As the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons approach, two of the Maine Pops Concert Band’s small ensembles conducted two separate performances on November 7 for residents of senior housing communities in the Greater Portland area. These are the first of many small ensemble concerts slated by the Maine Pops between now and December 21.
The Harbor Brass Quinter had a wonderful time entertaining approximately 30 residents of The Enclave at Scarborough retirement center at a 2 p.m. engagement on Saturday, November 7th. Meanwhile, the 12-member Maine Pops Flute Choir found an equally enthusiastic audience of 30 residents at their 2:30 p.m. performance at the Betsy Ross House in South Portland, ME.
Performances at local senior communities are not new to the Maine Pops. The band has long had a tradition of concerts to entertain senior citizens at their home facility. The full concert band continues to perform each summer at 100 State Street facility in Portland and treasures the opportunity to entertain in outdoor locations in Southern Maine. However, with the size of the band now over 110 musicians, the small ensembles quickly picked up the slack, providing musical participation in church services, local events, and senior center dayrooms.
In the case of Harbor Brass, the November 7 concert at The Enclave was a way of thanking the residents and staff for their ongoing support throughout the year. At times when Scarborough High is unavailable the quintet rehearses at The Enclave; where the center’s “living room” turns into an impromptu concert site where residents can watch and listen as the quintet works its repertoire to a welcoming audience.
Quintet members Larry Langmore (trumpet), Nate Caron (trumpet), Alison McCarty (French horn), Jim McDonough (trombone) and Tom Mackie (tuba) provided a formal “thank you” with an hour-long concert featuring nautical and travel music from its Portland Jetport series, Maine-based music, and a few charts from its “Kevin on the Roof” fundraiser support last September.
Music included Beer Barrel Polka, I’m a Believer, Sweet Carolina, Summertime, Leaving on a Jet Plane, Simple Gifts and Songs from the American West.
While Harbor Brass has been playing most of the summer and fall, the Maine Pops Flute Choir made their 2026-2027 debut at the Betsy Ross House. Under the direction of Patty Lawson, the flute choir entertained the three dozen residents with music and conversation, complete with a variety of “animal-themed” music that included:
The Whistler and His/Her Dog (Pryor, arr. Rice-Young)
The Teddy Bear’s Picnic (J.W. Bratton, arr. M. Orriss)
The Pink Panther (Henry Mancini, adapted Lawson)
Little Red Monkey (Jack Jordan, arr. Kathy Farmer)
The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Solomon Linda, arr. Sullivan)
A Swinging Safari (Bert Kaempfert, arr. Ian Christie)
Flute choir performers included Lawon (C-flute, Piccolo, Bass flute), Anne Caton (C-flute and Piccolo), Brittany Doughty (C-flute), Carol Daigle (C-flute and Piccolo), Chris Elbrader (C-flute, Alto flute, Bass flute), Claudia Gruett-Labus (C-flute, Alto flute), Diane Ray (C-flute), Lily King (C-flute), Lydia Lorentz (C-flute), Mason Labbe (C-flute and Piccolo), Nanci Goudey (C-flute), and Yvonne Wentz (C-flute).
More Small Ensemble Performances slated.
Although there are not any scheduled senior housing concerts slated throughout the holiday season, the Maine Pops Small Ensembles do have an extensive schedule in November and December. These engagements include:
Maine Pops Flute Choir - the Maine Pops’ 12 to 14-member flute ensemble - will participate in church services on Sunday, November 15 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in Scarborough.
Harbor Brass Quintet will perform on Friday, December 4 inside the arrival hall of Portland International Jetport from 4 to 5 p.m.
Polished Brass - the Maine Pops’ 12 to 14-member brass ensemble - will participate in holiday church services on Sunday, December 6 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in Scarborough.
Maine Pops Flute Choir - the Maine Pops’s 12 to 14-member flute ensemble - will participate in church services on Sunday, December 6 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Mountainside Community Church in West Falmouth.
Harbor Brass Quintet will perform on Monday, December 7 in the atrium of Rock Row Health Center in Westbrook, beginning at 12 noon.
Harbor Brass Quintet will perform on Saturday, December 12 inside the arrival hall of Portland International Jetport from noon to 1 p.m.
Harbor Brass Quintet will perform on Monday, December 14 inside the arrival hall of Portland International Jetport from 4 to 5 p.m.
Harbor Brass Quintet will perform on Wednesday, December 16 in the atrium of Rock Row Health Center in Westbrook, beginning at 12 noon.
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 Saco, Maine.
The Maine Pops Flute Choir, Polished Brass, and Quince - the band’s woodwind quintet - will perform at a Maine Pops Small Ensemble holiday concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 20 at Hope Gate Way in Portland.
The Clarinet Chromatics small ensemble will perform at Maine Mall in South Portland on Monday, December 21 at 6 p.m.
For more information on scheduling one of the Maine Pops Concert Band’s nine small ensembles, please contact Diane McClanahan at dianemcclanahan420@gmail.com.
The Maine Pops is a 501(c)3 educational non-profit corporation. Contributions may be tax-deductible.