currently, the Maine Pops is rehearsing nearly 20 selections; compositions that will be rehearsed during nine-week summer session.

Maine Pops Concert Band thanks all members who participated in “Taps Across America”

The Maine Pops Concert Band would like to thank all of its musicians who participated in the 2nd annual "Taps Across America" observance held at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day, May 31.

Taps Across America began last year. With COVID-19 causing a cancellation of nearly all Memorial Day observances in the country, the non-profit organization Taps for Veterans organized a special campaign where musicians – mainly trumpeters and buglers – would sound Taps at 3 p.m. in their local area from front porches, apartment balconies, parking lots, and other locations to honor service members who gave their lives for this nation. This special campaign was done to sound honors, while also protecting our citizens from the spread of this virus.

This year, with some communities still hesitant to conduct public ceremonies, over 5,000 musicians from across the nation – including some of our own MPCB members – joined the solemn observance for a second year.

As the nation gradually reopens, the chances of more traditional Memorial Day parades, ceremonies and observances will likely return. However, the popularity of Taps Across America will likely continue, allowing local neighborhoods around the country to pay their own tribute to America’s fallen service members.

To those Maine Pops musicians who joined the thousands of musicians across Maine and the country, we say thank you for participating and for honoring our fallen service members.