The Smithfield Lions Club will hold its annual James A. Bland Memorial Music Scholarship Contest at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 9, 2024 at Trinity United Methodist  Church, 201 Cedar St. in Smithfield. 

This is the first rung of an escalating series of contests (local, regional, district and state) sponsored by the Lions Clubs of the State of Virginia that culminates in scholarships for music study. This preliminary local contest is open to youth attending elementary, middle, junior or senior high school (or equivalent home-schooled level) that are states residents.

Contestants are not required to be from Smithfield, but may only enter one local contest. For those advancing as far as the state finals, the Lions award scholarships of $3,000 going to first place, $2,500 to second place and $2,000 to third place, with cash awards of $1,500 for fourth, fifth, and 6th places to vocal and instrumental finalists. 

Interested instrumentalists and vocalists may obtain contest rules and download applications by visiting the Smithfield Lions Club website at smithfield-lions.com/explore-our-impact-1. Then click the download application button at the bottom of the Bland Music information.

Return completed applications to Lion Katie Lemon at lemon2@hotmail.com or Lion Jon May at jmay@fathomrealty.com who can also be reached with any questions. Deadline for completed applications is March 1, 2024. 

Spectators are welcome to attend the contest. It is free and open to the public.