How international are we???

[Susan]

Hello, all!

I know that this is "Hayley Westenra International" here, but I was just wondering... exactly how "international" are we all?

I know that perhaps the vast majority of you live in the UK, but there are also people here from "Down Under" perhaps? Or, maybe even from New Zealand, too?

I see that we have a few members from different parts of Europe, such as Germany and Holland... but where else is everybody from? Are there any Canadians here, for example? Let's see HOW MANY different countries we can count amongst ourselves, okay?

I'll start... I'm from the USA. (I suppose that you could guess that by my English spelling -- I type words such as "favorite" rather than "favourite" and "theater" rather than "theatre.") i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

What country is each one of you from? If you like, I could go back to the first message in this thread every so often, and edit a chart I could insert, counting the participants from various countries! Are you interested in seeing how far Hayley's fame has spread?

EDIT: Okay, Hayley fans... here is the promised chart:

COUNTRY-------------------Number of Participants
-----------------------------------------------------------------
UK *********************** 4
USA ********************* 2
HOLLAND ************** 1
GERMANY ************* 1

-----The above chart will be updated, as this thread progresses... I am only counting those who post here, referring to specific people, but NOT counting how many "hits" this website receives. Is that okay? C'mon, you "lurkers" from other countries... report in!

[roger]

Susan said:

I know that this is "Hayley Westenra International" here, but I was just wondering... exactly how "international" are we all?

Hi Susan,

What a fascinating question! All of your assumptions are more or less correct but I will let people speak for themselves rather than spoil the fun! However, to my knowledge, the US members currently outnumber the UK ones by about 12-10. There may be others on both sides though who haven't stated where they come from.

Certainly there are one or two in each of Canada, Australia and New Zealand and, as you know, Holland and Germany..... and elsewhere!

I am from the "https://i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifeep south" of England in the county of West Sussex from where I bring you greetings!

Roger

[Dave]

Nice thread, Susan

Me? Hampshire, UK!

[Joe]

Hello Susan!

I'm reporting from Pennsylvania state, USA (where the autumn foliage is bright and vibrant this year!)

[HWI]

Hello Susan,

And I am from the land of the Beatles - Merseyside in the North West of England.

I'll answer for Simon as well. He is from the fair city of Lincoln in Lincolnshire, England.

We also have people here from Brazil and, I think, a couple from China.

Then, of course, we have the discussion group, which completes the trio of sites. There, we also have members from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and Sweden.

Looking at the main website, HWI, we get visitors to the site from around 70 countries each month.

Keith.

[gareth]

Well, if we have to confirm our nationality, I have two nationalities, Dutch and Australian. So can I count for two ?

If not, then put me down as Dutch . Still awaiting the release of Pure here in Holland.

Gerrit

[Susan]

GerritK said:

Well, if we have to confirm our nationality, I have two nationalities, Dutch and Australian. So can I count for two ?

Sorry, Gerrit! You only have *one* user ID, so I can only count you once.

I'll count you as being from Holland, since that is where you live. Oh! What a shame that PURE has not yet been released there! Decca should release PURE in every country in Europe, already!

[Lothar]

[
I know that this is "Hayley Westenra International" here, but I was just wondering... exactly how "international" are we all?

My name is Lothar. I'm from Berlin (Germany).
I took part at a Hayley Westenra Concert 2004-10-13 in Berlin.

cu Lothar

[Richard]

Hello Susan!

I joined this Forum two weeks ago and I've just found this topic.

I'm from Morden, Surrey, England, or UK! Actually that's on the south-western edge of London, next to Wimbledon, home of the Tennis Championships.

Best Wishes,

Richard Norrington

[daddytom]

Hi Susan .

It's a good thing Richard found this thread and brought it to the top of the list or I would never have spotted it.

I'm from the eastern shores of Lake Michigan (USA)where, at the moment, it is snowing so hard I can't see my neighbors house across the street.

[Belinda]

Hi Susan,
only just saw this thread I'm from Hayley Central
Christchurch New Zealand

Regards Belinda

Long time Hayley Fan

[Lothar]

Hi everybody,
my questions are:
When and how you 've got the first information about Heyley??? What was your first contact with her music??? Did you ever been at any concert of Hayley???

c u Lothar

[Richard]

Hello again Lothar!

The first time I ever came across Hayley was when I found her CD "Pure" on a listening post in Borders book and music shop, Oxford Street, London on 19th September 2003, and I liked her voice immediately, because she sounded so refreshingly different. A few days later I saw an article in a newspaper about her, then soon after that I bought the CD and had a look at her official web site. There I found out she was appearing with Aled Jones at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon on 1st October 2003, and I managed to get a front row seat, two days before the concert! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

On the day I got there a bit early and almost immediately I recognised Hayley walking through the foyer towards me on her way to rehearsal, and I couldn't resist the temptation to say hello. We shook hands and only chatted for about a minute, but I remember it vividly! Her father was with her, but he just looked on and smiled proudly!

