Maine Pops Small Ensembles and Affiliate Groups
In 2025, the Maine Pops Concert Band took a major step in expanding musical opportunities for its musicians. The small ensembles program is designed to allow increased opportunities for individual and group musical performance while also increasing band outreach to smaller venues, regional and town events, and community groups.
Currently, the band has 10 small ensembles, ranging from brass and woodwind quintets to a flute choir and a traditional big band.
Organizations interested in having a Maine Pops ensemble perform can contact the band at president@mainepops.org.
Quince
The Maine Pops Woodwind QuintetPrior to 2022, Quince – the Maine Pops Concert Band’s woodwind quintet – was the band’s only small ensemble. Comprised of clarinet, oboe, flute, bassoon and French horn, Quince has performed a variety of venues outside the full concert band. Its repertoire ranges from classical works to contemporary compositions. Most recently, the quintet performed at the Maine Pops’ second annual small ensembles concert in 2026.
The Maine Pops Flute Choir
One of the band’s original small ensembles, the Maine Pops Flute Choir had its formal debut on December 11, 2022, at St. Luke’s Cathedral in Portland, providing a welcoming prelude of holiday music for the Maine Pops holiday concert. Comprised of over a dozen flautists playing piccolo, soprano, alto and bass flutes, the Maine Pops Flute Choir has played a variety of venues in its four years. The ensemble performs at church services, concerts, and for retirement communities. In December 2025, the group entertained shoppers at Maine Mall with a variety of holiday selections.
Harbor Brass
The Maine Pops Brass QuintetThe Harbor Brass Quintet - formed in 2025 – is one of the most active ensembles within the Maine Pops. Consisting of two trumpets, a trombone, a French horn, and a tuba, the quintet has performed at retirement communities, church services, local dining establishments, and summer festivals. They’ve also played at Portland International Jetport, welcoming arrival hall travelers to Portland as they head to baggage claim. The current repertoire includes traditional brass pieces, and ensemble is constantly looking to expand its repertoire to meet the needs of their audiences.
Polished Brass
The Maine Pops Brass Ensemble
Polished Brass is one of the larger ensembles within the Maine Pops. The open brass group brings together trumpets, French horns, euphoniums, trombones, and tubas. Launched in January 2025, Polished Brass made its formal debut on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, during services at First Parish Congregational Church in Saco. A few weeks later, Polished Brass performed at the Maine Pops Concert Band’s inaugural Small Ensembles concert on May 28. The group continues its repertoire and looks forward to bringing brass music to a variety of venues across Southern Maine.
Beach Street Big Band
The Maine Pops Swing BandThe Beach Street Big Band is the largest of Maine Pops ensembles. Under the direction of Tom Lizotte, the band made its debut in December 2024 at the annual Alumni Band holiday concert in Biddeford, ME. The 19-member big band performs at local retirement communities, conducts seasonal concerts, and participates at local events such as the Yarmouth Clam Festival, and at community gatherings. The band has also conducted outreach through Maine’s “Music in Our Schools” initiative, working most recently with the Saco Middle School Jazz Band. Its repertoire consists of classic big band era charts and newer arrangements to its menu of music.
Down East Jazz Combo
The Maine Pops Small Jazz Combo
The newest Maine Pops small ensemble, the Down East Jazz Combo provides Maine Pops musicians with a wonderful opportunity for jazz musicians to shine not only as a soloist but, also in an intimate jazz ensemble. The group - formed in November of 2025 - explores many generations of classic jazz, as well as great contemporary tunes. The group is currently comprised of five musicians and just completed its first concert performance on July 21, 2006.
A new ensemble making community inroads quickly is “Uniquehorns,” the Maine Pops Concert Band’s French horn ensemble. Comprised of up to seven French Horn players, Uniquehorns made its debut on May 28, 2025, as part of the band’s inaugural small ensembles concert in Saco, ME. Since then, the ensemble has “sailed” into community performance, performing its first solo gig from a pontoon boat on Raymond’s Panther Pond. In 2026, the ensemble will perform two floating performances in Maine’s lakes region but also looking for other opportunities to serve the Portland-area community.
Uniquehorns
The Maine Pops French Horn Ensemble
Clarinet Chromatics
The Clarinet Chromatics made their performance debut on May 28, 2025, as part of the Maine Pops Concert Band Small Ensembles Concert held in Saco, Maine. The ensemble formed in January of 2025 with members performing on Bb soprano clarinet, Eb alto clarinet, and Bb bass clarinet. The Chromatics are building their repertoire for potential small group performances at Southern Maine venues and invite new clarinetists of any type to join the group!
The Maine Pops Clarinet Ensemble
The Maine Pops Saxophone Ensemble
Athough currently inactive, the Maine Pops Concert Band’s saxophone ensemble remains one of 10 Maine Pops small groups. Originally formed in January of 2025, the ensemble is an open group for Maine Pops saxophone players on Eb sopranino, Bb soprano, Eb alto, Bb tenor, Eb baritone, and Bb bass.
Tubby Tones
The Maine Pops Tuba Ensemble
The Maine Pops Concert band’s tuba and euphonium sections are well represented in the small ensemble, Tubby Tones – a group that follows the traditions of low brass ensembles throughout the country. Tubas, sousaphones, and euphonium of all sizes are welcome to perform in this ensemble, which formed in January of 2025. The group held its initial performance on May 28, 2025, at the Maine Pops Small Ensemble concert in Saco, ME.
Ceremonial Performances for Local Sporting Events
In addition to our small ensembles, the Maine Pops also answers the call from Portland-area professional sports teams to play the National Anthem in pre-game ceremonies. In the past two years, the band has played The Star-Spangled Banner at the Portland Expo for Maine Celtics games, and has performed both the American anthem and O Canada - the Canadian National anthem - at Maine Mariners games at Portland’s Cross Insurance Arena.