Post by stephch on Sept 12, 2005 15:16:08 GMT
ichuddersfield.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0330features/tm_objectid=15959961&method=full&siteid=50060&headline=she-s-the-girl-with-the-purest-of-voices-name_page.html
She's the girl with the Purest of voices Sep 10 2005
By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner
SHE IS one of the new breed of classical music stars.
Young, talented and with demure girl next door looks, New Zealander Hayley Westenra has become another sensation on the international music scene.
Her debut album, made when she was just 15, shot to the top of the British classical music charts. And its title, Pure underlined perfectly just what to expect from the latest female singing star - a voice that was crisp, clear and bell like. In other words. Pure.
Two years on, Hayley has become one of a tight group of female stars who have shaken up the classical music world and given it a contemporary edge. She may not share the Welsh roots of Charlotte Church and Katherine Jenkins but she has certainly had her share of the success that has greeted these two British singers.
Little wonder then that Huddersfield Methodist Choir is bursting with the news that they have lured Hayley to Huddersfield where she will join them and Pennine Brass for their pre-Christmas concert on December 17.
It is a great coup for the choir which is already in celebratory mood since this is its 60th anniversary year and concerts this autumn will already have something of an excitement about them.
Bringing in big name singers seems to have become something of a regular habit in Huddersfield. For the past two summers, Innovate Skelmanthorpe Band has packed the Town Hall by combining its musical skills with those of first Aled Jones and then of Katherine Jenkins.
It is a winning formula which worked for the band and one which the Methodist Choir is now keeping fingers crossed will do the same for them.
Hayley certainly has all the right credentials with a great singing talent and real star potential.
She was born in New Zealand in 1987 and now lives in Christchurch. Her singing talent is said to have been spotted first when she was just six and appearing in a school production. She studied violin, piano and ballet and had appeared in 40 amateur stage musicals in Christchurch by the time she was 11.
At 12, Hayley was heading for the recording studio, taping some of favourite songs for the first time purely "as a memento".
By 15, she was recording for real, releasing her debut album called Pure. It has sold two million copies so far, topped the UK classical charts and also went Top Ten in the pop equivalent. In New Zealand, it was the biggest-selling album of all time and in Japan - where Hayley enjoyed a No. 1 single with Amazing Grace - she was the most popular classical artist of 2004 and won two Japanese Grammies.
"There wasn't a particular point where I realised that I could sing," says Hayley. "But, from about the age of eight, I knew that I wanted to be on the stage. My grandmother was a singer. My grandfather played the piano and piano-accordion.
"A lot of my fondness for music came from them, and no doubt from their Welsh and Irish ancestry, too. When I reached 12, I finally knew I wanted to be a singer."
Early success quickly changed her life. From being a schoolgirl, living at home with mum Jill, dad Gerald, sister Sophie, and brother Isaac, she found herself centre stage - worldwide.
Three years on, at the still tender age of 18, Hayley has already sung for presidents, prime ministers and royalty. And she has teamed up with some of the best known voices in classical music, including Andrea Bocelli, José Carreras and the Welsh star, Bryn Terfel.
Now Hayley is preparing to release Odyssey, a new album said to reflect the maturity of her voice which is said to be richer and rounder than ever while retaining that crystal clear purity for which she is known.
The teenager is expected to sing some of the material from this new album when she arrives in Huddersfield.
She will sing two 25 minutes spots and is expected to include some of the songs from the album. each and will feature songs from her new CD
"I was happy with Pure at the time, but I've moved on so much," says Hayley.
"It's really exciting to have something new out there for people to listen to. I wanted to make a record that represented me as a person. And I think I've improved as a vocalist."
"It's exciting to have songs that are now part of my own repertoire," she says.
"It's nice to have a balance between new pieces and tracks that people already know. It would be boring to do a whole album of established songs. It's great to introduce new material to the world."
"This album just evolved," she continues. "The material came from all over the place, but I deliberately chose songs that I could adapt to my own strengths. Adding strings, developing vocal theme, or actually simplifying an arrangement can produce a fresh take on well known songs".
"Whatever the genre, I try to focus on the lyrics and immerse myself in the music. When I was recording May It Be, a song from The Lord Of The Rings, I pictured the New Zealand landscape to help me create the right atmosphere whilst singing."
Odyssey is Hayley's second international release. It is also, remarkably, her fifth collection overall. But none of that seems to have changed this level-headed young woman.
"I find it easy to keep my feet on the ground. I'm excited by everything that's going on, but it's only a couple of years ago that I was still going into school every day."
