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The Christchurch girl with the voice of an angel is spreading her wings.
Hayley Westenra,whose debut international albim,Pure,will be launched in New Zealand on July 17,is off on an eight month promotional tour.
It will take her to Australia,Hong Kong,Korea,and Singapore and then to the United Kingdom.
A concert in Wales with international tenors Bryn Terfel and Jose Carreras ,and two in London,will be highlights in a dreamlike trip that will introduce the year 12 Burnside High School student to the music world.
I'm going to miss my family and my friends and just being home,with space outside.But what i'm doing is just so exciting," the 16 year old singer said.
Alongside the glamorous gowns in her suitcase will be lots of natural herbal products designed to keep the young
vegetarian healthy.
Last year, Hayley signed with Decca Records,
International the world's largest classical label and home to greats such as Andrea Bocelli ,Pavourotti and Russell Watson,
Hayley has broken new artistic ground in her choice of songs for Pure.
Before,I was singing show tunes and light classical music. It was all one genre,whereas now i've got a lot more variety.
I'm going to more extremes withproper classical pieces and poppier songs.
Making this album has broadened the way i sing, I've developed different singing styles."
And for the time being,that is just where she wants to stay.
Sometimes i think i'd like to be an Opera singer one day,but when i hear Celine Dion and other people,I'd love to do that too.I guess you see how it goes.You feel your way through."
For the moment,life is exciting enough.
When your recording,it's a relaxed atmosphere and a fun experience,but when you're performing live,its a real buzz."
It won't all be promotional work and travel for the young student,halfway through her sixth form year,however.
A tutor has been engaged in London to help her keep up with school work.
I'll be working towards some GCE subjects,English language,English literature,French,German,Science,Maths,and History."
Hayley Westenra on spots,boys,and rebellion.
Robbie Williams has a few steamy,controversial ones out there and Geri Halliwell created two of her own now Hayley Westenra has her first.
But at the age of 17,the kiwi singing sensation admits she was initially baffled by the idea of having a biography written when she was still so young.
I wondered what there would be to say in it or if there would be anything new,"says Hayley,during a whistle-stop visit to Auckland."But i must admit,after reading the book,I've found out a lot of things even i didn't know,like little incidents from my childhood.It's been a discovery for me."
Published this week,
Hayley Westenra:The World at Her Feet,by former Listener editor Paul Little,covers Hayley's life from babyhood to the present day.It might only be 17 years so far but she's certainly packed a lot into that short time.In the past five years alone she has gone from busking school girl to global superstar,singing for the Queen,US President George W Bush,and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.She tours with opera legend Andrea Bocelli,and is about to start recording a follow- up to her best-selling album Pure.
"I am so busy that the hardest part about doing the book was finding time to answer the questions,"says Hayley."Thankfully,my parents helped out and filled in lots of the blanks. I'm on the go all the time. I have no idea how far i've flown or how many flights i've taken.
I tend to fall asleep when i get on a plane because i know that once we touch down, it will be all go again."
Despite her youth,Hayley is a consummate professional in every way.She is always gracious and,unlike some teens and certain grown-up celebrities, she doesn't throw tantrums,no matter how tired she is.
" People always ask me when i'm going to rebel but if i was going to,it would've happened before now,"she smiles."And what would i rebel against anyway?Just myself .There's no point in doing that."
However,she admits there are days when she would love to loll in bed and squeeze her spots,like other girls her age.
"I think. Oh, if only i could just have another hour sleeping,'but i usually have to get up and do something,which can be frustrating,"she says. "As for spots,I do get them and even though i'd love to give them a squeeze, I can't because chances are i'd have to have my photo taken. And there it would be, a big red spot,glowing away."
Seeing her own image on TV and in magazines and newspapers is something Hayley has grown up with. But it can create pressure on someone who is still growing.
"When i was younger, i could eat anything and never put on weight but that's not the case now," she says.
I'm a vegetarian and i always try to eat sensibly,which can be hard when i'm travelling a lot.I think it's important to make sure i eat the right things.It would be so easy to only have junk food.
My mum and i usually find a nice little vegetarian restaurant or something like that.
It's funny because people think we must be really rich and eat at posh hotels. But we're not. It's still early on in my career. We have to cover our expenses and watch what we spend.It's only artists like Britney Spears who make lots of money and can buy anything they like."
On a recent trip to Australia,Hayley and her mum Jill decided to have lunch at a Hare Krishna centre.
We didn't realise before the food came ,everyone had to sing and dance,"she laughs."There we were,with a whole lot of other people,trying to sing along and do all the actions,our tummies rumbling.
When the food did come out, it was in big plastic buckets and ladled into bowls. It tasted great though."
As Hayley talks, her beautiful smile's rarely absent. Even when she scotches rumours of an alleged romance with pop star Daniel Bedingfield, she does so cheerfully.
Daniel is great but we are just friends,two fellow kiwis,"she says "Anyway, i don't have time for boyfriends now. It would be nice one day in the future but at the moment i'm too busy."
When Hayley travels,one of her parents,either Jill or dad Gerald,goes with her.The other remains at their modest Christchurch Home with Hayley's two siblings, Isaac(11) and Sophie(14).
Jill and Gerald have always keep her grounded during her rise to fame. In fact, the biography includes a section by Hayley's parents on how to make the most of your childs talents and success.
Their philosophy works well for Hayley.When she's back home, she says it's as if the past five years had never happened."My friends treat me exactly the same as before. They say i haven't changed."
During her travels, her parents make sure she keeps up with her schoolwork.
"I have Maths and English exams ahead,"Hayley groans. "I'm also doing drama because i want to get into acting but i need to be able to do a convincing American accent to work there. I don't want to end up always being cast as the backpacker!"
No matter how hectic her life is ,however,Hayley is always touched by her fans.
She recently rang up an eight year old Wellington girl who had written to her."Her letter was so sweet and i was sitting in my hotel with nothing to do so i thought i'd ring her for a chat,"she says.Lovely moments like that are special to me.I'm very lucky to be doing what i'm doing and i never forget that."
Article written by Sharon Course
