Maine POPS Concert Band

09/17/2026

The Maine Pops Concert Band concert flyer is ready for distribution to our friends and family that support the band's musical efforts. The concert - American Soundscapes - will be held in Westbrook, ME at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center on November 8 at 2:30 p.m.

Admission for this annual performance is a donation of $15 per person, with students granted free admission. A "Save the Date" announcement on this concert was published earlier on this page.

09/10/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

SAVE THE DATES: Maine Pops Concert Band Announces Concert Dates for 2026 Fall and Holiday Concerts

The Maine Pops Concert Band - based in Scarborough, Maine – has announced the dates, times, and location for its fall and holiday concerts for 2026 season. The 110-member community concert band will perform its fall concert - American Soundscapes - on Sunday, November 8; and its holiday concert on Sunday, December 13, with both concerts slated for 2:30 p.m. at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center, 471 Stroudwater Street in Westbrook, Maine.

In addition to the full concert band performances, the Beach Street Big Band – the Maine Pops’ 19-member swing band – will hold its 2026 holiday concert on Saturday, December 19 at 7 p.m. at the First Parish Congregational Church in S**o, Maine.

After concluding a successful summer concert season with seven concert band performances conducted throughout the greater Portland area, the Maine Pops returned to fall rehearsals on September 9 with a two-hour session at Scarborough High School. Under the direction of David Watts – now starting his tenth season as the band’s conductor – the Maine Pops plans to perform eight concert pieces that reflect specific eras in the country’s history and growth as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

As of September 9, over 110 musicians have joined or renewed their commitment to the Maine Pops – one of the largest community bands in the state. Although membership is open to community musicians in Southern Maine and nearby New Hampshire, the Maine Pops is currently limiting recruitment to specific instrumental needs. Local musicians who are interested in joining the Maine Pops should first contact Barbara Wolejko – the band’s personnel manager - at [email protected].

For more information on the band, please inquiries to [email protected] or [email protected].

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

09/08/2026

09/08/2026

Scarborough Community Access Television will be rebroadcasting the following Maine Pops Concert Band performances during the week of September 5-12. Programming will be aired on Scarborough Spectrum Channel 2.

Friday, September 11 - Maine Pops Concert Band 2023 concert at Scarborough High School, 2:45 p.m.

Saturday, September 12 - Maine Pops Concert Band "Who We Are #1" concert, 7:45 p.m.

Many of the Maine Pops performance are now posted on the band's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/

09/02/2026

The concert video of the Maine Pops Concert Band’s August 21 performance at Scarborough Summerfest is now available for viewing through the band's YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4HXvPR9O7Q.

The hour-long recording was done by Scarborough Community Access Television and is being aired periodically on Scarborough Spectrum Channel 2 and is available for sharing and viewing on the band’s YouTube channel.

Many thanks to John Cranton and his Scarborough CAT team for producing the band’s final summer concert of 2026.

The performance capped a seven-performance concert season where the band played in Westbrook, Scarborough, Portland, Kennebunk and Bath.

08/30/2026

“Pon-Tunes”: "Uniquehorns" Return for Another Panther Pond Performance

By Arthur McClanahan

“People were waiting for us.”

That was the realization that struck the seven French horn players aboard a pontoon boat Saturday afternoon as they made their way around Panther Pond for the second annual “Pon-Tunes” musical tour.

In the days leading up to the August 29 event, Panther Pond residents had been texting and emailing to find out when the horns would reach their side of the lake. And when the pontoon arrived, people were ready - on docks, floating rafts, and boats, waving, cheering, and listening. Some had clearly been waiting for quite a while.

The Uniquehorns - one of the Maine Pops Concert Band’s 10 small ensembles - prepares for performance on Panther Pond in Raymond on August 29. It was the second performance of the French horn ensemble while cruising one of Maine’s Lakes Region locations. (Photo courtesy of Arthur McClanahan.)

