Huge Competition Seen at Local Music Contest

Heart-felt congratulations go out to Ryan Sill and Alexander Pauken for taking 1st place vocal and instrumental respectively amid stiff competition at the Local Reston "James A. Bland" Contest held on February 7th, 2012.  They will go on in the coming weeks to compete at a District level Contest for even larger awards and compete to reach the Region and State level competitions. 

First Place Winners Alexander Pauken and Ryan Sill

     The Local Music Contest featured 16 contestants from area Elementary, Middle and High Schools.  Extraordinary performances were given, leaving for intense scrutinization of every aspect of each performance by our competent judges.  The Reston Lions Club would like to thank all the teachers, family, judges, and contestants that made this event such a success.
Ryan Sill, Age 17, from Dominion High School, succeeded at taking home first place with his moving performance of "Every Valley Shall be Exalted" written by G.F. Handel.  Alexander Pauken, also Age 17, performed "The Cat and the Mouse" by Aaron Copeland with the imagined chasing around on the piano keys.  After the competition was over, these two compared notes as friends while taking pictures and have already begun thinking of the upcoming District competition.

This is not to say that these were the only musicians of note.  The crowd simply erupted in applause after young Shankar Balasubramanian, only Age 14 of Jefferson High School, delivered an impressive, almost roller-coaster-like "Zigeunerweissen" by Pablo de Sarasate.  While coming in 3rd place this year was a bit disappointing, we imagine we will see great things from this growing violin virtuoso in coming years.  Anne-Maire Lloyd, age 17 from South Lakes High School, performed the challenging "Se Tu M'Ami" written in Italian by Parisotti.  Such a treat to hear this sweet Aria floating to the rafters.

Back (Left to Right): Jack Gazlay (Bland Chair), Steven Reber (Reston Lions Club President), Sydney Garrell, Ben Escobar, Alexander Pauken, Adam Cleland, Seojun Yoon, Anne-Marie Lloyd, Ryan Sill, Caitlin Phelan.  Front (Left to Right): Katya Yeager, Payton Gasson, Karen Xia, Alyssa Chetrick, Elson Hsia, Joshua Liu, Jessica Hiemstra, and Shankar Balasubraminian.

It can be said that a level of excellence was present this year among our contestants that we believe has yet to be seen in an age group this varied (Ages 9 to 17).  Most of our contestants competed with the Reston Lions Club for the first time this year.  Although we were not able to award places to all our participants, we do thank them for their performances and hope, sincerely, to hear their talents next year.