Local Talent Shines in Reston Bland Contest

Antonia Isabella Stabile and Alexis Michelle Gruber

Congratulations to Alexis Michelle Gruber(Dominion High School) and Antonia Isabella Stabile(Oakton High School) for taking 1st place vocal and instrumental respectively amid stiff competition at the Reston Bland Contest held on February 8th, 2011.  The Contest featured 14 contestants from area Elementary, Middle and High Schools.  Extraordinary performances were given by all and a heart-felt thank you goes out to all the teachers, family, judges, and contestants that participated.
  Alexis Michelle Gruber, student of Linda Kennedy-Sill, wowed the audience with her vocal performance of O Delmio Dolce Ardor by Gluck.  Antonia Isabella Stabile, student of Nancy O'Neill Breth, gave an expressive and moving piano performance of Scherzo No 2. Op 31 by Frederic Chopin.  2nd place vocal contestant was Meg Kathleen Boyle(Stone Bridge High School) for her performance of Lydia by Gabriel Favre.  2nd place instrumental was Evelyn Mo(Rachel Carson Middle School) for her performance of the Piano Sonata in D Minor, Op. 14, 4th movement by Prokofiev.  Ryan Daniel Sill (Dominion High School) received 3rd place vocal for his performance of Beau Soir by Debussy.  3rd place was taken by Shankar Balasubramanian (Rachel Carson Middle School) for his violin performance of Concerto in D Minor by Wieniawski.