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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.

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.