Taking 1st place (for the second year in a row) in the vocal category was soprano, Anne Hruskoci, a junior at Annandale High School. Anne sang The Trees on the Mountains composed by Carlisle Floyd. Tenor, Andreas Moffet, earned the 2nd place vocal award after a heart-felt rendition of Non T’amo Piu (I Don’t Love You Anymore) by Francesco Tosti. Andreas is a junior at Woodson High School.

2010 Fairfax Bland Competition Participants

Ten musicians competed for the instrumental 1st place award. That honor went to pianist, Kevin Shu, a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. Kevin played Ludwig van Beethoven’s Tempest Sonata mvt.1. Capturing 2nd place in the instrumental category was pianist, Elaine Chen, a 10th grader also attending TJHSST. Elaine played Mephisto Waltz by Franz Liszt.

Anne and Kevin represented Fairfax Host Lions Club as they advanced to the Region III Bland Music Scholarship Competition held at Melodee Music Center; 46077 Lake Center Plaza; Sterling, Virginia on March 21, 2010, at 2:00pm.

Much of the success of this year’s Bland Music Scholarship Competition goes to our enthusiastic and reliable group of volunteers. This year’s volunteers included the following Fairfax Host Lions and Lion associates: Past District Governor Bill Bartlett, Sarah Bartlett, Jeff Root (Club President), Lion Elden Wright, Mary Ellen Wright, Lion Bill Trent, Margaret Trent, Lions Steve and Paew Haywood, Lion Tom Edick, Lion Pete Conklin, Lion Ken Schutz, Lion Jim Dellinger, Chuck Higdon and Marilyn Tanner (Bland Chairperson).

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.