By Debbie Adams
The Vinton Breakfast Lions Club hosted the 10 th annual Bland Foundation Music Scholarship
Competition on March 9 at Thrasher Memorial United Methodist Church in Vinton.
The Lions scholarship program extends across Virginia. It was established in 1948 “to assist and
promote educational opportunities for the musically talented youth of Virginia.” The program
consists of elimination contests starting at the club level and continuing through the state finals
contest.
The competition honors James Bland who is considered “the greatest black writer of American
Folk Music,” composing over 700 songs throughout his career. He wrote “Carry Me Back to Old
Virginny,” the state song of Virginia from 1940 to 1997.
Thirteen students performed in this year’s local Bland competition.
Contralto Josue Smales won first place in vocals, performing “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey.
He is 13 and in the eighth grade. His voice teacher is Susan Lewis.
Joshua Miao, who is 17 and a high school senior, won first place in instrumentals, playing “La
Campanella” on the piano. His music teacher is Kevin Matheson.
Smales and Miao will advance to regional competition on Sunday, April 6, at 2 p.m. at Thrasher
Memorial.
Ryleigh Woolwine won second place in vocals, performing “If I Were a Man” from the
Bridgerton Musical. She is an alto, age 12, and in seventh grade; her voice teacher is Susan
Lewis.
Second place in instrumentals was awarded to Stanley Chen, age 15, and a sophomore. He
performed “Scherzo in D Minor, Op. 172, No. 9,” on the piano. His piano teacher is Katie
Saunders of the Susan Lewis Music Studio.
Third place in vocals was awarded to Lyla Young, age 18, and a high school senior. She is a
mezzo soprano and performed “The Simple Joys of Maidenhood” from “Camelot.” She is a
student of Susan Lewis.
Third place in instrumentals went to Pichaya (Pam) Kampanya, age 13 and in the eighth grade.
She performed “Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, Op.22” on the violin.
Other performers included:
- Pithiwat (Pete) Kampanya, age 11 and a sixth grader, performing “Concertino D Major,
Op. 15” on the violin - Keegan Thacker (age 9 and in fourth grade), an alto, performing “Beautiful Ghosts” from
Cats 2019 - Lily Sealey, age 14 in eighth grade, playing “Harmony of the Angels” on the piano
Emily Hall, a Mezzo Soprano, age 12, in seventh grade, singing “In Christ Alone” - Lucy Sealey, age 14 in eighth grade, performing “Claire de Lune” on the piano
Joelle Card, age 14 in ninth grade, a mezzo soprano, singing “Speechless” from Aladdin
2019 - Lilla Clark, age 14 in fourth grade, performing “Once Upon a December” from
“Anastasia” on the piano.
Any elementary, middle, or high school student is eligible to participate in the Bland
Competition. Contestants may perform in the vocal or instrumental category, but not both.
Presentations are limited to eight minutes and must be memorized. Performers are not allowed to
use microphones.
Musicians are judged on “faithfulness to score, technique, interpretation, stage presence,
complexity of composition, and memory.”
Over $25,000 is awarded annually in prizes at the local, district, and state level in the Bland
Competitions. Local winners receive monetary awards and certificates.
All but three of the contestants this year were students of the Susan Lewis Music Studio. Lewis
said of the competition, “What a talented, inspiring group of musicians and vocalists! A big
congratulations to all. Also, thank you to our wonderful judges and to Gary Myers for all of his
hard work.”
Judges for this year’s competition in Vinton were Doris McDonel, Adele Carliss, Charles
Krause, and Roma Scriven.
McDonel has a Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano and Voice from Shenandoah Conservatory of
Music and a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Pennsylvania State University. She has
privately taught piano, general music, music arts and drama, and vocal music for 28 years in
public and parochial schools in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. She is now retired from
teaching while remaining active as director of music for a church in the Roanoke Valley.
Adele Carliss has been a music educator for over 25 years. Her teaching positions include
institutions such as the University of South Alabama and Raritan Valley Community College, as
well as being director of music at various school music programs teaching piano, voice, and
chorus. She served one year as president of the Roanoke Valley Music Teachers Association.
Charles Krause has a Bachelor of Music in Education degree from VCU. He taught in Richmond
before becoming an education consultant with Boykin’s Music Shop. He received his Master of
Church Music and became the first graduate to serve in a full-time capacity as director of a
church orchestra. Krause has also played the tuba with the Richmond Symphony Brass Quintet
and Opera Roanoke.
Roma Scriven holds a BA Degree in Piano Performance and an MA in Music History and
Literature from Radford University. For over 45 years, Scriven has maintained a private piano
studio throughout the Roanoke Valley and surrounding areas. In addition to her teaching, she is
the pianist at Grandin Court Baptist Church. Her leadership skills have been evident as past
education director for the Roanoke Symphony and president of both the Virginia Music Teachers
Association and Roanoke Valley Music Teachers Association.
Guitarist Bruce Hildenbrand, guest musician, performed during interludes in the competition
when judges were completing their scoring.
Lion Chris McCarty served as master of ceremonies for this year’s competition. Lion Gary
Myers facilitated the event as chairman of the local Lions Bland Contest.
There are approximately 46,000 Lions Clubs in over 200 countries around the world, with over
1.4 million members and reportedly the largest service organization in the world.
The Vinton Breakfast Lions Club was chartered in 1985. Its members fulfill their motto, “We
Serve,” in the community in countless ways throughout the year. If there is a need in the
community, the Lions make every effort to meet that need.
They sponsor many fundraising events including a pancake breakfast during the Vinton Fall
Festival and their spaghetti dinner prior to the Vinton Christmas Parade. Proceeds from all
Breakfast Lions’ fundraisers go back into the local community and communities across the
Commonwealth, the nation, and the world.
The local Lions are well known for their broom sales which provide support for eyeglasses and
eye exams for needy children. They collect used eyeglasses which are distributed around the
world. The Breakfast Lions conduct vision screenings in many area schools and preschools, both
private and public.
Lions place a great emphasis on helping youth. Each year the Breakfast Lions sponsor a
Christmas shopping trip for about 20 students from Herman L. Horn and W.E. Cundiff
Elementary Schools. They recently co-sponsored a Drawdown fundraiser event in partnership
with Mainstream Mental Health Services for William Byrd student Camden Thepsimuong, who
is battling a form of bone cancer.
One of their most important functions is sponsoring the Leo Club at William Byrd High School.
Leo Club members, and their sponsor, Lisa Stover, assist with virtually all Vinton Lions Club
projects.
Each spring, the Lions Club awards scholarships to seniors at William Byrd High School in
memory of Wallace Cundiff and two scholarships to Staunton River High School seniors in
memory of Lion Ryan Chambers.
The Lions Club participates in the Lions of Virginia Foundation which assists local Virginia
communities in disaster relief.
In the Vinton community, the Breakfast Lions have taken on legacy projects in the preservation
of the historic Gladetown Cemetery, in building a picnic shelter for the community at Herman L.
Horn Elementary, and funding two Metro bus shelters at Kroger and PFG. The District 24C
Lions and the Lions Club International Foundation are partnering with the new Carilion Pediatric
Center to enrich the lives of pediatric cancer patients. The Breakfast Lions are also partnering
with the Town of Vinton on the Multigenerational Park on the Vinton War Memorial campus.
The other regional Lions clubs participating this year in the Bland Competition are the Daleville
Fincastle Lions Club and Forest Lions Club. The state competition will be on May 2 in
Williamsburg at the Fort Magruder Hotel.
