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Hayley Dee Westenra
Származás Új-Zéland, Christchurch
Pályafutás
Műfajokklasszikus, pop, kelta
Aktív évek2000-től napjainkig
Hangszerének
KiadókUniversal New Zealand
Decca Records
[http://HayleyWestenra.com Hayley Dee Westenra weboldala]
Sablon • Wikidata • Segítség

Hayley Dee Westenra (Christchurch, Új-Zéland 1987 április 10) egy ír származású új-zélandi szoprán énekes. Első Pure című albuma, elérte az első helyezést a brit klasszikus zenei toplisán 2003-ban és több, mint két millió példányban kelt el világszerte. Westenra több díjat nyert zenei pályáért, mind új-zélandon, mind világszerte.

A Pure című album sikerével, Hayley nemzetközi sztár lett már 16 évesen. 2006 augusztusában belépett az ír Celtic Woman nevű együttesbe és velük turnézott a 2007 tavaszán.

Westenra sok uralkodó és más métóság előtt lépett fel. Mint a legfiatalabb UNICEF nagykövet sok dícséretet kap jótékonysági tevékenységeiért.

Életrajza

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Kezdetek

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Hayley családjában voltak már zenészek: nagyanyja Shirley Ireland énekes volt és nagyapja zongorista volt aki tangóharmónikázott is.

Westenra zenei karrierje hat éves korában kezdődött amikor őt választották a "Little Star" in the Karácsonyi előadásban az iskolában, a Cobham Intermediate-ben. Az előadás után, egy tanár azt mondta szüleinek, hogy a lányuknak abszolút hallása van. A tanár bátorította Westenra, hogy tanuljon meg játszani egy hangszeren, hogy fejlessze képességeit. A lány erre fel megtanulta a kottát olvasni és megtanult hegedűn, zongorán és furulyán játszani. Később hangleckéket vett és ennek követeztébe felfedezte a musicalek iránti szenvedélyét. Tizenegy éves korában már több, mint 40 alkalommal lépett fel.

Tizenkét évesen Hayley egy profi zenestúdióba, hogy felvegyék az eredetileg a barátoknak és a családnak készített Walking in the Air című demo albumát. Ebből az albumból összesen 1000 példány készült. Miután befejezte az albumot, mind Hayley mind húga, Sophie, utcazenélt Christchurchben. A párt sokan hallagaták, köztük egy hölgy, ki megkérdezte tőlük, hogy if they had ever recorded anything. A hölgyről kiderült, hogy egy a Canterbury Television dolgozó journalist, amikor megkérte Hayleyt, hogy to appear on air.

A concert promotion company, under the direction of Gray Bartlett, watched the show and became interested in dealing with her. [1] Shortly after this, she was offered a recording deal with Universal New Zealand before even meeting any representatives of th company.[2] On this label, Westenra released a self-titled album of show tunes and light classical songs, as well as My Gift to You, a CD of Christmas music. Following the success of her albums, she was offered and later received lessons from Dame Malvina Major.[3]

International success

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Although her albums were quite successful in New Zealand, Westenra was unknown worldwide until she landed a contract with Decca Records and recorded Pure, a CD of classical, light pop and traditional Māori songs. Decca's UK president was also impressed with her voice when they signed her to the label, saying that she was "captivated by the beauty and expressiveness of her voice."[4] Pure enjoyed record success: it became the fastest-selling debut album in the history of the UK classical charts, sold 19,068 copies in its first week alone, quickly reached #1 on the UK chart, and entered the UK Pop Chart at #8.[1][5] To date, over two million copies of Pure have been sold. In New Zealand Pure has been certified 10x platinum, making her the best-selling artist—regardless of genre—in the country's history.[6]

