Music club to hold fashion show Nov. 13

BRISTOL, Va. – Music and fashions will unite to provide money to young people who aspire to continue their education in their chosen fields of music.
Autumn Upbeat, Bristol Music Club’s scholarship fashion show, will be held Nov. 13 at 10 a.m. at Central Presbyterian Church, 301 Euclid Ave. The show will be accompanied by a musical program provided by previous scholarship winners Zachary Hughes, piano; Benjamin Dawson, violin; Bethany Dawson, cello; and Ming Wilson, piano.
The scholarship program began in 1964 and more than 275 awards have been given with senior high school winners now receiving up to $1,000 toward a college major or minor. Many previous winners are career musicians in their chosen field.
“The Bristol Music Club scholarship competition positively influenced my decision to become a professional musician,” said Craig Combs, artistic director of the Paramount Chamber Players and scholarship winner 25 years ago. “The judge’s comments inspired confidence in me and encouraged me to further develop my musical talents.”
Elizabeth “Lisa” Ransom, formerly of Bristol, Tenn., has been the piccoloist of the Winston-Salem Symphony since 1993. She also performs regularly in the Carolina Chamber Symphony Players, Ransom-Pecoraro Duo of flute and guitar and Chamber Music Wilmington, N.C.
“Bristol, Tenn., offered me numerous musical opportunities from fine public school choir programs to excellent private piano and vocal instruction opportunities,” said Mary Lisa Tankersley Blevins. “The Bristol Music Club was part of that enrichment as they graciously gave me two scholarships to pursue my education.”
Blevins is currently Douglas County School District kindergarten, first and second grade teacher and elementary school choir co-director in Denver, Colo.
Benjamin Dawson, one of this year’s winners, is the recipient of the Paramount Chamber Players Award and will be featured in a concert in the 2009-2010 season as soloist with the group.
Fashions for this year’s event will be provided by Masengill’s Specialty Shop of Johnson City and will feature clothing for men and women. Home-baked goodies and coffee will be served, assisted by Chef Richard Erskine of Southeast Culinary College. Sarah Scott will be pianist for the show with Beth McCoy as fashion commentator.
Tickets are $15, available from any Music Club member or at the door. Call Jean Pacholski at (423) 764-9490.
Zachary Hughes, 16, has studied piano for seven years. After moving to Abingdon in 2004, he studied with Ann Holler of Bristol and the past year with Dr. Chih-long Hu at East Tennessee State University. He has participated in numerous local and regional music festivals and competitions, winning many honors.
Ming Wilson, 13 of Johnson City, made his Carnegie Hall debut at Weill Recital Hall, New York City in 2007 as one of the first-place winners in the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition in the 11 and under category. He debuted with the Johnson City Symphony in 2008 at Freedom Hall and won the 2008 Music Teachers National Association state level competition for ages 11-14 in Nashville. He has studied piano with Dr. Sharon Rust and Dr. Donald Conflenti. He also plays violin and is the son of Steve and Yali Wilson.
Benjamin Dawson of Abingdon is home-schooled in the 11th grade and takes violin lessons from Jane MacMorran. He is concertmaster with Symphony of the Mountains Youth Orchestra, studies piano with Ann Holler and plays in the Runaway Piano Trio. He sings with the Highlands Youth Ensemble, is a previous winner of the Bristol Music Club Scholarship, composition of Piano Trio for AMTA New Composers Recital and has been invited to play with the Paramount Players in a concert during the 2009-2010 season. He plays violin and piano at Abingdon Presbyterian Church.
Bethany Dawson of Abingdon is home-schooled in the eighth grade and her cello instructor is Dr. Beth Campbell. She is a cellist with the Symphony of the Mountains Youth Orchestra, Runaway Piano Trio, Neopolitan String Quartet and Dawson Family Strings. She plays cello, violin and piano at Abingdon Presbyterian Church, was a Bristol Music Club winner in 2005, sings in the East Tennessee Children’s Choir and Da Capo, and studies violin with Jane MacMorran.
Bethany and Benjamin are the children of David and Regina Dawson.