The Region III Bland Music Competition was held March 16, 2008, at the Melodee Music Center in Sterling, Virginia. There were seven vocal and seven instrumental contestants who were winners at earlier contests held at the club level. The sponsoring clubs were Annandale Lions Club, Fairfax Host Lions Club, Leesburg Host Lions Club, Lovettsville and Purcellville Lions Clubs (combined), Middleburg Lions Club, Reston Lions Club, and Sterling Lions Club. Fairfax Host Lions Club sponsored the competition and Lion Sid Jaffe from Annandale Lions Club was the Master of Ceremonies. The awards were presented by Lion Dennis Brining, Region III Chairman from Fairfax Host Lions Club.
Left to right: Lion Dennis Brining, Chairman, Region III; Hanbo Liu, Winner-Instrumental; Valerie Saba, Winner-Vocal; Kristina Hu, Runner-up-Instrumental; Christine Farrell, Runner-up – Vocal; Lion Sid Jaffe, Master of Ceremonies.
The winner of the vocal category was Valerie Saba, a 17-year old senior from South Lakes High School in Reston. She sang Laurie’s Song, composed by Aaron Copland. Valerie was sponsored by Reston Lions Club.
The runner-up in the vocal category was Christine Farrell, a 16-year old junior from Loudoun CountyHigh School. She sang Fly Away (Never, Never Land), by Scott Allen. Christine was sponsored by Leesburg Host Lions Club.
The winner in the instrumental category was Hanbo Liu. Hanbo is a 16-year old sophomore at FairfaxHigh School. He performed a piano solo entitled LaCampanella, written by Franz Liszt. Hanbo was sponsored by Fairfax Host Lions Club.
The runner-up in the instrumental category was Kristina Hu, a 13-year old seventh grader from Longfellow Middle School who was sponsored by Annandale Lions Club. Her selection for piano solo was entitled Jeax d`eau and was composed by Maurice Ravel.
The winners of the Region III competition will progress to the District 24-A contest which is scheduled for April 11, at 7:30 PM in the Lyceum in Old Town Alexandria. The winners of the District competition will progress to the State Finals in Bristol, Virginia on May 16 at 7:30 PM.
We are one of 70 Lions clubs in Northern Virginia, all part of the largest service organization in the world. Being a member of the Fairfax Lions is a fun and rewarding experience. Our club has won the annual “best club” in the Region numerous times. We have dedicated members from all walks of life who share the pleasure of giving back to the community.