Pure's success ensured that Decca would take Westenra seriously. Some of her fame today can be directly attributed to the way in which Decca promoted her. Although the traditional audience of classical crossover music is that of adult women, they also promoted her music to children and teenagers.[7] Westenra recorded the end-title song for Disney's movie Mulan II.[8] They also featured her on the national Radio Disney music education tour for middle-school students. David Horn, the producer of her live TV special which aired on PBS' Great Performances, said, "Her singing is so gorgeous, it's reminiscent of the great boy-soprano sound of Anglican church choirs."[7] This special was entitled, Hayley Westenra: Live from New Zealand.[3][9]

Decca has also promoted her on television. She took her first acting role on the US programme American Dreams ("Charade"), where she played guitar and sang "Who Painted the Moon Black?".[10] While she was being promoted in Los Angeles, California, Marc Johnston, senior VP/GM for the Universal Classics Group, said, "When she was out there, people were giving her scripts to read, and she had a few rather impromptu auditions. So some film and TV roles are currently in the works."[7] In 2005, she was featured in the song "Bridal Ballad" recorded for the movie The Merchant of Venice.[11] In 2006, she was featured on the motion picture soundtrack for The New World for the song "Listen to the Wind".

Westenra was the 2004 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards winner of "Highest Selling New Zealand Album" and "International Achievement Award"[12] On 20 February 2004, Prime Minister Helen Clark awarded her for being the first New Zealand artist to receive the tenfold platinum status in the New Zealand market, where she held the number one artist position for 18 weeks.[1] She has won two Japanese Grammies for her work (Song of the Year, "Amazing Grace" and Album of the Year, Pure). Also in 2004, she began her world tour of New Zealand, Australia, Japan and the UK, performing in a concert in November for Her Majesty The Queen, Prime Minister Tony Blair, Prince Charles, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice and President George W. Bush.[13]. At the Sydney Opera House she received a rare standing ovation. She concluded 2004 with a successful Christmas tour of the east coast of the United States as guest soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra.[14]

Westenra in concert

In 2005, she released a new album called Odyssey. A mix of classical, pop, Celtic, and new age music, she co-wrote and arranged some of the tracks on the album, which was released in the United States on 18 October 2005. A more recent version of Odyssey was released in the United Kingdom on 10 April 2006, her 19th birthday. It has several new recordings not on the original album. To conclude 2005, she made an appearance on Kurt Browning's programme Gotta Skate, which aired on 18 December, in which she performed with Andrea Bocelli.[15]

She spent the first half of 2006 performing as a supporting act for the pop-opera quartet Il Divo on a worldwide tour, though in March she performed solo concerts in the U.S. as well. That tour officially ended in June, but was then extended by six performances. She then held several concerts in the UK and Germany through the end of the northern summer.[16] On 5 September 2006, Westenra was named as one of the ten outstanding young people in the world by the Junior Chamber International. On 13 November 2006 she participated in the dedication of the New Zealand War Memorial in London.[17] Three of Westenra's great-uncles served in World War II, one was killed.[18]

After releasing Pure, Westenra and her family moved to London. She continues to live in her own central London flat, even though her family subsequently returned home to Christchurch. Although she spent most of 2006 touring, she did visit them when her schedule allowed.[19]

Beyond her initial success

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In August 2006, she joined Celtic Woman[20] and is featured on their second major DVD/CD album, Celtic Woman: A New Journey, which was released January 30 2007 and immediately hit the Billboard Top 200 music chart at #4.[21] She toured with the group in the United States in 2007, with scheduled appearances in 88 venues across the country; the tour ended in June of the same year.[22][23]

