Why don't you tell all the new fans a little about yourself.
Hey everyone! My name is Courtney. I'm 17 and I live in Westchester, New York, near NYC. I've been singing since I was practically a baby and I'm really excited to finally be getting my music out!

You're pretty young, how does it feel to have accomplished so much at such a young age?
Haha well I don't really feel that I've accomplished all that much! It basically just comes down to working hard and loving what you're doing. In the entertainment business theres so much rejection, for every audition I get whether its acting or singing I lose like 20 others! You really have to like what you do, I even like the auditioning part of it. Because it gets really tiring spending every day sending out headshots and auditioning for whatever comes your way not knowing if you'll even get anywhere. But its all worth it :) I feel lucky that I live close enough to the city to have a real opportunity and lucky that God gave me enough talent to be able to write music and sing. As far as my accomplishments, I have a long way to go still! I'm working now with a charity children's singing group that is collaborating with several Broadway performers which will be exciting and I'm hoping to get some original music out by the end of this year!

Have you ever had voice/singing lessons? If so, for how long?
Yes, I've been taking voice lessons now for three years. I started in high school but I took 10 years of piano before that and I always did performance choirs and other shows.

Is there any one specific person or gorup that influenced your decision to become a singer?
I think growing up to the music of greats like Mariah Carey, Whitney, and Celine Dion exposed me to what real singing was. Then I was really inspired by seeing all the girls my age who were making it in music and I figured I could do that too! Honestly, I have been involved over the years in a lot of performance related opportunities so singing and music was always a part of life and a goal I was working towards, it didn't just happen.

Can fans be expecting your solo CD coming out soon?
Actually, right now I can't really answer that. I'm not signed to a major label, but I am planning to do a single with an independent label. This is not 100% confirmed yet. I also will definitely be putting some original music on my site for fans to listen to that will be on my demo which will not be for sale. Local fans can see me singing live and I am possibly singing on a few cds, nothing mainstream though. As far as a solo cd of just my songs, nothing that will be available to the public yet. You can always check back to my site for the latest updates on that!

Now I read that you've composed a lot, if not all your songs. What is your favorite song, and why?
Wow, thats really hard. Most of the songs I write have a special meaning to me. I have one that I like just because it is about a guy who at one time meant a lot to me called "You Complete Me" I have others I like because I think the melody or music is good. A lot of my songs are continous works in progress because I might like the melody but I need to find better lyrics or the other way around. I can't wait until the fans can hear my songs. Oh and actually if any of the fans have an idea for a song or lyrics they can email it to me courts216@aol.com! Maybe I'll find something I can use on the demo!

Where do you find your inspiration?
With music, inspiration just hits. It doesn't always come from something particular I could just be on the phone or in class and something will hit. Or I will sit down at my piano and just play. With lyrics, me personally I can't force them. I have to have inspiration from a situation or experience. I write a lot when I'm upset or my friends even lend me their poetry and I can draw from that. Sometimes I can write lyrics with a song already in front of me and fit them to the song. I'm not really sure where it comes from though. Maybe God has something to do with it and definitely experiences.

If you could do a duet with any artist of the past or present, who would it be, and why?
I don't think I could pick just one. Celine Dion or Mariah Carey obviously! Also I would love to collaborate with a young singer whose music I heard on tonos.com her name is Amber. If you haven't check out the vocalists on that site in the artist showcase they are really good! Past artists maybe Barbara Striesand...shes not really past lol but yeah. Also Elton John. Oh and Justin Timberlake because he really does have a beautiful voice and Eminem haha that would be interesting.

If you weren't a singer, what would you want to be?
Actually, I've been thinking about this one a lot with college comming up. If I didn't sing I would probably want to stay in the industry acting or working with kids in talent and casting. Otherwise I would probably be a writer or a pediactric oncologist (child cancer doctor)

Thanks so much guys for reading. Don't forget to contact me with song ideas, questions or just to talk! God Bless!