Video: Vienna Lions Club Hosts First Round Of James A. Bland Music Competition

Violinist Marta Soderberg Howard told the young performers that surrounded her on Saturday afternoon that she, along with the other three judges, had all been in their position before: feet tapping, fists clenching, stomachs turning at the thought of getting up on stage and being critiqued on their ability to perform.

“Just get up there and express what’s in the music,” vocal judge Laura Mann told the crowd.

“We have to know that you love [ what you’re doing],” Louise McClleland Urban, also a vocal judge, said. “That’s really all its about.”

That love of music is what brought 14 young performers from across Fairfax County, age 7 to 18, to the Vienna Host Lion Club's James A Bland Music Scholarship Competition this weekend-- the first of three rounds that lead to the state final competition, where top performers earn a total of $18,000 in scholarships.

James A. Bland, a famous African American folk song composer,  penned the famous tune “Carry Me Back to Ole Virginny.” To honor the more than 700 Americana songs he wrote,  the Virginia Lions club began a competition in his name in 1948 to encourage participation and education in music for young people across the state, awarding scholarships and prizes to help assist them in that goal.

More than $25,000 is given in scholarships or local cash awards each year, according to the Lions Club.

Saturday’s competition featured piano, flute, violin and vocal contestants, who performed compositions that ranged from the familiar Minuet in G by Bach, to concertos by Mendelssohn and Mozart.

Vocalist Sarah Nicoel Larkworthy, of Langley High School, and pianist Patrick Scott Miller, of Herndon High School, both 16, earned first place at the competition and will go on to compete at the regional competition next month.

Pianist Brent Connor McKenna and vocalist Audrey Jo Rinehard, of the Duke Ellington School of Arts, earned second place honors.

Click on the video to the right to catch a glimpse of Saturday’s competition.

Performers included:

Kristyna Gocova, 17, Madison High School
Gloria Grace Boos, 7, Great Falls Elementary
Rose Jocelyn Boos, 7, Great Falls Elementary
Audrey Jo Rinehard, 14, Duke Ellington School of Arts
Shannon Francine Smith, 16, Thomas Jefferson High School
Yea Rim (Christina) Lee, 16, Oakton High School
Haina Li, 17, Thomas Jefferson High School
Sarah Nicole Larkworthy, 16, Langley High School
Brent Connor McKenna, 18, McKenna Home School Academy
Patrick Scott Miller, 16, Herndon High SChool
Yeonjae Lim, 17, Langley High School
Larissa Jean Converti, 15, The Potomac School
Raymond Benjamin Griggs, 15, Marshall High School
Ivy Lim, 15, Langley High School