THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 1, 1996 TAG: 9602280175
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
Although their performances differed greatly, the results were the same. James Barnes and Ashlynn Brooks were winners of the recent Bland Music Scholarship Competition at Thalia United Methodist Church.
This contest, sponsored by the Thalia Lions Club last week, was one of many Bland music competitions being held in Virginia Beach and throughout the state. They are named for the African American composer, James A. Bland, who wrote the song ``Carry Me Back to Old Virginia,'' the commonwealth's anthem. Chiefly through the efforts of Lions Clubs, the Virginia General Assembly adopted the song officially in 1940.
Winners of local contests go on to compete in zone, regional and state competitions with the top state winners in vocal and instrumental categories receiving $1,500.
The Thalia club's contest was anything but bland.
Ed Delong, longtime club member, acted as master of ceremonies and turned in a flawless performance himself. The club awarded first, second and third place checks of $75, $50 and $25, respectively to winners in each category. All 16 competitors received certificates of appreciation.
Brooks, 18, sang a rousing version of ``Adelaide's Lament'' from Damon Runyon's ``Guys and Dolls.'' The Princess Anne High School senior's performance was replete with dramatic gestures and intonations.
She has studied musical theater since she was 7 and has participated in the school system's gifted and talented program since she was a third-grader. She has been offered a partial scholarship to Ithaca College in New York to study voice.
``I'm not sure whether I'll go there,'' said Brooks. She is sure of one thing. ``I want to work in musical theater in some way,'' she said. ``Either performing or directing.''
Barnes, 16, a junior at Cox High School, was the only instrumentalist to play the string bass. He played Dominico Diagonetti's ``Concerto in A,'' a popular piece with string bass players, he said. He said he may have benefited from appearing last on the program and being the only string bass player.
``I played pretty well, but I missed a few notes,'' said Barnes, who has been playing the instrument for seven years. ``I could have played better.''
The competition is open to students 15 to 18. Each is allowed a maximum of eight minutes to perform a vocal or instrumental solo. Competitors are judged on faithfulness to score, technique, interpretation, stage presence, complexity of the chosen composition and memory.
Fourteen of the 16 contestants at Thalia were Virginia Beach high school students.
Jeff Meredith and Rebekah Hill served as vocal judges; Andrews Sill and Jorge Aguirre were instrumental judges. Meredith is managing director of Commonwealth Musical Stage and Hill is music director/pianist with the Virginia Opera. Sill is associate conductor of the Virginia Symphony and Aguirre is a first violinist with the symphony.
George Powell, a Lions Club member, said that the club is best known for its work with vision and hearing.
``We gave over $7,000 to that,'' said Powell, ``but we would like to keep hosting these awards, helping talented kids.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Ed Delong, Master of ceremonies for competition
by CNB