Contest Information Click here to download	Lions of Virginia Bland Music Scholarship Foundation, Inc.
District Bland Chairs President - Vickie Yanics (24A) vyanics@comcast.net - Ann Harris (24B) annlharris@comcast.net Vice President - Jim Christiansen (24C) va4hallstar@yahoo.com - Sandy Mikulecky (24D) pogosmom1@verizon.net Secretary - Dallas Scott (24E) dallas.scott@areva.com - Ethel Daniels (24F) (276)-679-3492 Additional Board Members Treasurer - Howard Dixon (24A) hedixon@comcast.net - Larry Roller (24C) rollerlw@cs.com - Virginia Rauch (24D) ginsing@cox.net Webmaster - Geoffrey Miller splarx@gmail.com Special Thanks to Our Scholarship Sponsors $1500: - Alexandria Host Lions 24A $1200: - Arlington South Lions 24A $1000: - Mechanicsville Lions 24B - Southside Lions 24D - Vienna Host Lions 24A $600: - Bailey's Cross Roads Host Lions 24A -Moneta Lions 24E	Lions Clubs International is the largest service organization in the world. Since 1917 Lions have been meeting the needs of local communities and the world. Currently, 1.3 million men and women in 200 countries and geographic areas conduct vision and health screenings, build parks, support eye hospitals, award scholarships, assist youth, and provide help in time of disaster and much more. A program to benefit and assist youth, the Lions of Virginia Bland Music Scholarship Foundation, Inc. (Bland Foundation) was incorporated as a 501 (c)(3) on July 1, 2007. At that time, the program was changed from an already existing, ongoing charity to a charity foundation (Federal ID # 11-3789354). Under the aegis of the Lions organization, the Bland Foundation has been providing performing opportunities as well as scholarships to gifted music students, both vocal and instrumental, since 1948. The purpose of the foundation is to promote cultural and educational opportunities for the musically talented young people in Virginia (primarily of high school age). This goal is achieved through progressive competitions, beginning in February, at the local Lions club level, and culminating in May in a competition among 12 finalists. The Bland Foundation oversees the running of the competitions and also provides $18,000 to the 12 finalists. The scholarships must be used for college tuition, music lessons, summer music programs or other music education endeavors. As tuition and lessons are extremely expensive, the Bland Foundation provides needed assistance to these talented, hard working music students and their families. Many participants in our program (especially the finalists), upon graduation from high school, have been accepted into the top music schools, conservatories and colleges in the United States. Finalists (vocal and instrumental) from 2005-2011 are enrolled in: - Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University - Oberlin College /Oberlin Music School - Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University - Cornell University - University of Michigan - Columbia University - Carnegie Mellon Musical Theater Program - The Juilliard School - Yale University Who was Bland? James Bland, an African-American, was a popular composer in the late 1800's. In 1948 the Lions of Virginia were instrumental in having Bland's composition, "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny", adopted as a state song. To honor this prolific writer of Americana, the Lions wanted to create a "living monument". In 1948 the Bland program was established to do just that. "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" is now the state song emeritus but the Lions organization still honors James Bland and his place in American musical history through this successful, well-established program for supporting musically gifted youth. Pictures from 2007-2010 Bland Competitions 2008 First Place vocalist, soprano Hannah Dishman (24F) 2007 contestants relax during intermission 2009 Second Place vocalist, tenor Michael Protacio (24D) with DG Doug Muller 2009 Second Place instrumentalist, flutist Marla Smith (24D), with sponsor Margaret Garrett (Manassas Host, 24A) 2009 winners from 24A, soprano Meagan Sill and pianist Michelle Papenfuss, with DG John Redden 2010 contestant, pianist Emilee Hong Tu (24E) 2010 contestants from 24A, tenor Samuel Waters (Second Place) and pianist Jennifer Wang 2010 contestant, soprano Mary Britt (24E), with sponsor Charles Fields, Sr. (Arlington South, 24A) 2010 contestant, soprano Rachel Grunstra, with 24F's DG Bill Hall 2010 contestant, sosprano Mary Sorah, with 24Bs' District Bland Chair Dr. Jerry Skaggs and DG Robert Taylor Soprano Megan Buhmann, 24C (Third Place, 2010) with sponsor PDG Dick Knox (Southside, 24D) First Place winners for 2010, violinist Annika Jenkins and soprano Caroline Scruggs, with 24Ds' District Bland Chair Virginia Rauch and DG Gary Rapier Violinist Benjamin Dawson, 24F (Second Place, 2010) with sponsor Kim Miller (Alexandria Host, 24A) Violinist Sarah Miranda, 24B (Third Place, 2010), with sponsor PDG Joe Volpe (Vienna Host, 24A) Teiber Trio and pianist Jesse Wong prepare for Bland Benefit Concert For more information about the Bland Foundation, or if you would like to make a donation, please send an email to Vickie Yanics at blandfoundation@gmail.com. Thank you for visiting our website.	2011-2012 Bland Forms (MS Word Format) Official Bland Handbook Application/Registration and Rules Judges Scoresheet Our Mission Tally Sheet - Instrumental Tally Sheet - Vocal Timing Sheet Winner Report Form Bland Certificate (PDF) (Fill in all information as needed) Blank Certificate Template Audio for Bland Chairs Introduction New Rules Week Prior Contest 1 Contest 2 Contest 3 Donating to the Bland Foundation If you are interested in making a donation to the Bland Foundation, please send an email to Vickie Yanics at blandfoundation@gmail.com.