Tania Lilley had been singing for years — at funerals, weddings, community-theater productions or just for friends and family.
The mostly self-taught soprano had little thought of becoming a professional vocalist.
“Folks have always asked me, ‘Will you ever record that?’” she said. “I’m like, ‘No.’”
Then, fellow church member Proctor Kidwell, on hearing Lilley sing at a funeral, suggested the Belhaven librarian record a CD.
The next thing Lilley knew it was early October and she was in a local recording studio, warbling the tunes on her first-ever album, “Ave.”
The CD, due out soon, is comprised of seven tracks, including the title tune, “Ave Maria,” by Franz Schubert.
Lilley has made the song one of her specialties.
Her debut recordings are linked by a classical thread.
“The style is … more angelic music,” she said. “It’s a classical genre.”
Lilley is accompanied on the CD by Curtis Waters, the organist for Mother of Mercy Catholic Church, which Lilley attends with her family.
The CDs will be available for purchase, at a cost of $15 apiece, during two concerts featuring the singer.
The first of these concerts will be staged at 4 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Belhaven Public Library and the second at 3 p.m. Dec. 11 at the George H. and Laura E. Brown Library in Washington.
In addition to her work as a librarian, Lilley teaches home-schooled children on a part-time basis. The 37-year-old former theater teacher is an East Carolina University graduate with a bachelor of fine arts degree.
Lilley is married to Chris Corey, who works in security with private industry.
Kidwell, who said he has known Lilley “off and on” for most of her life, financed the “Ave” venture, which he hopes will launch the singer on the professional path of her choice.
Kidwell, a Washington business owner, is working on setting up a website to sell the CD.
“She has a beautiful voice,” he said of Lilley. “I think people will be happy to hear her.”
For more information, call Lilley at 252-927-3126 or 252-385-1368.