Westenra's third international album, Treasure, was released on 26 February 2007 in the UK. All the songs on this CD were chosen by Westenra, who gave her record company "no say in the matter. I basically didn't let them in on what I was recording until the last minute so they had no choice. I didn't give them much room to disagree."[24] Tracks on this album include "E Pari Ra", "One Fine Day", "Let Me Lie", "Danny Boy", and "Abide With Me". Westenra co-wrote four of the fifteen tracks, and the album also features singer Humphrey Berney. The US/Australia/NZ edition followed in March under the name Celtic Treasure. Westenra dedicated the album to her grandmother, Shirley Ireland. Inside the sleeve of the UK edition, she wrote "I come from a musical family, and one with a real sense of history. My forefathers were on the maiden voyage from Ireland to Christchurch, New Zealand in 1850 – there's even a commemoration plaque in Cathedral Square, Christchurch, which bears the name Westenra. My grandmother used to sit me on her knee and sing songs like Danny Boy from as early as I can remember. A singer herself in her earlier years, she has always been a never-ending source of songs. It's this legacy of music that she's been passing down to me since my childhood, and it's many of these beautiful old songs that I've explored here on my album."

As her success increased so did her political activism. On St. Patrick's Day 2007, she performed again for President George Bush at the White House.[25] She had plans to present the President with a petition to place a mandatory carbon cap on the United States.[26] The goal of the petition was compliance with the commitment made by President Clinton in previous years to follow the Kyoto Protocol.[27] However, she was not able to present the petition because the President was rushed away after her concert, due to a terrorist threat.[28]

She starred as Maria in the 2007 recording of West Side Story. The album of the 2007 West Side Story recording was released on 30 July.[26] On 28 July, she stared in Woburn LIVE 2007, where she performed a selection of the music of West Side Story with the other recording artists from the 2007 release.[29]

Westenra is known as a vegetarian/pescotarian, and is currently nominated for PETA's 'Sexiest Vegetarian' for 2007.[30][31][32][33] However, when touring she is sometimes unable to carry on her modus vivendi, concerned about getting the appropriate amounts of nutrients. She is sometimes unable to obtain the vegetarian sources she prefers, and on those occasions she eats meat to fulfil her nutritional requirements. Westenra told the New Zealand Herald, "I'm completely bursting the bubble now, aren't I? That's that ruined."[34]

Philanthropy and charity

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Westenra is the youngest UNICEF Ambassador to date. In 2005, Westenra visited Ghana to publicize her project, Bikes for Ghana, and actively help funding for UNICEF; this involved raising money to purchase bicycles for young girls, allowing them to get to their schools from outlying surrounding areas.[35][36] When she was later interviewed about her charity work in Ghana she had this to say, "I met girls who had been given bikes and I could see how much it meant to them. We wanted to borrow one just for a photo and they wouldn't let them go they were really reluctant".[37] On 8 June 2007, Westenra will be performing in a fundraising concert for her UNICEF charity, Bikes for Ghana, at the Victoria Hall in Stoke-on-Trent.[38]

She has also been the ambassador for Save the Children in Hongkong. More recently, she took part in a breast cancer awareness campaign in New Zealand.[14] One of the other charities which she helps is the Women's Environmental Network.[39] Another major charity she helps is the Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy. All the children who receive her help at this Center for Music Therapy are disabled.[40]

Discography

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Albums

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NZ albums

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Year Album Title Notes
2000 Walking in the Air An independently produced "demo"[1][3]
2001 Hayley Westenra Her first studio album
2001 My Gift to You A Christmas Music CD