I went to see Hayley for the second time when she had her own concert at the London Palladium on 29th March 2004. Again I got there early, and waited by the stage door hoping to say hello to Hayley again when she arrived. Eventually she arrived in a taxi with both her parents, her sister Sophie and her brother Isaac, but instead of pulling up by the stage door, the taxi went round the corner towards the public entrance. I ran round the corner and escorted Hayley back to the stage door, while the rest of the family followed. I stayed behind after the concert to get her autograph on my copy of the tour brochure, and she thanked me for my help. I also met Gerrit from HWI at the London Palladium, and I've been an avid fan of the site ever since. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

I saw Hayley for the third time in her own concert at the Cliffs Pavilion, Southend on 21st November 2004. Old habits die hard, so I was there by the stage door to greet her when she arrived. I gave her a small present and she remembered me for helping her at the London Palladium nearly eight months previously! I also met Roger from HWI at Southend. I couldn't stay behind after the concert this time because I had to catch the last train back to London. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

On 20th March 2005 I met several more members of HWI, including Keith, when we went to see Hayley in Classicalive at the Olympia Exhibition Centre in London. This time I met Hayley when she arrived, again when she had a signing session at the Universal Music stand, and for the third time that afternoon after her recital! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Hayley is definitely one of the friendliest people in show business, and if you meet her you'll never forget her! Now I'm looking forward to seeing her with Jose Carreras at Hampton Court Palace on 15th June. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

This thread seems to have gone off topic, but I enjoyed reliving my memories there, so I'll forgive myself! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Cheerio from London,

Richard

[HWI]

I don't think it matters too much that we have gone off-topic on this thread. Especially if there is a chance of keeping it fresh and, maybe, getting people to answer the original question asked.

Hi Lothar,

It is coming up to four years since I first "https://i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifiscovered" Hayley. Seems like only yesterday. I am a daily visitor to the forum at CCFans and, on one of my visits, there was a new thread there started by one of the admin. It gave some information about Hayley - enough to fire my interest and send me off on a search of the web for more.

I found a website called Hayley Westenra NZ Fansite. They had some music clips and, when I first heard Hayley's voice, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This was the most amazing voice I had ever heard. So clear and pure. Such perfect pitch. The tonal quality giving me the impression that I could hear a bell. This is how I measure the difference between a good voice and a truly great one. There are many good voices out there but, a voice with a bell-like quality is rare and this, to me is the measure of a truly great voice.

Instantly, I had to find where I could get the CD from and, as soon as I found the website of Opus CDs I bought a copy. Their website, by the way, is www.opuscds.com

I quickly became involved in the running of the fansite and, following certain events which I will not cover here, the owner closed it on New Years Day 2002. We got the files from the owner and HWI was born.

From my first hearing Hayley, it was just over 2 years before I met her for the first time. That first meeting was on Sunday August 24th 2003 at the Faenol Festival in North Wales, where she appeared as guest of Bryn Terfel, singing on stage with him and Jose Carreras. I first spoke to Gerald and, as things progressed, he took my CD inserts to get Hayley to sign them for me. The next thing I knew, he was beckoning me to go through the security barrier and, on doing so, there was Hayley waiting to meet me. She had left a reception with more than 100 people waiting to speak to her just to meet me. That was a great honour. The best was yet to come when, almost four months later, she was touring with Aled Jones and was at Llandudno in North Wales. I was there too. When both Gerald and Hayley saw me, they remembered me instantly, greeting me by name.

I have since seen her many times and had the great pleasure of meeting all the family. Never have I met such beautiful people as them. So open, friendly, warm and honest. It is truly a great honour to know them and do what little we can to support her.

I now have the additional honour of knowing Steve, Hayley's manager, well and having met Costa Pilavachi of Decca Classics, London. These people also show that everyone around Hayley are really wonderful people. What a team they make. Hayley could not be in better hands.

To cap everything, I have made a lot of good friends through HWI and love meeting up with them whenever I can. Everyone who has joined the HWI team are a great benefit to us - all doing a wonderful job of supporting HWI and, through us, Hayley herself. I can't thank them enough for all they do. It makes my job so much easier and, knowing them brings me a lot of pleasure. The only way it gets better than that is when I get the chance to meet new friends. This is why I am looking forward to meeting you very soon. And, of course, any other fan who wants to come up and say hello.

Keith.

[gordonjones05]

hi

i am from leigh lancashire england

i'd like to say this is a great site for an excellent singer

keep up the good work

gordon