​Hello all and happy Sunday evening!  We're just a week away from the July 4th concert in Fairhope and this Tuesday night (7-9 p.m.) is the final rehearsal so please make every effort to be there.  We will be going through the entire concert lineup, so practice those parts.  
The concert site as you may know is Henry George Park at the bluff in Fairhope which overlooks the Fairhope Pier.  The concert starts at 7:30 p.m.  Traditionally, we ask that you plan to arrive in plenty of time so everyone can be seated at least an hour prior to allow for warmups.  Dr. Rinehart will clarify that schedule this week.  
I've had questions about parking.   Ideally, I would love to be able to provide a shuttle service, but we ask that those who can, meet up at a central location and carpool down to the park. There is parking all along Fairhope Avenue and up towards the downtown area. In Fairhope, the earlier the better!
For those who are new to the Baldwin Pops, we provide clip-on stand lights and plexiglass. There will also be cold bottled water available.  You might want to bring a towel to wipe off your chair in case of rain earlier in the day, but we're hoping for a dryer forecast. Thanks again for your support of the Baldwin Pops, I look forward to hearing you! 

In case you missed it, Dr. Rinehart sent out the rehearsal list for tomorrow night...

Lip Benders
Battle Hymn of the Republic
God Bless America
Broad Stripes and Bright Stars
Shenandoah
National Emblem
Liberty Bell
American Flourish
America the Beautiful
Deep River
Stars and Stripes
His Honor
The Thunderer
Precision
Military Escort

See you tomorrow night!  Kenny

Hello and Happy Father's Day!  The past two rehearsals have gone very well and I hope you have been practicing hard in preparation for the July 4th Concert in Fairhope.  The next rehearsal is this Tuesday, June 22nd @ 7 p.m.  Thank you for showing up early so we're ready to go on time!  Several of you have paid your annual membership dues, thank you, and if you have not yet, please do so this week or next at the latest.  Welcome to all of our new members and students.  You are helping the Baldwin Pops continue to provide free, quality concerts to the public.  Regarding polo shirts...we are currently out of xl & 2xl sizes, so if anyone has either of those sizes still in good, clean, usable condition and you're not currently performing with the Pops, I'd like to hear from you.  We'll order some new shirts in the future after we get some money rolling in again.  See you Tuesday!  
​Kenny Graves

Hello Baldwin Pops!  Hope all is well with you and ready to begin preparation for the upcoming 4th of July concert on the bluff in Fairhope! A few changes this year, but at least we get to perform.  First of all, the start time...we will start the concert at 7:30 instead of the usual 7 p.m.  Also, no picnic beforehand so be sure and eat prior to coming to play.  We will be joined by Gulf Coast Saxophone Symposium during the concert and for the fireworks.  We will not be performing on a raised stage to allow for social distancing.  Dr. Rinehart has programmed an excellent playlist for us and the music sheets will be distributed at the first rehearsal. 
Rehearsals will be held from 7 - 9 p.m. at Robertsdale High School's Band Room which is located at the back of the main building.  The dates...Tuesdays; June 8th, 15th, 22th and 29th.  The rehearsal on the 29th will be considered our "Dress Rehearsal", so attendance that evening is required.  Otherwise, there is a long-standing band policy in place that those interested in playing with the Baldwin Pops attend at least 3 of the 4 rehearsals with exception only given by the conductor. For the new folks, please do not park on the grass as there is plenty of parking available.  We also ask that you arrive early enough to unload and set up your instruments so rehearsal can begin promptly at 7.  Dr. Rinehart will place you in the appropriate row and seat so please be patient during the first rehearsal as we have several new members.  Also, in years past we have had sections bring refreshments for our social / break time.  Due to COVID guidelines, we ask that everyone simply bring their own refreshments & snacks to enjoy during that time.
The final thing today is the required yearly google membership form has been updated, thank you Kristen, so here is the link Click here
Please fill this out and submit it at your earliest convenience.  Dues are $40 a year which, after paid, will cover your membership in the Baldwin Pops through July 4, 2022.  Students which are 18 years or older in high school or college have their dues waived!  Be sure to read and understand the rehearsal / procedures / rules from the Baldwin Pops Handbook at the bottom of the google forms membership form.
I will attempt to email everyone on a regular basis with updates, however, updates will always be available in the Executive Director Blog located under the home page tab.  As always, thank you for your continued support of the Baldwin Pops.  Together, we are making great music together!
Kenny Graves
kenodigraves@gmail.com
251-605-8883

