Layne began her musical studies as a violinist. She studied acting at San Francisco State University and performed with the Hilberry Repertory Company for two years as Lady MacBeth, Mrs. Webb in “Our Town” and Alithea in “The Country Wife.”
 
In New York, Layne sang the role of Laura in the world premier of Nicholas Scarim’s opera, “The Father.” She sang Gertrude in “Hansel and Gretel” with the New American Opera Theatre’s United States tour. Layne also appeared in productions of the New York Grand Opera and the Mannes Mozart Project, singing such roles as Fiodiligi in “Cosi fan Tutte,” Donna Elvira in “Don Giovanni,” and Musetta in “La Boheme.”
 
Layne created her one-woman musical, "An Evening With Beatrice Lillie" as a tribute to her childhood idol, the legendary performer once called "the funniest woman in the world." Starring as Lillie herself, Layne received rave reviews in New York, San Francisco, Palm Springs, and at the Edinburgh and Spoleto Festivals (see Review Page).
 
Out of a deep love for the great American songbook, Layne creates and performs cabaret shows featuring the songs of Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Richard Rodgers, and that honorary American, Noel Coward. In 2011, Layne travelled to Cole Porter’s home town at the invitation of Joey Cole Kubesch, Cole Porter’s cousin, to kick off the annual Cole Porter Festival, celebrating the legendary Mr. Porter’s 120th birthday by performing her cabaret show, ”Cole Porter and Friends.”

Layne teaches voice, diction, and performance skills to many gifted singers of all ages in her voice studio in Carmel, California (see Voice Teacher Page). Layne is also on the music faculty at Santa Catalina School in Monterey, California.