Taylor and her sister, Amie Quinless, will be singing the duet at the upcoming banquet accompanied by a CD backing track. Entitled “Life,” the song is about the idea that is not a person’s decision to take away one’s life, it is God’s decision, said Taylor.

“Singing about this topic is important to me because I want more people to see the quality and importance of life,” she said.

While Halton Pro-Life didn’t ask Taylor to write the song, it just so happened that her sister was in the middle of writing a pro-life song, she said.

“I thought that it was a great honour and it would be a ton of fun,” she said.

Although the song won’t be on her upcoming album, Taylor said she may sing it at other events.

In addition to her studies, Taylor keeps busy with singing competitions and recording. Her second CD, set to be released in January, is a pop album.

The first album was available at CD Plus, HMV and on iTunes. While Taylor said it’s too early to know where the second album will be available, she is expecting it to be carried at the same locations.

While Taylor has sung at a number of festivals, including the Burlington Sound of Music Festival and the Niagara Falls Blues in the Park, she still remembers her first public performance at Sherkston Shores Resort in Sherkston, Ont. When she was seven or eight years old,Taylor decided to give it a shot at the resort’s karaoke night.

“I went on stage, sang a song and everybody liked it,” Taylor said.

While Taylor is already a recording artist, she admits her musical training has been limited. She said she used to sneak into her sister’s singing lessons when she was younger and took lessons of her own for a couple months last year in Milton.

“I don’t do music at school, surprisingly,” she said.

And although she is not certain what she will pursue after high school, she will keep on singing.  

“I hope I keep doing what I’m doing. If everything’s going well, I want to keep singing for sure.”

Her advice to emerging artists is to follow what you love doing.

“I’ve been doing that since I was little. I always wanted to be an astronaut, but singing always came first. I wanted to sing way more. So that’s what I’m doing. I’m just following that dream.”

To hear some of Taylor’s songs or to find out more information, visit www.carlytaylor.ca.

(Gagliano, 19, is a life sciences student at the University of Toronto.)