Maine POPS Concert Band

08/30/2026

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.

08/27/2026

Polished Brass - the Maine Pops Concert Band's nine-member brass ensemble - performed 13 musical pieces before an audience of about 130 on shore, plus others on 14 boats on Panther Pond at Camp Timanous in Raymond, ME.

Members of the ensemble for this performance were Diane Wilson McClanahan (French Horn), Barbara Vladenides Wolejko (French horn), Jim McDonough (trombone), Jonathan Bosse (euphonium), Matt Chin (tuba), Peter Flournoy (trumpet), Rosario Cordoglio (trumpet), Judee Davis (trumpet) and Arthur McClanahan (trumpet).

Although the ensemble has performed in a pair of Maine Pops ensembles concerts and some church services, this was the Polished Brass' first public concert.

Still photos and additional video will be available soon. (Video by Steve Barrett.)

08/23/2026

The Maine Pops Concert Band’s Harbor Brass Quinter will perform at the start of the 11th Annual “Kevin on the Roof” STRIVE fundraiser on Tuesday, September 8 from 4:30 to 5 p.m. at Patriot Subaru in S**o, ME. The performance kicks off an effort by STRIVE U Program Director Kevin Fitzpatrick to remain atop the auto dealership’s roof from September 8 until donations reach $90,000 to support all STRIVE programs.

STRIVE, which stands for Socialization, Transition, Reflection, Innovation, Vocation and Education, is a non-profit organization based in South Portland that assists tweens, teens and young adults with intellectual disabilities.

Harbor Brass members Larry Langmore (trumpet), Nate Caron (trumpet), Jim McDonough (trombone), Alison McCarty (French horn) and Tom Mackie (tuba) plan a series of “rooftop melodies” to support Kevin’s initial fundraising efforts, while also playing some popular tunes performed at numerous summer venues.