Mia Elisa Durante was born on April 11, 1977 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia. Mia started singing at the tender age of six as the youngest member of her elementary school's gospel choir and immediately astounded her teachers, as well as capturing local community audiences, with a rare naturally powerful vocal ability and stage presence that far surpassed her years. Because of this Mia snagged many solo performances and was soon dubbed "Little Kate Smith" after the famous 1930's icon. In fact, the young songbird became so well known that before long she was signing autographs and standing for pictures with fans! Mia went on to audition for the Broadway musical Annie, thoroughly impressing many producers along the way, but eventually was passed upon for the lead role due to the fact that she was too small yet to fit into any of the costumes.

Hope prevailed though in the guise of the 1985 H.O.P.E. Ethiopia Telethon where Mia made her first ever solo TV appearance at the age of eight singing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz. Many more performances followed including doctor's conventions, talent shows, and Easter parades. Time flew by, the 80's turned into the 90's, and Mia was to start high school.

Thoroughly enjoying her career but being intelligent enough to realize she needed to take time off to be a teen Mia continued to maintain a low-profile presence in school plays and choir while experiencing such wonderful things as sleep-overs, the perils of dating, and Prom. Meanwhile she immersed herself in the music of such wonderful artists as Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan, Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston. Mia also took up piano lessons, further gaining knowledge by experimenting with song writing, track mixing, and learning the inner facets of how a recording studio works. Senior year she re-emerged as a member of Select Singers and wowed her entire school at the end of the year talent show with her new and improved voice crooning a song she'd written and co-produced herself with a local producer!

After graduation Mia decided it was time to take her career to the next level. She began studying acting under coach Barbara Segal and participated in local talent shows and improv groups. In 1996 Mia sent out her first series of demo submissions and was almost immediately contacted by an Assistant A&R at Arista Records. In fact, she was very close to a potential record deal when tragedy struck on July 12, 1996 in the form of horrible two car accident. Mia, who'd saved two friends lives during the ordeal by shielding them with her arm, was encased in the vehicle for forty-five minutes before paramedics could free her with the Jaws of Life and rush her to the hospital. Eight months of grueling rehabilitation followed combined with another eight months of severe depression. All seemed lost.

"It was a terrible ordeal," Mia explains, "but it taught me a lot about friends and life and how to reach for what you want no matter how high it seems. It certainly wasn't an easy struggle but I'm proud of what I've accomplished now. That accident showed me what is really important in life and helped me realize just how much music means to me. It's made me a stronger person overall and I wouldn't trade that in."

So how does the story end? "There isn't an ending yet," Mia exclaims with a mischievous grin. "As far as I'm concerned, I'm right at the beginning. There's a whole world out there and endless possibilities lie ahead for me. I just focus on getting through it all with happiness, determination, perseverance, and love. As long as you stay true to yourself there's nothing you can't do!"

Mia has released her 4 Song CD Sampler to top notch music professionals and is currently expanding her musical experience by performing at local area clubs and karaoke establishments while she awaits a record deal. She has had a major influence on the Internet with a bevy of official and non-official sites as well as interviews (on-line and print magazines) garnering her with an already quite extensive world wide following.