Hayley Westenra (born on April 10, 1987) is a singer from Christchurch, New Zealand with Irish roots.
At the age of six, Hayley was the first time on stage. The occasion was a nativity play at her school, and it took Hayley's parents (Jill and Gerald Westenra) for the first time the talent of her daughter in mind. A teacher, who watched the show, noted that Hayley was pitch perfect, and he recommended Jill, Hayley should learn an instrument to promote their talent. From this point on, music became a driving force in the life of Hayley. At age 11 she had already participated in over 40 stage productions, sung on TV shows and had performed at major concerts.
In 2000 Hayley on a CD. This was primarily intended as a personal gift, and only 1000 copies were pressed from it. Coincidentally, a journalist from a local radio station got wind of it and played the CD. A concert agency was aware of Hayley and a record deal with Universal Music New Zealand soon followed.
Their debut album for Universal Music Hayley Westenra immediately reached No. 1 on the pop charts and stayed for four weeks at the top. Soon afterwards, the Christmas album My Gift To You.
2003 was followed by the first international album (Pure) and the first world tour in New Zealand, Australia (where they got the Opera House of Sydney standing ovation), Japan and Great Britain.
Her passion for singing and her desire to appear on stage early. It is six years old when she participated in a show organized by his school, his parents and his teachers are witnesses to his "perfect pitch" (the singing perfectly in tune) and his budding talent.
At 12, she decided to enter the studio to record an album memento, for the family and friends to keep track of his voice at that time.
Hayley reveals her talent around her through the busking (the fact to occur in the street) she often practiced with her sister, Sophie, and brother, Isaac, at the Arts Centre of Christchurch, until that a local journalist interested in her and offers to go on the air.
This television performance captures the attention of Universal NZ who offered to sign a contract with them then qu'Hayley only 13 years. The first album she released on this label called Hayley Westenra simply and quickly, in front of his success - it is done three times platinum - Universal decides qu'Hayley NZ needs a world stage. So she signed with Decca Records, a subsidiary of Universal, for an international career.
Hayley's first CD with Decca, her first international album, Pure qu'Hayley then released in 2003 is 16. Success was immediate: in New Zealand, the album is 12 times platinum and the best selling album of all time in England, the album went gold in a week, triple disc Platinum and it becomes, at the time, the classical artist whose first album has sold soon in the history of English music. If today, Hayley has lost this capacity, Pure nevertheless remains the best selling classical album in Britain in the XXIst century. The album has sold 2 million copies worldwide.
Since the success and reputation of Hayley have been increasing.
Today, just 23 years, Hayley has already released five albums International - Pure, Odyssey, Treasure, River of Dreams: The Very Best of Hayley Westenra and Winter Magic - she has sung in major theaters - the Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Capitol Fourth, and so on. - And before the largest audiences - the Queen of England, Prince Charles, the Presidents or the Dalai Lama.
It also multiplies the prestigious collaborations with, among others, James Horner, Karl Jenkins, Mike Oldfield, Debbie Wiseman, Jose Carreras, Bryn Terfel and Celtic Woman.
Finally, in parallel, it is actively involved in charities including the Royal British Legion, the Dame Vera Lynn Trust & School, or UNICEF, which is one of the youngest ambassadors.
The last album of Hayley, Paradiso is a collaboration with legendary composer Ennio Morricone soundtracks. It was certified gold in New Zealand only four weeks after its release.
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