KAREN Zielinski-YOUNG was ready to write music and sing at nine years old. She wrote her first song reflecting the love of her pet dog. After learning to play the guitar at age thirteen, she performed an original love song called "Time" in a talent contest and won her first award.

Today, this singer from East Brunswick, NJ, writes poems and stories and then turns them into songs. She writes about people who are inspiring or news events that make an impact. Her songs reflect love of God, beauty found in creation and the passion of prayer.

At present she has written more than fifty songs and has thirty-five recorded. Fourteen of the original fifty are released on her folk-rock CD KAREN YOUNG WORDS ON THE WIND. Eight have recently been released on LEAP OF FAITH , a new collaboration with local Christian artists. Her third CD Heaven and Earth will begin being distributed in 2005.

"I wasn't planning on being a folk singer or a Christian rock and roller" said Karen Young. Song writing had always been a hobby but now it has become a big part of my life. It truly is a wonderful gift that God has allowed to enrich my life."

Karen has been a cantor at St. Gregory the Great Church in Hamilton, NJ, Immaculate Conception Church in Spotswood, NJ and St Veronica Church in Paupack, PA. She has performed her folk music at the Bucks County Coffee House in Princeton, NJ, the Monument Park Hotel in New Brunswick, NJ. She has also performed at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore in East Brunswick, NJ, Princeton, NJ and many other bookstores in NJ. Additionally, she has appeared on cablevision channel 30 several times during the station's showcase of local artists. She also has performed The Star Spangled Banner at the Trenton Thunder Waterfront Park in Trenton, N.J. Comcast Channel 9 covered the game.