Tori Wilson

Twelve-year-old singer-songwriter Tori Wilson New York in August 1999, Tori currently lives, trains and goes to school in Long Island, New York. Tori is an avid reader, artists and participates in many local sports including basketball and volleyball. Tori decided at the young age of four that she wanted to be a performer after doing a camp talent show. She started appearing in commercials, print and TV shows, one showcase in 2008 when she was asked to sing by Nickelodeon Casting Directo...

Twelve-year-old singer-songwriter Tori Wilson New York in August 1999, Tori currently lives, trains and goes to school in Long Island, New York. Tori is an avid reader, artists and participates in many local sports including basketball and volleyball. Tori decided at the young age of four that she wanted to be a performer after doing a camp talent show. She started appearing in commercials, print and TV shows, one showcase in 2008 when she was asked to sing by Nickelodeon Casting Director David Doan she decided this was her “thing”. After appearing on a Nickelodeon Thanksgiving special in first grade Tori became the target of resentment and bullying from local children. We changed her school in an attempt to conceal her talents to avoid the ridicule; however after some of her performances becoming public knowledge it compounded the situation. Tori has been writing and training formally since she was eight with Broadway caliber trainers in both voice and dance. She was known as the little girl with the big voice, the pint size singer with soul, depth and strength beyond her years. Her voice coach connected her with a local young singer-songwriter-musician to get the songs completed. Tori wants her songs to be thought provoking and meaningful to others her age, the tween sector does not have an “age appropriate” role model. Tori is poised, classy and respectable, aware that she does not have to be half dressed nor foul mouthed to be accepted. Kids take well to her, mobbing her after performances, the boys love her, the girls admire her and aspire to be her. Tori acknowledges she has a great gift at such a young age and wants to use her voice to make a difference. Her first recorded single “Not Today” targets the bullies; being strong and confidant in who you are regardless of how well you fit in or stand out. Tori’s greatest vocal influences are Christina Aguilera, Pink and Taylor Swift for the empowering messages they convey in their lyrics. Media outlets are taking notice and helping Tori spread her message. Tori discussed her message with CBS’s Dana Tyler on Eye on NY.. Katherine Thurston of ABC’s One Life to Live, About.com says, “OLTL will be doing a whole new storyline on cyber bullying. I would love to feature Tori’s song … especially with all the recent exposure of this serious issue among teens.” (See full two page interview) Tori’s recent Madison Square Garden performance reaffirmed her desire to use her voice for good, saying “Knowing that people were listening I was really inspired to reach out and make a difference”. Tori’s other public performances include charity benefits organizations, including LI2Day Breast Cancer, LI Chapter of Chrons and Colitis, Lexibean Foundation and Robbies Run. The Mulchay’s show for Breast Cancer raised upward of fifteen thousand dollars. Beth Whitehouse of Newsday covered this wonderful act of children in philanthropy. Tori’s team has reached out to BOCES, CAPS, LIGLY and other organizations to help spread the Anti-Bullying message, recently having an article published in Newsday. At the heart of Tori’s Anti-Bullying campaign is her song “Not Today” that has become the Anti-Bullying anthem that is giving kids a voice and the courage to take a stand. During these Special Assemblies the children sing along with Tori as she performs the appropriately titled songs “Not Today”, “Shine” and “Brave”. “The message is so much stronger coming from a peer”, says 5th grade teacher Kim Miller of Forest Park Elementary School. “The lyrics deliver an empowering message. It is wonderful to see the energy of the kids as they sing along with Tori”. During the assemblies that run about an hour, Tori takes the message one step further calling out the bullies, and their need to mask their own insecurities by picking on others -- boldly stating that the bullying reign has come to an end. Tori is greeted by enthusiastic crowds armed with hand made Anti-Bullying Posters including lyrics from her song, “Your words feel colder, but you’re aiming at a fire” and “Every season change I know who I am inside”. As school assemblies are planned locally and nationwide, Tori continues to receive packages at home filled with letters from children thanking her, and even video of children singing Not Today.