Students of Teresa Ann Queen earned gold cups in the 2018 National Federation of Music Clubs Junior Festival at Wake Forest University.

The federation provides opportunities for musical study, performance and appreciation to more than 135,000 student, senior and junior members in 6,500 music-related clubs and organizations nationwide.

Members are professional and amateur musicians, vocalists, composers, dancers, performing artists, arts and music educators, music students, music patrons and benefactors, and music lovers of all ages.

The NFMC is chartered by the Congress of the United States, and is the only music organization member of the United Nations.

Dedicated to finding and fostering young musical talent, the NFMC conducts annual Junior Festivals with more than 117,000 participants nationwide. NFMC offers more than three quarters of a million dollars in state and national competitions and scholarships each year.

The festivals are designed to promote the study of music in all levels, to stimulate interest in American music and to encourage each participant to reach a high standard of musical excellence and achievement. The festivals provide an opportunity for student musicians to perform and receive an evaluation from qualified judges, which helps them to become better musicians.  Upper level students may qualify for state awards and scholarships.

Students from Winston-Salem and the surrounding areas compete at Wake Forest University in the spring.  The following students from the Music Studio of Teresia Ann Queen earned their NFMC Gold Cups for 2018.

• Elaina Boulos earned two 15 point Gold Cups, one each in the Piano Solo and American Patriotic/Folk Song (AP/FS) events.  She is in the eighth grade.

• Joseph Boulos is in the fifth grade and earned three first level Gold Cups in the events of Piano Solo, Hymns and AP/FS.

• Their older sister, Layah, is a graduating senior and set a state record of earning six NFMC Gold Cups in the same year.  Her events included: Piano Solo, Piano Duet, Hymns, AP/FS, Musical Theatre and Vocal Art Song. She will be attending UNCG in the fall.

• Layah’s piano duet partner is sister Rima, who is in the 11th grade and earned four NFMC Gold Cups.  Rima’s events included:  Piano Solo, Piano Duet, Hymns and AP/FS.

All four students attend Salem Baptist Christian School and are members of Friendly Arabic Church.  Their parents are Kamil and Joelle Boulos of Advance.

• Page Carter is a junior at Davie High School and drum major with the Davie High School band. Paige earned her fourth NFMC Gold Cup in the event of Piano Concerto. She attends Green Meadows Baptist Church and her parents are Martin and Renee Carter of Advance.

• Meredith Everett is also a junior at Davie High School. She earned the 45 point Gold Cup in the event of Piano Solo. She also received a 15 point cup in Piano Concerto and a six-year/30 point cup in Piano Duet. She is a member of Warners Chapel Church of Christ. Meredith is the daughter of Joe and Ashley Everett of Advance.

• Will Hedrick is a fifth grader at Pinebrook Elementary School. This was Will’s third year to compete in the festival and he earned a third consecutive Superior to receive his 15 point AP/FS cup. Will’s parents are David and Kathy Hedrick of Advance.  Will also plays baseball and is a member of Clemmons Presbyterian Church where he sings in the CPC Children’s Choir.

• Emily Henson is the duet partner of Meredith Everett.  Both girls have competed in the NFMC Piano Duet event together for the past six years. Emily also won her six year/30 point cup in this event. She is a junior attending Davie County Early College. She has earned several NFMC Gold Cups in previous years and is a member of Green Meadows Baptist Church.  Her parents are Philip and Amy Henson of Advance.

• Tyler Moore attends Forsyth Country Day School and is in the second grade.  This was his third year to attend the Wake Forest event and he scored a third consecutive Superior to earn the 15 point cup in Piano Solo. He began his NFMC journey as a kindergartener.Tyler is the son of Jason and Lee Moore of Advance.

• Molly Powell is a graduating senior at West Forsyth High School and will be attending NC State in the fall. She is the daughter of Rob and Emily Powell and attends River Oaks Community Church. During her junior year she earned her piano event Gold Cups and this year ends her NFMC competition by earning two Gold Cups in voice.  Her cups are earned in the events of Vocal Art Song and Musical Theatre.

• Landon Vick is a student at Pinebrook Elementary School. He is the son of Jansen and Chip Bailey, and Steve Vick. He is in the sixth grade. Landon earned two Gold Cups from NFMC this year competing in the events of Hymns and American Patriotic/Folk Songs.  He is a member of Farmington Baptist Church.

NFMC hosts 13 area festivals around North Carolina. Participants do not compete against each other, but are rated on individual merits and accomplishments. Students can participate in the Gold Cup Program in which points are awarded each year and accumulated until the requirement is attained. Each cup requires 15 points (with a maximum of 5 points per year for a Superior rating.)  The levels of performance range from Pre-primary to Musically Advanced.

Ratings and awards from the NFMC are nationally recognized Awards of Excellence in music.