The concert is being sponsored by Huddersfield Audi. Tickets are already on sale (priced £15 to £20) from Mrs L Rhodes on 01484 542257 or Mrs J Wilkinson on 01484 512428
She's the girl with the Purest of voices Sep 10 2005
By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner
SHE IS one of the new breed of classical music stars.
Young, talented and with demure girl next door looks, New Zealander Hayley Westenra has become another sensation on the international music scene.
Her debut album, made when she was just 15, shot to the top of the British classical music charts. And its title, Pure underlined perfectly just what to expect from the latest female singing star - a voice that was crisp, clear and bell like. In other words. Pure.
Two years on, Hayley has become one of a tight group of female stars who have shaken up the classical music world and given it a contemporary edge. She may not share the Welsh roots of Charlotte Church and Katherine Jenkins but she has certainly had her share of the success that has greeted these two British singers.
Little wonder then that Huddersfield Methodist Choir is bursting with the news that they have lured Hayley to Huddersfield where she will join them and Pennine Brass for their pre-Christmas concert on December 17.
It is a great coup for the choir which is already in celebratory mood since this is its 60th anniversary year and concerts this autumn will already have something of an excitement about them.
Bringing in big name singers seems to have become something of a regular habit in Huddersfield. For the past two summers, Innovate Skelmanthorpe Band has packed the Town Hall by combining its musical skills with those of first Aled Jones and then of Katherine Jenkins.
It is a winning formula which worked for the band and one which the Methodist Choir is now keeping fingers crossed will do the same for them.
Hayley certainly has all the right credentials with a great singing talent and real star potential.
She was born in New Zealand in 1987 and now lives in Christchurch. Her singing talent is said to have been spotted first when she was just six and appearing in a school production. She studied violin, piano and ballet and had appeared in 40 amateur stage musicals in Christchurch by the time she was 11.
At 12, Hayley was heading for the recording studio, taping some of favourite songs for the first time purely "as a memento".
By 15, she was recording for real, releasing her debut album called Pure. It has sold two million copies so far, topped the UK classical charts and also went Top Ten in the pop equivalent. In New Zealand, it was the biggest-selling album of all time and in Japan - where Hayley enjoyed a No. 1 single with Amazing Grace - she was the most popular classical artist of 2004 and won two Japanese Grammies.
"There wasn't a particular point where I realised that I could sing," says Hayley. "But, from about the age of eight, I knew that I wanted to be on the stage. My grandmother was a singer. My grandfather played the piano and piano-accordion.
"A lot of my fondness for music came from them, and no doubt from their Welsh and Irish ancestry, too. When I reached 12, I finally knew I wanted to be a singer."
Early success quickly changed her life. From being a schoolgirl, living at home with mum Jill, dad Gerald, sister Sophie, and brother Isaac, she found herself centre stage - worldwide.
Three years on, at the still tender age of 18, Hayley has already sung for presidents, prime ministers and royalty. And she has teamed up with some of the best known voices in classical music, including Andrea Bocelli, José Carreras and the Welsh star, Bryn Terfel.
Now Hayley is preparing to release Odyssey, a new album said to reflect the maturity of her voice which is said to be richer and rounder than ever while retaining that crystal clear purity for which she is known.
The teenager is expected to sing some of the material from this new album when she arrives in Huddersfield.
She will sing two 25 minutes spots and is expected to include some of the songs from the album. each and will feature songs from her new CD
"I was happy with Pure at the time, but I've moved on so much," says Hayley.
"It's really exciting to have something new out there for people to listen to. I wanted to make a record that represented me as a person. And I think I've improved as a vocalist."
"It's exciting to have songs that are now part of my own repertoire," she says.
"It's nice to have a balance between new pieces and tracks that people already know. It would be boring to do a whole album of established songs. It's great to introduce new material to the world."
"This album just evolved," she continues. "The material came from all over the place, but I deliberately chose songs that I could adapt to my own strengths. Adding strings, developing vocal theme, or actually simplifying an arrangement can produce a fresh take on well known songs".
"Whatever the genre, I try to focus on the lyrics and immerse myself in the music. When I was recording May It Be, a song from The Lord Of The Rings, I pictured the New Zealand landscape to help me create the right atmosphere whilst singing."
Odyssey is Hayley's second international release. It is also, remarkably, her fifth collection overall. But none of that seems to have changed this level-headed young woman.
"I find it easy to keep my feet on the ground. I'm excited by everything that's going on, but it's only a couple of years ago that I was still going into school every day."
The concert is being sponsored by Huddersfield Audi. Tickets are already on sale (priced £15 to £20) from Mrs L Rhodes on 01484 542257 or Mrs J Wilkinson on 01484 512428