08/30/2026

Members of the "Uniquehorns" - one of 10 Maine Pops Concert Band small ensembles - performs from the waters of Panther Pond in Raymond, ME on August 29. The French horn ensemble completed its pond "pon-tunes" performance to close its floating concert season. "Uniquehorns" - comprised of musicians Denis Drobinski, Barbara Wolejko, Diane McClanahan, Charlie Lessard, Alison McCarty, Pinckney "Skip" Smith, and Meagan Concannon - performed twice this season on Lakes Region locations, and have invitations to perform at two more lakes in 2027. (Video by Mally Metz.)

08/28/2026

“Clarinet Chromatics” Entertain Residents and Vacationers at Jordan Hall Performance in Ocean Park.

Historic Jordan Hall in Ocean Park played host to an August 26 performance by “Clarinet Chromatics” – the Maine Pops Concert Band’s clarinet ensemble – as part of the Ocean Park Association’s Wednesday evening summer music performance series. The hour-long performance was the first public performance of the clarinet ensemble since the Maine Pops’ small ensemble concert in S**o on April 12.

With around 30 people in attendance, the “Clarinet Chromatics” closed out the town’s summer concert series with a variety of ensemble works arranged for Bb clarinet, Eb alto clarinet, and Bb bass clarinet. The music ranged from show tunes, classical works, hymns, traditional folk tunes, and movie/theater themes.

B.C. Jordan Memorial Hall is one of three music venues that host Ocean Park concerts each summer. Along with The Temple and Ocean Park Memorial Bandstand, Jordan Hall provides a venue for a variety of musical events to entertain not only village residents, but also many vacationing beach goers staying in town. The hall was dedicated in 1915 and hosts concerts, town meetings, and theatrical presentations.

“Clarinet Chromatics” members who performed in Ocean Park were Ann Colomy (soprano clarinet), Alie Teitz (soprano clarinet), Kat Snyder (soprano clarinet), Kathye Martin (soprano clarinet), Chris Elbader (soprano and bass clarinet), Rick Rau (alto clarinet) and Bob Swerdlow (bass clarinet). Together, ensemble performed the following music:

Star-Spangled Banner – Francis Scott Key
Blue Skies – Irving Berlin
Cantina Band – John Williams (arr. Johnnie Vinson)
I Love the Woman - Ionel Fernic (arr. Ioan Dobinescu)
Swipesy Cake Walk – Scott Joplin and Arthur Marshall (arr. M. King)
Three Blind Mice – John Mills and Alan Bates
Six Studies in English Folksong #2 – Robert Vaighan Williams
A Hymn for Aviators – Charles H.H. Parry (arr. Gary Tuesdail)
Joshua Fit the Battle – traditional
Game of Thrones – Ramin Djawadi (arr. Kris Van Aerschot)
Turkey in the Straw – American traditional (arr. Jamie Jones)
Happy Together (The Turtles) – Alan Gordon

Successful 2026 Summer Season for the Maine Pops

With the “Clarinet Chromatic’s” performance on August 26, six of the 10 Maine Pops Concert Band small ensembles will have entertained at venues in Southern Maine this summer. These groups also include the Harbor Brass Quintet, the Beach Street Big Band, the Down East Jazz Combo, the Polished Brass ensemble, and “Uniquehorns” – the concert band’s French horn ensemble. When you combine these concerts with seven summer performances by the full concert band, it proved to be a successful summer season.

And with fall just around the corner, the Maine Pops is looking forward to kicking off rehearsals on September 9 to prepare for annual fall concert, slated for November 8. Small ensembles will resume rehearsals at various venues as well and will be looking to continue its outreach to schools, senior centers and other fall events as the band begins another fall season.

For more information about the Maine Pops Concert Band and its upcoming season, visit our web site at www.mainepops.org or visit our Facebook site.

The Maine Pops Concert Band is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt educational non-profit organization, with a mission to build community through music.