Hayley Westenra From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hayley Dee Westenra (born 10 April 1987 in Christchurch, New Zealand) is a New Zealand soprano and UNICEF Ambassador. Her first internationally released album, Pure, reached No 1 on the UK classical charts in 2003 and has sold more than two million copies worldwide. Westenra has received numerous awards for her contributions to music, both in New Zealand and elsewhere. In November 2008 she was named "classical performer of the year" at the Variety Club's annual awards in London.
Pure is the fastest-selling international début classical album to date, and Westenra became an international star, aged 16, when the first of her international albums was released. In August 2006, Westenra joined the Irish group Celtic Woman, was featured on their Celtic Woman: A New Journey CD and DVD, toured with them on their 2007 Spring Tour, and also was featured on their latest DVD, The Greatest Journey: Essential Collection, released in 2008.
Westenra has performed for dignitaries around the world. She is the youngest UNICEF Ambassador to date and has contributed to charities around the world.