Contestants Wanted - Apply Now through 1/27/12 - Sterling Lions James Bland Music Scholarship Contest

STERLING LIONS SEEKING CONTESTANTS FOR THE

 JAMES BLAND MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP  COMPETITION

 In honor of Black History Month, February 2012, the Lions Club of Sterling in cooperation with Melodee Music of Sterling, will be hosting the annual Lions of Virginia, James A. Bland Music Scholarship Competition on Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 1:00 P.M.  This year’s competition will be held at Melodee Music  Center - in the Lower Level Music Education and Recital Complex.  Melodee Music is located at 46077 Lake Center Plaza in Potomac Falls.    Admission is Free and open to all on a first come first serve basis, as seating is limited.  Applications for this contest are now being accepted and are limited to the first 24 qualified students to apply now through January 27, 2012.

Each year, the local Lions Clubs in Virginia sponsor Music Competitions in their communities.  The winners at the club level competition will go on to the Region III Contest in March  2012.  Region III encompasses the communities of Annandale, Burke, Clifton, Fairfax, Oakton, Reston, Herndon, Great Falls, Sterling, Arcola, Leesburg, Lovettsville, Middleburg and Purcellville.  The winners from these communities will be competing for the honor of Representing the Region in the upcoming District 24-A (Northern Virginia) Competition to be held in April.  The winners from that competition will represent the District at the State competition, during the Lions of Virginia State Convention on May 2012.  There are two categories being judged: Instrumental and Vocal.  At this Club level competition, the first and second place winners in each category will receive a $75.00 and $50.00 Saving Bond respectively, from the Sterling Lions Club.  If a contestant is successful in reaching the State Finals, and is a winner, he or she will receive a $2,500.00 music scholarship.  There are a total of $20,000 in scholarships that will be awarded to those who reach and compete in the State Competition.

Individuals who wish to compete in this year’s event, can pick up an application at Melodee Music in Sterling, or should request an application from the Sterling Lions Club:  by calling (703) 723-0077; writing the Sterling Lions Club, PO Box 45, Sterling Virginia 20167-0045; or by sending an e-mail message to sterlinglions@verizon.net.  Applications may also be downloaded from our website at:  http://sites.google.com/site/sterlinglions/home.  An application form, and complete list of rules will be forwarded or faxed to the contestant in order to have the completed application returned prior to the cutoff deadline of January 27, 2012.  The contest is open to any musically gifted boy or girl; vocalist or instrumentalist,  who is a resident of Virginia, and who attends elementary, junior or senior high school, or is being home schooled at those levels, and who has not previously been a winner in our state level of this competition.  Since there will only be ten (12) contestants in each category (Instrumental and Vocal). the Sterling Lions, Club Level Contest will accept applications on a first come first serve basis and will give first preference to students who either reside or study music in the Sterling Lions Club’s service area; consisting of the Eastern Loudoun Postal Zip Codes of Sterling, Potomac Falls, Dulles and Ashburn. 

For more information on this event and to download an Application, or learn about other Lions activities, please see our web page at:  http://sites.google.com/site/sterlinglions/home  or http://www.blandfoundation.org. 

The 63 year old event, known as the Lions of Virginia James A. Bland Music Scholarship Competition is one of the Lions of Virginia many youth outreach projects.  The competition is judged by impartial volunteer music instructors who will rate each competitor's ability during a timed recital.  The Lions Clubs of Virginia started this Music Competition, to honor the famous black composer, James A. Bland, the author of the former Virginia State song, “Carry Me Back to Ole Virginny”.   The Annual Bland Music Scholarships Program was established in 1948 to assist and promote cultural and educational opportunities for the musically talented youth of Virginia.

The program consists of elimination contests starting at club level and continuing through the Region, District and “State Final Contest.”  It is open to any boy or girl, vocalist or instrumentalist, properly sponsored by a Virginia Lions Club, a resident of Virginia (or within the club jurisdiction) and attending elementary, junior, or senior high school.  For those making it to the State finals, awards shall be furnished by the State Bland Committee as follows:

      Official Certificates (1st place, 2nd place and participation) at the club, zone and/or region, District and state levels.

             State Awards for BOTH Vocal and Instrumental WINNERS are:

First Place SCHOLORSHIPS, each $2,500.00

Second Place SCHOLORSHIPS, each $2,000.00

Third Place SCHOLORSHIPS, each $1,500.00

4th, 5th, and 6th Places, CASH AWARDS, each $1,000.00