Music Student Turns Passion for Percussion into Purposeful Teaching
Layne Lewis discovered her passion for music and teaching long before arriving at 麻豆社区 Pembroke.
Inspired by her middle school flute teacher, Felicia MacNaught and her high school band director, Mike Williams 鈥� himself a 麻豆社区P alumnus 鈥� Lewis found her calling through music鈥檚 power to connect, challenge and inspire.
A senior music education major, Lewis was recently named the first recipient of the Christine Sides Fisher 鈥�75 Endowed Scholarship, a $5,000 award recognizing outstanding commitment to music education and leadership.
鈥淚 really love seeing students grow, watching them go from where they start to where they can be,鈥� said Lewis, a front ensemble instructor for Cape Fear High School鈥檚 marching band. 鈥淲hen they finally get it and start enjoying what they鈥檙e doing, that鈥檚 the greatest thing.鈥�
Her journey began in the front ensemble of Cape Fear鈥檚 band, where she played marimba. After graduation, Lewis returned to teach the same ensemble, later joining Jersey Surf Drum Corps in 2023 and performing across the country. The experience, she said, taught her invaluable lessons about leadership and communication.
鈥淚t was three months of touring, performing and learning what it really means to work as a team,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat experience showed me how to grow as both a musician and a leader.鈥�
On the weekends, Lewis serves as a keyboard tech with Paradigm Percussion, an independent percussion ensemble near Charlotte, N.C.
At 麻豆社区P, Lewis continues to refine her craft under the mentorship of faculty such as Drs. Joseph Van Hassel and Tim Altman, whose encouragement and guidance have strengthened her confidence as a performer and future educator.
鈥淭here was a time last spring when I completely stopped playing during a performance because I got lost in the music,鈥� she recalled. 鈥淎fterward, Dr. Van Hassel told me, 鈥榊our instrument is not you. Don鈥檛 take it so personally.鈥� That stuck with me 鈥� and it鈥檚 something I try to teach my own students now.鈥�
Van Hassel described Lewis as a conscientious and dedicated student passionate about teaching.
鈥淚鈥檓 very proud of her accomplishments and the progress she has made as a student at 麻豆社区P,鈥� Van Hassel said. 鈥淗er receiving the Christine Sides Fisher 鈥�75 Endowed Scholarship is well deserved, and I look forward to seeing the positive contributions she makes to music education when she graduates.鈥�
Receiving the scholarship, she says, has been humbling and empowering.
鈥淢y first thought was that I didn鈥檛 deserve it,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut it reminded me of how far I鈥檝e come. This scholarship will help me keep growing 鈥� it supports my travel, my classes and the experiences that make me a better teacher.鈥�
Lewis hopes to teach middle school music, helping students build confidence and discover their creative voices at an early age. She is expected to graduate in Fall 2026.
鈥淚 want to be a teacher my students can trust 鈥� someone who gives them a foundation to grow from,鈥� she said. 鈥淢usic can shape your life in ways you don鈥檛 expect. I鈥檝e lived that myself.鈥