International albums

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Year Album Title Notes
2003 Pure Her first release outside New Zealand and Australia; topped the charts at #1 NZ, #7 AUS, #7 UK, #70 US
2005 Odyssey Released on 8 August in New Zealand; released 18 October in the US; hit the charts at #1 NZ, #10 UK
2005 Live From New Zealand Recording of a live concert in New Zealand; also includes biographical information as a special feature on the DVD
2007 Celtic Woman: A New Journey Westenra joined the group Celtic Woman in the production of their next DVD, A New Journey,[41]
2007 Treasure Third international album, released in the UK on 26 February and in the USA on 13 March (under the name Celtic Treasure)[42] On 26 March, just a month after its release, Treasure topped the New Zealand album charts, and has so far gone two-times platinum (35,000 copies sold) in New Zealand).
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Year Featured In Notes
2003 Russell Watson Live Sang "I Dreamed a Dream" and a duet with Watson on the song "Pokarekare Ana"
2005 Mulan II Soundtrack Sang "Here Beside Me"
2005 The Merchant of Venice Soundtrack Sang "Bridal Ballad"
2005 Lilo & Stitch 2 Sang "Always"
2006 The New World Soundtrack Sang "Listen to the Wind"
2007 Celtic Woman: A New Journey Joined the group and sang "The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun", "Over the Rainbow", "Beyond the Sea", "The Last Rose of Summer", "Spanish Lady", "Mo Ghile Mear" and "You Raise Me Up". She solos "Scarborough Fair" and "Lascia Ch'io Pianga".
2007 West Side Story Sang the part of Maria

Notable tours and concerts

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Year Tour Name Notes
2004 Pure New Zealand tour
2005 Odyssey
2005 UNICEF Benefit Concert Sang the official UNICEF song "Children First" at the H.C. Andersen jubilee in Copenhagen, Denmark, 2005.[16] The song is a duet and was sung with Morten Harket, vocalist of the Norwegian band, a-ha.[43]
2006 Il Divo World Tour Supporting act for some of the concerts in this tour.
2006 A New Journey During the Live at Slane Castle, Ireland concert of this tour, Westenra made her debut as the sixth member of Celtic Woman.[41]
2007 Celtic Woman North American Tour Toured with Celtic Woman between March and April, with additional appearances in May.[44]

