Marjorie Dawson is only 16 years old, but you'd never know it from listening to her recent debut album, "A Foreign American Song." Like the tracks on her CD that reflect worldliness, Dawson's voice belies her age.


With tracks that include "L'Amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle," you'd never guess that Dawson's first language is English. In fact, most of the tracks are sung in Spanish. Dawson also sings two Judeo-Sephardic songs in Ladino, "Si La Mar Fuera de Leche" and "Adio Querida."


Produced by Mark Sinko under the Thleudron Record Label, "A Foreign American Song" was recorded with a full orchestra, with the collaboration of veteran San Antonio musicians including violinist Sebastian Campesi. A violinist with the San Antonio Symphony for two decades, Campesi blends Italian and Gypsy folk traditions.


"A Foreign American Song," recorded at San Antonio's Salmon Peak Recording Studio, is the high school student's first professional foray - and the culmination of four months of studio rehearsals. Her previous musical experience is limited to a country and blues demo she recorded at age 14 with Dr. Beltram Roberts.


While Dawson's CD is rich in cultural overtones, it also reveals a wide range of musical genres. Dawson masters everything from a sultry tango to a Broadway show tune ("All That Jazz") to an operatic number and a world- renowned inspirational piece ("Ave Maria").


For more information and to hear audio clips, visit http://www.thleudron.com/. "A Foreign American Song" is available online at http://www.cdbaby.com/ and http://www.amazon.com/.