Lions To Expand

Lions To Expand

Bland Contest

The. Rappahannock Lions Club will expand its Bland Music Contest categories beyond the present vocal and instrumental featuring classical and semi-classical music to include a country ballad category. The contest is scheduled to take place on February 24 at 3 p.m. at the elementary school.

“It is hoped that this will provide an opportunity for wider student participation in an area of music that is growing in popularity,” said Maurice Herndon, chairman of the local Bland committee. “This new category is a local contest only at this time, but if there is widespread interest shown in the category by Rappahannock students then it will be made a permanent local program in the future and we would try to get state acceptance.”

The first place winner in the new category will receive a $25 U.S. savings bond, and the second place winner will receive $10 cash. First place winners in the other two categories will receive $75 savings bonds, second place winners will receive $50 bonds, third place winners will receive $25 bonds and fourth place winners will receive $15 cash. High school winners in the two categories will compete on the state level for a total of $7,400 in scholarships.

The contestants will be judged on their performances faithfulness to the score, on technique, interpretation, stage presence, the complexity of the selection and memory. This year’s judges will be Cathy Knuepfer who received her musical training at the University of Michigan and the Bach Choral Society and other singing groups in California, Barbara Shermen who received her degree in music at Michigan State University and has been the pianist for a number of concerts and musicals in the county, James Wood who studied organ at the American University in Washington, D.C. and has been a much sought after church organist and Elisabeth Johnson who is a former organist and choir director.

Silence is not always a sign of wisdom, but babbling is ever a folly. — Ben Franklin