Lions Clubs announce six winners in recent Bland Music Competition

Lions Clubs announce six winners

in recent Bland Music Competition

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, said Lion David Farley, is to promote cultural and educational opportunities for the musically talented young people in Virginia.

Lion Fred Pevahouse added, “Since the competition is a living memorial to the African-American musician James Bland who wrote such long-lasting tunes as ‘Oh Dem Golden Slippers’ and ‘Carry Me Back to Old Virginia,’ I think it appropriate we hold the contest during Black History Month.”

This year the local competition was sponsored by the Lancaster, Middlesex and Gloucester Lions Clubs and co-chaired by Lancaster Lions Farley and Pevahouse. Thirteen youths competed at the event at Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury (RWC). Each student had to perform their selection by heart before the audience and four judges…..