女性起業家、女性アーティストのような仕事をしている女性を取り上げている雑誌「Her Magazine February 2009」が100号目を迎えました。過去のこの雑誌を振り返る、ということで、Hayleyも取り上げられました。
過去、この雑誌でHayleyが取り上げられたものはこちら。
From busking in the streets of Christchurch and performing in school productions, Westenra was quickly recognized for her talent. She began making CD's for assorted interested fans - one of which was Universal Records.
Westenra was jettisoned from her life as a schoolgirl living at home with her family onto the international stage. Her parents Gerald and Jill Westenra, encouraged all three of their children (she has a brother Isaac and sister Sophie) to explore their musical talents. By the age of 11 Westenra had mastered the violin and piano and had appeared in 40 amateur musicals. Her first album, Pure, was recorded when she was just 15-years-old and went on to sell 2 million copies worldwide. Selling faster than any other 'classical' debut in history in the UK, Pure was a sensation. It achieved twelve times platinum in New Zealand, where it is the biggest-selling reocord of all time having spent 18 weeks at No.1 in the pop album charts. The success was replicated in the UK where it went triple platinum (900,000), Australia, where it went platinum and in Japan, where it is the best-selling classical record in the country's history.
"I'm going beyond arranging to doing more writing for each subsequent album," she confides. "I don't want to fall into the trap of over-extending myself but I know I'm capable of writing good songs and I want to develop as an artist. I find song writing really enjoyable and really cathartic."
Westenra has sung duets with the likes of Andrea Bocelli, Jose Carreras and Bryn Terfel and to audiences including everyone from the Queen (three times in one week), Tony Blair and George Bush to fans at the Sydney Opera House, Wembley Stadium, Carnegie Hall and the Royal Albert Hall.
She's UNICEF's youngest-ever ambassador and is now on her second project in Ghana as Matron of the Women's Environmental Network (WEN). Hayley is also the first patron of Classic FM's charity, Music Makers.
In 2008 the 21-year-old achieved unprecedented success around the world. She was awarded the Global Kiwis Young Achiever Award in February and performed at, and was nominated for Best Album o｣ the Classical Brit Awards 2008.
In September, she was asked to perform at Andrew Lloyd Webbers 60th birthday celebrations in Hyde Park, London.
October saw Hayley launch the Poppy Appeal from Basra, Iraq and then go on to perform at the Festival of Remembrance at Albert Hall, London in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen.
All of this exposure brought with it a new confidence, which became embodied in a richer, more rounded quality to her crystal clear voice.
In November, Hayley was delighted to attend the Variety Club Awards in London, where she received the award for Best Classical Performer from Elaine Paige. She also performed at the Awards ceremony in Park Lane, which fellow winners Sir Michael Caine and Kenneth Branagh also attended.
Her new collection, River of Dreams, is a perfect example of the full breadth of her work as it roves effortlessly across genres.
"Usually I'm very critical of my work, but looking back now I really do appreciate what I managed to achieve," says Westenra. "Rather than thinking 'oh, I could have done a better version of this one or that one" I've been saying 'that was a great recording'. I must admit I'm quite proud of my work."
So what will the future bring for Miss Westenra?
"I love performing live and I'm told that I do too many concerts each year by people who think I will ruin my voice or health," she says. "I find I get stronger and enjoy performing all over the world, taking in cultures and local music and collecting ideas for my own songs. I am only 21 and I know there are a lot more songs I want to sing and even more that I would love to write."
Visit: www.hayleywestenra.com
