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Area students from the Music Studio of Teresia Ann Queen in Advance are among state winners in the National Federation of Music Clubs of America on the campus of UNCG.

Queen’s students brought home six state titles and two scholarships.

This was the first year for an NFMC scholarship to be offered in the piano playing event for American Patriotic/Folk Song Music. This brings the total of music scholarships offered annually to 20 in North Carolina.  These are available in piano, vocal and strings.

This first year winner is Katelynn Beadle of Clemmons. She won the local Wake Forest event and then traveled on the state finals with her two selections, “The Star Spangled Banner” and “America, the Beautiful.”  Katelynn won the state title and a scholarship and was invited to perform at the state winner’s recital in Statesville. She is a rising homeschooled junior who will be taking classes at Forsyth Tech this fall. She is the daughter of David and Jeanette Beadle.

This was also just the third year for the Sacred Music Piano Solo Scholarship, an endowment sponsored by Allen and Teresia Queen and given in the name of Eva Victoria Graham, Terri’s grandmother. Sean Lane of Advance was named the 2024 scholarship and state title winner after winning the Wake Forest district title and continuing on to the state finals at UNCG.

Sean’s winning music included, a popular Christmas favorite, “Mary Did you Know” and a Celtic arrangement of “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.”  Sean was also a performer in Statesville for the annual NFMC Scholarship Winner’s Recital.  He is the son of John and Jackie Lane and a rising senior at Davie High School.

Hymn playing is one of the many NFMC state finals categories. There are five classes and four local students won four of the five state titles.

First time state finalist, Giulianna Steuart, won for the Carolyn Jones Summerlin Hymns Class I event.  She is the daughter of Michael and Kristen Stueart of Advance and will be attending Salem Baptist Christian School as an incoming freshman in August.  Giulianna’s winning music included a traditional hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” and a contemporary praise and worship song, “Breathe.”  Giulianna is a six year member of NFMC and has earned multiple NFMC Festival Gold Cups through the years.

Sean Lane, won the state title for the Carolyn Jones Summerlin Hymns Class II event. This is Sean’s second consecutive win in the Hymn playing even.  His winning music included:  “I Worship You” and “Shout to the Lord” written by Darlene Zchech of Australian Hillsongs Worship.  He attends Wesley Chapel Methodist Church where he is the Sunday morning pianist.

Olivia Rareshide is the winner of the NC state title for the Peggy Robinson Matthews Hymn Playing Class III event for 2024. She is the daughter of Steve and Melissa Rareshide of Advance.  Olivia will be attending Davie High School in the fall as a freshman. Her winning music included:  “The Easter Song” written by Annie Herring; and “When I Look into Your Holiness.” Olivia’s other interests outside of piano, include tennis, basketball and oboe.  She is passionate about her music and also plans to continue studying in the fields of math and science with the hopes to become a biomedical engineer in the future.

Katelynn Beadle, again, for the fourth consecutive year, is a winner in the Hymn Playing Event, capturing the state title for the Peggy Robinson Matthews Hymn Playing Class IV event for 2024.  For her winning performances, Katelynn played:  the required selection, “O Sing a Song of Bethlehem” and a contemporary praise and worship song “Now Unto You.”  Her parents are listed above, and she is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints of the Tanglewood Ward where she sometimes plays the organ and the piano for Sunday services.

An NFMC accolade, won on the national level, was also earned this year by Sean Lane, in being selected as the cover artist for the NFMC national magazine, “The Jr. Keynotes.”

Sean enjoys arts and crafts, and fashioned a cover picture that highlighted the 125th anniversary of NFMC.  He was selected for the Vol. 97, No. 2 issue for 2024.

In Sean’s “Meet the Cover Artist” biography, he writes:  “I have lived in Davie County my whole life, and truly believe it is an incredible place to live.”

He plays on the tennis team at Davie High School, plays the snare drum in the marching band and is also in a variety of other music ensembles at Davie. He is a 7 year member of NFMC.

The mission of the NFMC is to advance and develop American music and musicians. It is a non-profit, philanthropic and educational organization dedicated to music education and the promotion of the creative and performing arts. Visit nfmc-music.org.