Bland Memorial Contest

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE
VIRGINIA LION’S BLAND MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS

The Virginia Lions’ Bland Memorial Music Scholarship Contest is the ultimate result of many years of effort on the part of the Virginia Association of Lions’ Clubs.

The Lions of Virginia first became interested in James A. Bland in 1938, as the composer of the stirring song, “Carry Me Back To Ole Virginny.” Impressed by the patriotic fervor and nostalgic quality of this lyric, the Lions began a campaign, which resulted in the General Assembly of Virginia officially adopting the song, in 1940, as the Virginia State Anthem. In 1994 the Virginia State Senate adopted the revised song “Carry Me Back to Old Virginia” as the State Song. In February 1997, the Virginia state legislature of voted to retire the song.

James A. Bland, the greatest Black writer of American Folk Song, composed over seven hundred songs, a number of which were outright contributions to Americana.

In 1938 as Virginia Lions inquired into the career of “Jimmy Bland,” they found that his grave was unknown and unmarked. Further investigation found his grave in a cemetery in Merion, PA, near Philadelphia. The Virginia Lions erected a suitable monument over the grave. The culmination of this work became a feature of the 1946 Convention of Lions International at Philadelphia. On that impressive occasion, July 15, 1946, the dignified monument was unveiled in the presence of many distinguished representatives of Government, the world of music, and of Lions International. At the Lions International Convention in Philadelphia in 1997, Virginia Lions rededicated the monument at James Bland’s grave.

The Lions of Virginia were not content that a monument of granite should suffice to memorialize the work of the author of our official State Song. As a permanent living memorial, they established the Virginia Lions’ Bland Music Scholarship Program. Scholarships for musical excellence in both instrumental and vocal performance are awarded annually. Since the initiation of these contests, the Lions have continuously added to the value of the scholarships. Today the contest is spread over the entire state, commencing with individual Club, and thereafter expanding through Zone and/or Region, and District competitions to the final state contest at the annual State Convention. The first Bland contests were held in 1948 with the state finals in Roanoke. Two awards of $150 were given to the winners. Through the interest and efforts of the Lions of Virginia, the music Scholarships have grown from 2 to 12 scholarships which amount to $12,600.00 at the state level. The project is financed entirely through voluntary contributions from the Lions Clubs throughout the State of Virginia.

Bland Memorial Contest Committee Members

• Lion Ray Yannello- Chair

2024 Bland Contest Winners

The winners were, left to right not counting Lion Ray;
   Zaynah Berkeley-Weems – #1 vocalist – Junior, Poquoson High School
   Heather Jensen – #2 vocalist – Freshman, Poquoson High School
   Abigail Smith – #3 vocalist – Senior, Poquoson High School
   Avery Peshehonoff – #1 Instrumentalist (piano) – Sophomore, Poquoson High School
   Alden Lumagui – #2 Instrumentalist (piano) – Sophomore, Poquoson High School
   Corinne Lombardo – #3 Instrumentalist (piano) – Senior, Tabb High School

2023 Bland Contest Winners

Pictured from left to right are: Ray Yannello, Poquoson Lions Bland Chair
Vocalists: 1st Place Zayanh Weems, 2nd Place Ashton Hendrickson, 3rd Place Amroy Tracy

Pictured from left to right are: Ray Yannello, Poquoson Lions Bland Chair
Instrumentalist (Piano): 1st Place Corinne Lombardo, 2nd Place Alan M. Schuster, 3rd Place Leo Guo

2020 Bland Contest Winners

Pictured Above From Left to Right

Dave Welch, Poquoson Lions Bland Chair, 3rd Place Vocal Winner, Daniel Foley, 2nd Place Vocal Winner, Anna Hubbard, 1st Place Vocal Winner, Olivia Hollowell, 3rd Place Instrumental Winner, Kendall Gonzales (cello), 2nd Place Instrumental Winner, Leo Guo (piano), 1st Place Instrumental Winner, Brandon Turner (piano), Poquoson Lions President, Brenna Poffenbarger

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2019 Bland Contest Winners

Region IV Bland Winners.

We had two of our winners from our Bland Contest winn the Regional competition and will move on to the District.

Pictured Above 1st Place Instrumentalist, Kearston Gonzales (2nd from left), and 1st place Vocalist, Daniel Foley (3rd from left), seen shaking one another’s hand, are sponsored by our club!  They will both move on to the District contest on April 6th at Williamsburg Landing at 7pm. Congratulations to them both!

From left to right are:
Instrumentalists:
3rd. Yunseo Chung, Violin
2nd. Kendall Gonzales, Cello
1st. Kearston Gonzales, Violin

Vocalists:
3rd. Anne Hubbard, Soprano
2nd. Daniel Foley, Bass
1st. Olivia Hollowell, Soprano

David Welch - Bland Committe Chairman

2018 Bland Contest Winners

Pictured Left to Right:
Vocal: 1st place - Olivia Hollowell
Instrumentalist: 1st place - Brandon Turner, 2nd place - Annie Liang, 3rd place - Kaitlyn Grobe

2017 Bland Contest Winners

Poquoson Lions held its Bland Music Contest on 15 Feb. Pictured are from left to right, Poquoson Lions Club host Dave Welch presents the Bland Contest winners; 1st place Sarah Heifetz, 2nd place Brandon Turner, and 3rd place Esther Kim.

2016 Bland Contest Winners

Poquoson Lions held its Bland Music Contest on 1 Feb. Pictured are Club President Shannon Phillips, contestants Tyler Smith, Liam Billings, Christine Lee, 1st place instrumental, Colin Freeman, 1st place vocal, and Bland Chairman Dave Welch

2015 Contest was canceled due to multiple Snow Storms

2014 Bland Contest Winners

The Poquoson Lions held their annual Bland Music Competition on February 3rd at Poquoson High School.  The competition is held every year in memory of Jimmy Bland, composer of the Virginia State Song Emeritus, "Carry Me Back to Ol' Virginny."  This year's competition attracted drew 10 musicians who vied for first place and the opportunity to continue on to the next level, eventually hoping to win at the State level.  The audience was treated to classical renditions by nine pianists and one vocalists.  While all competitors are winners, those pictured received special recognition and awards. The Bland Competition held by Lions Clubs state wide is the only such competition for those training in classical music.
Participants and winners of this year's competition are pictured here.