Források

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  1. ↑ a b c d Forráshivatkozás-hiba: Érvénytelen <ref> címke; nincs megadva szöveg a(z) sexton_article nevű lábjegyzeteknek
  2. ↑ Anderman, Joan. „At 17, New Zealand soprano has a voice to be reckoned with”, The Boston Globe, Hiba: érvénytelen idő (Hozzáférés: 2007. március 2.) 
  3. ↑ a b c Forráshivatkozás-hiba: Érvénytelen <ref> címke; nincs megadva szöveg a(z) DVDLIVE1 nevű lábjegyzeteknek
  4. ↑ McNickel, David. „Teen-age Classics”, Billboard 41 (1), Hiba: érvénytelen idő (Hozzáférés: 2006. december 13.) 
  5. ↑ Hayley Westenra returns to Abbey.... BBC Entertainment. (Hozzáférés: 2007. augusztus 11.)
  6. ↑ University of Florida Performing Arts (2006-03-03). "Teenage songstress Hayley Westenra brings gorgeous classical crossover music to the Phillips Center" (PDF). Sajtóközlemény. Elérés: 2006-03-22.
  7. ↑ a b c Tsioulcas, Anastasia. „In Hailing Distance Of U.S. Debut” (Reprint), Billboard 15 (2), Hiba: érvénytelen idő (Hozzáférés: 2006. december 13.) 
  8. ↑ Rooney, Darrell (Director) and Lynne Southerland. (2004). Mulan II. The Walt Disney Company.
  9. ↑ Hayley Westenra: Live from New Zealand. PBS. (Hozzáférés: 2006. december 13.)
  10. ↑ „Charade”. American Dreams. NBC. 2004. október 3.
  11. ↑ Radford, Michael (Director). (2004). The Merchant of Venice. Sony Pictures Entertainment.
  12. ↑ Winners 2004. NZMusicAwards.co.nz. (Hozzáférés: 2007. április 15.)
  13. ↑ D'Souza, Nandini, Venessa Lau. „Can't Stop the Music”, Women's Wear Daily, Hiba: érvénytelen idő (Hozzáférés: 2006. december 13.) 
  14. ↑ a b Biography. HayleyWestenra.com. (Hozzáférés: 2006. december 13.)
  15. ↑  (2005. December 18). Kurt Browning's Gotta Skate 2005 [Television production]. NBC.
  16. ↑ a b News. HayleyWestenra.com. (Hozzáférés: 2006. április 13.)
  17. ↑ Macdonald, Andy. „Queen, Blair, Clark at opening of NZ memorial”, New Zealand Herald, Hiba: érvénytelen idő (Hozzáférés: 2007. április 15.) 
  18. ↑ Forráshivatkozás-hiba: Érvénytelen <ref> címke; nincs megadva szöveg a(z) wing_named nevű lábjegyzeteknek
  19. ↑ March 2006 Newsletter. HayleyWestenra.com. (Hozzáférés: 2006. április 13.)
  20. ↑ September 06. CelticWoman.com. (Hozzáférés: 2007. február 13.)
  21. ↑ The Billboard 200. Billboard. (Hozzáférés: 2007. február 15.)
  22. ↑ US Tour Dates. CelticWoman.com. (Hozzáférés: 2007. április 15.)
  23. ↑ News. CelticWoman.com. (Hozzáférés: 2007. augusztus 11.)
  24. ↑ "Hayley Westenra in charge of her career", The New Zealand Herald, 2007-04-28. Lexis Nexis. Susquehanna University. 25 May. 2007.
  25. ↑ "UCJ to target Aussies and Kiwis for latest Hayley Westenra album." Music Week (March 17, 2007): 20. InfoTrac OneFile. Thomson Gale. Susquehanna University. 23 May. 2007.
  26. ↑ a b News. HayleyWestenra.com. (Hozzáférés: 2007. május 23.)
  27. ↑ GLOBAL WARMING DISPUTE. NewsHour. (Hozzáférés: 2007. május 23.)
  28. ↑ Moffatt, Alex. "Young Haley's already become an old hand." Daily Mail [London] 8 June 2007, ED IRE: 53.
  29. ↑ Woburn LIVE 2007. Woburn. (Hozzáférés: 2007. június 6.)
  30. ↑ RICHARD OGDEN BIOGRAPHY. (Hozzáférés: 2007. június 17.)
  31. ↑ The 2004 Classical Brit Awards. (Hozzáférés: 2007. június 17.)
  32. ↑ Wish upon a star. (Hozzáférés: 2007. június 17.)
  33. ↑ Vote for the World Sexiest Vegetarian List. (Hozzáférés: 2007. június 17.)
  34. ↑ Hayley Westenra – 'I'm a tough chick'. New Zealand Herald. (Hozzáférés: 2007. június 17.)
  35. ↑ Dolan, Sabine. „UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and singing sensation Hayley Westenra visits Ghana”, UNICEF.org, Hiba: érvénytelen idő (Hozzáférés: 2007. április 15.) 
  36. ↑ Dunger, Karina. "Westenra's riding high on international career." Sydney MX 2 May 2007, SYD Edition, LOCAL: 5.
  37. ↑ Hayley Westenra – Stoke-on-Trent. NZLive.com. (Hozzáférés: 2007. június 6.)
  38. ↑ Women's Environmental Network (2007-02-26). "Hayley Westenra joins prominent women backing WEN". Sajtóközlemény. Elérés: 2007-04-15.
  39. ↑ CNN covers singer Hayley Westenra's visit to the Nordoff Robbins Center!. Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy. (Hozzáférés: 2006. december 13.)
  40. ↑ a b „Hayley Westenra Joins Celtic Woman”, CelticWoman.com (Hozzáférés: 2007. április 15.) 
  41. ↑ Main Page. Hayley Westenra Official Web Site. (Hozzáférés: 2006. április 13.)
  42. ↑ Diaz, Mario. „World Premiere of UNICEF song”, UNICEF.org, Hiba: érvénytelen idő (Hozzáférés: 2006. december 13.) 
  43. ↑ Hayley and Meav Dates Announced. CelticWoman.com. (Hozzáférés: 2007. április 15.)


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