Davie High student Sean Lane has been named winner of this year’s National Federation of Music Clubs Angie Greer Music in Poetry contest.
Sean’s submission was chosen from among 312 entries, covering 13 states in the southeast. His entry was titled: “United in Music.” Its’ theme is a tie-in to the seat the NFMC holds as a voting member of the United Nations.
The Angie Greer Music in Poetry event is open to all students who hold membership in the NFMC and are in grades 7-12. The entry must be an original, unpublished creation of each entrant. A winner is chosen in each of the five regions of the U.S. They receive a regional title for 2025 and a cash award. The winning entries are also published in the national NFMC magazine “Junior Keynotes.”
United in Music
By Sean Lane
The cadence of the voices ring
As nations together, united, sing
NFMC, a United Nations advocate
Striving to make noises
Striving
Passionate

To make noise heard from around the world
A signal of peace
A universal sign
That music isn’t theirs, just his, or mine

It’s ours – belonging to a world that is separate, but somehow united
A language
No translation needed
A heart
That is all
That’s all it takes to hear it call

It heals, it binds, it joins, it brings
Life is better with music in our wings
As we fly
As we fly
As we fly to each corner of the globe
With love
With life
We can’t let music go

That’s the goal
The survival of music
A United Nations advocate
NFMC Unites through Music
StrivingPassionate
Sean is the son of John and Jackie Lane of Advance.
“I’m a senior at Davie High School, where I’m an active member of the band program, the Red Cross Club, the school paper, and other school organizations.
“I’ve had the opportunity to give back to my community by serving on the SURF Board and being involved in the Davie Respect Initiative.These organizations have made me realize that I always want to be involved in my community, and so I’ve loved being involved with nonprofits, touching the community, and raising funds for an impact.”
Sean will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill this fall, where he hopes to be accepted into the Kenan-Flagler Business College.
“I’ve never been more excited to learn how to make connections and create a community through business,” he said.
“Music holds a special place in my heart, a place of passion and connection. I’ve been taking piano lessons with Mrs. (Tewresia) Queen since fourh grade, about nine years. There have been times where I didn’t know if I wanted to keep playing, but Mrs. Queen, with her enthusiastic and kind way of teaching, has always helped me stick with it. I’m so glad I did.
“It’s taught me how to practice for something and how to commit. It’s taught me how to manage my time and put energy into everything that I do. There’s so much more to music than what is just printed on the page – it is a life journey. Thank you, Mrs. Queen.”
She also encouraged him to apply for each opportunity and write each essay or poem for the chance of success. He has competed in the Angie Greer Poetry contest for years.
“My mom is my biggest cheerleader. She’s always there. She’s helped me along my NFMC (National Federation of Music Clubs) piano journey, coming with me to Wake Forest each year that I compete,” he said. “She drove me from Washington D.C., to Greensboro to make sure that I made it to my state event last year. I don’t know where I would be without my mom; certainly not where I am now.
“She encouraged me with each essay and poem that I have written, and she supports me with each step that I take in growing up and becoming a better musician and person.”