​Hello...I hope this email finds you doing well and ready to resume rehearsing and performing with The Baldwin Pops in 2021!  The city of Fairhope is making plans for its July 4th Fireworks Show, so we will be performing that evening on the bluff as in years past with some social distancing. In preparation, we will be rehearsing at Robertsdale High School Band Room in June, so please carve out the Tuesdays for that.  More than likely, we'll only need 4 of the Tuesdays in June, but be looking for future updates as plans are being formalized.
On another "note"...I'm in the process of updating the email / membership records so please respond to this email as to whether or not you'd like to continue receiving emails from Baldwin Pops.  Also, would like to know if you are available to rehearse / perform this year as we have concerts scheduled for this summer, fall and Christmas.
Thank you for your continued support of The Baldwin Pops.  We look forward to seeing you in June!
Kenny Graves, Executive Director

Hello and happy March!  This month, The Baldwin Pops is accepting applications for our annual John Allen Memorial Scholarship.  If you know of a deserving student, please pass on the information.  Deadline is March 21st.  Hope all are well and looking forward to getting back together in June to rehearse for July 4th in Fairhope.  Practice, practice, practice!  Kenny

Hello all...Your Baldwin Pops Board of Directors met recently via ZOOM to discuss current business, mainly to work out details of the upcoming John Allen Memorial Scholarships to be awarded without practicing and performing with the students.  We are hopeful that we'll be able to resume rehearsals with social distancing in June to prepare for a July 4th Concert in Fairhope! Let us know how you are doing by emailing baldwinpops@gmail.com 

Happy Monday and Merry Christmas!  I hope you are ready for it later this week.  To help celebrate, I've posted our latest video here.  Thanks again to everyone who participated in this great project and to our ensemble performers who braved the cold weather last Thursday during our Holiday around the Tree concert at Eastern Shore Center!  Click on the link below and enjoy!
​(Virtual) Baldwin Pops: Ukrainian Bell Carol - YouTube

Happy Monday!  Well, as you may have heard by now, the Christmas Concerts have been cancelled, however, we have an event scheduled for this Thursday, December 17th at the Eastern Shore Center (Malbis Mall).  Here is the announcement from Anne Brooks...
"Because the Christmas Concerts were cancelled and they included small ensemble groups of Pops Members.....it was a shame for their hard work to not be recognized with a safe performance of some kind.  We will have signs up around the circle that masks and social distancing around the band are both required. The marketing director at the Eastern Shore Center helped us with a place to play around the large Christmas tree in the center of the mall - see the map attached in your email which is also posted below - the tree is in the large center circle. This Thursday night - we will start at 6:00 with a Flute Trio, Clarinet Ensemble, French Horn Quartet, A Brass Choir and a Jazz Trio. It will be fun to play, even for yourself, and no audience but we will add a little bit of holiday cheer to the patio and passers-by. For the groups - We won't be in uniform or formal attire...whatever is comfortable for the weather that night. (It will be chilly). Folding chairs, music stands and stand lights will be provided for you so you don't have to bring anything other than your instruments and yourselves. In case of rain, we would have to cancel because there is not a covered area to move to.  If there is a question on the weather
we will coordinate with the mall representative and make a decision by 3:00. Thanks and I hope  you can come listen a bit to our modulated Christmas 2020 Concert.!!!"
Thanks again for your support this year, hope to see you soon.  Merry Christmas!  Kenny