The Clifton Lions hosted the Region 3 Bland Music Contest on March 10 at the Old Town Hall in Fairfax. Twelve contestants competed in vocal and intrumental categories. 

The winners:

• Larissa Jean Converti, a junior at Potomac School, won the vocal competition with her rendition of "Il Bacio" by Luigi Arditi. 
• Tiberiu Baicoianu, a junior at Herndon High School, was the instrumental winner playing "Concertino in Eb Major" by Carl Maria von Weber. 

James Bland was a popular African American composer in the late 1800's. In 1948, the Lions of Virginia were instrumental in having Bland's composition, "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny,” adopted as a state song.

To honor this prolific writer of Americana, the Lions wanted to create a "living monument.” In 1948 the Bland program was established to do just that. Lions clubs across the Commonwealth conduct the annual program and provide $18,000 for the 12 final contestants.

Convert and Baicoianu will advance to the District competition in Alexandria on April 21.