TANYA was born in Ocala Florida on September 30th, 1984. At age two she found herself on stage, mic in hand, singing "Jesus Loves Me" for her Church. Involving the crowd, she invited Mom to come up and join! Since that day, she knew the gift God had given her, and had the desire to share it.
In 1988, Tanya and her family moved to Virginia, where sister Nichol was born. Tanya sang in choir, and participated in as many staged school activities as possible. Putting on performances everywhere from the family kitchen to the 4th grade talent show!
Then, in September of 1994, the youngest of the family was born. Growing up along side the constant sounds of music from his two older sisters, Kyle had an instant rhythm and appreciation for the art. Tanya, who was only 10 at the time, experimented with different musical instruments, and even went to a studio called Music Tech to sing and find out what she had to do to "make it" in the music business.
Headed towards secular music, Tanya put her hand in writing songs for the first time when she was 12 years old. "I would write songs about frogs, spaghetti, and how cool it was I made it down a big hill on my bike!" she laughs, thinking of her 'younger years' before she wrote her first real song. "There was a project in my English class to write a song, a poem, something like that. I wrote a song and brought in my keyboard and I tanked because I couldn't play the song well...so I went home and wanted to write a real song, and it just came out."
One of Tanya's first songs, a song called Praise Him, seemed to catch on. But she still ignored the urge to sing Christian music and had her sights set on being a star in the secular music world. "Not that there's anything wrong with that kind of music at all! But that wasn't what God was calling me to do. But that's what I wanted so I ignored Him. Baaaaad idea."
Praise Him was the first of over 400 songs today. Tanya describes the process as "I have no idea! I don't know where it comes from. I just kind of, say a line with a tune, then I rhyme with it. Then another line follows until there is a song. Does that make sense? No? Yeah, it hardly did to me either."
Tanya continued to practice the piano. Never having taken any lessons, she played by ear. Instruments such as Clarinet and French Horn were learned in band over 6th and 7th grade. She also began to teach herself guitar and drums and has recently began work on learning the violin.
In late 2003, Tanya moved to Charlotte, NC. And one year later, married her soulmate, David Ferraro in VA, where she still considers home. They were wed October, 30 2004. During this year, she continued the ministry throughout southwest Virginia, and was very involved in the Christian Motorcyclists Association of which she is a member. Singing at special events and state rallies. However, it was a whirlwind year and with so much going on, it was hard to have time to think about the next album, but with the help of her husband, plans are underway for this next step.
Tanya, now 21 years old, has long given in to the call of the music ministry. "I knew it, I knew where I'd end up but God had perfect timing for everything!" Tanya's voice has grown and taken on it's own shape and form since the years of her youth, well, younger youth. Now as a young adult, Tanya is prepared to answer the call of the ministry. "As long, as far, as high as God leads me, that's where I want to be!"
With the support of a loving husband, wonderful family, and good friends, Tanya is excited about the music and the direction God is leading her in! "I know now I was going about it all wrong. I have to let God lead me because I can't really get anywhere on my own. It's not about being a superstar or anything. There's nothing wrong with those who are! But this is about God. And if nobody ever hears me on the radio, so be it! God will put me where He wants me, no matter what happens though, God is awesome-all the time!"
