Our Story
Founded in 1988 by Richard A. Capozza as the Italian Heritage Center Concert Band, the organization became the Maine Pops Concert Band in 2014, reflecting its growth into a welcoming community band serving musicians and audiences throughout southern Maine.
Today, more than 100 volunteer musicians from across southern Maine and New Hampshire come together to rehearse, perform, and share the joy of live music. Our members include students, educators, healthcare professionals, engineers, retirees, and many others, united by a shared love of music and a desire to give back to their communities.
Each year, Maine Pops presents a full season of performances, including our annual fall, holiday, and spring concerts, a summer concert series, community events, educational outreach, and appearances by our small ensembles throughout the region.
Our repertoire spans Broadway favorites, movie music, big band classics, patriotic selections, traditional marches, and symphonic works—offering something for audiences of all ages to enjoy.
We're proud to collaborate with local schools, guest artists, and community organizations to inspire musicians, celebrate the performing arts, and make live music accessible to everyone.
Whether we're performing in a concert hall, a community park, a school, a senior living community, or even on a pontoon boat, our goal is always the same: to bring people together through the joy of live music.
Meet Our Music Director
David Watts has served as Music Director of the Maine Pops Concert Band since 2017, leading the ensemble through a period of remarkable growth in membership, musicianship, and artistic excellence.
An accomplished pianist, composer, educator, and conductor, David brings more than 40 years of professional performance experience to the podium. He studied composition, music education, and performance at the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts (now the University of the Arts) and continued postgraduate studies in teaching at West Chester University and Endicott College.
Before making Maine his home, David toured throughout the Mid-Atlantic and New England as a singer and pianist, performing both as a solo artist and with his own ensemble. Today, in addition to leading Maine Pops, he also serves as Music Director of Chandler's Military Band, one of the nation's oldest continuously performing bands.
David believes music has the power to bring people together, strengthen communities, and create lifelong friendships. Through every rehearsal and performance, he strives to inspire musicians, engage audiences, and share the joy of live music with communities throughout Maine.
