By Melissa Knific
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Move over, Charlotte Church.

Cincinnati is giving rise to its own young classical music star, 16-year-old Lauren Faulkner.

When Lauren was 5 years old, she began singing in her California church choir. Soon after, she performed the Amy Grant song "My Father's Eyes" with her mom in front of the congregation.

"Everyone had tears in their eyes," recalls Lauren's mom, Terry Faulkner.

Eleven years later - and 10 years since moving to Cincinnati - the Sycamore High School junior has recorded her first CD and continues to wow audiences.

"I was surprised with how quickly her voice developed," says Terry, who signed her daughter up for private voice lessons when she was in seventh grade.

After hearing a demo tape that Lauren put together at Paramount's Kings Island, Linda and Rusty York, owners of Jewel Records, asked her to come into the studio and record a few songs.

Those few songs eventually turned into an 11-track album Beginnings, a Christmas gift for her father, Robert Faulkner, and grandparents.

But after others heard the CD, a request list grew to more than 200.

"So many people asked for it that we decided to turn it into a charity fund," Lauren says.

The teenager who lives in Loveland chose to donate her proceeds to StarShine. The program, affiliated with Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, is a pediatric hospice that provides support for terminally ill children and their families.

Since the CDs went on sale in October, Lauren has sold about 700 copies, raising almost $2,000 for StarShine. About half of her proceeds go toward the program.

"To know that I've been able to help people in my life, it feels rewarding," Lauren says.

Beginnings contains songs from two of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals, including "Think of Me" and "Memory," as well as other classical pieces such as "Ave Maria" and Mozart's "Batti, batti, o bel Masetto."

Aside from her album's success, the young vocalist performed at two Cincinnati Bearcats' games and will sing the National Anthem at today's Reds-Phillies game. Lauren's instructor, Karl Resnik, says that she is naturally inclined toward classical music.

"She has a very beautiful color and quite an extensive range," says Reznick, executive director of the Musical Arts Center in O'Bryonville who coaches students ages 9-70 in both opera and musical theater.

Terry Faulkner says that while her daughter may have been born with an outstanding voice, the lessons have taught her proper techniques, such as trying to reach difficult notes without straining her vocal cords.

When she graduates from high school, Lauren hopes to pursue a career in music.

"I want to become an opera singer," she says.

Resnik says that while Lauren is on her way toward a future in music, opera is more than just honing the tunes.

"Opera has quite a long learning curve," he says. "There's so much to learn and research about roles."

He believes however, that his young student has the motivation to make it.

"She has a tremendous will to succeed," Resnik says. "And it's the type of field that's going to take the drive to get to where you want."

Beginnings is available for $10 at Everybody's Records 6106 Montgomery Road, and select Barnes & Noble locations. Lauren is recording a second album to be released in a few months.

E-mail mknific@enquirer.com