Hayley
still getting used to fame
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S O U T H
C A N T E R B U R Y
S T O R Y |
By
KRISTA HUNTER
Young
diva Hayley Westenra is still getting
used to her fame.
The
pint-sized singer is at a loss to explain
why her voice has soared into the hearts
of New Zealanders and her latest self-titled
CD has sold 50,000 copies.
"It's
really strange seeing posters of yourself
plastered on walls and watching TV and
suddenly seeing yourself in an ad," she
said on Friday.
Hayley
and her family were in Timaru for her performance
at the Theatre Royal on Friday night. All
of the performances on her first nationwide
tour have sold out.
"It's
quite scary that people are paying to see
you. There is an expectation to peform
well. "
Hayley
has been singing and performing since she
was at primary school. At a teacher's suggestion,
she took up the violin and piano when she
was eight.
Her
family produced and released Hayley's first
CD at the beginning of last year, and despite
next to no publicity, all 1000 copies sold.
She
was offered a major record contract after
a producer heard her sing on a local television
show.
Hayley
said she was yet to reap any real financial
benefits of the tour and CD as there were
so many costs.
Opera
diva Dame Malvina Mayor is now Hayley's mentor
and has been giving her weekly lessons.
"I
had always hoped to get a 15 minute lesson
with her, but to have an hour is amazing," the
modest Christchurch schoolgirl said.
Hayley
has travelled on tour with her parents Jill
and Gerald, and siblings Isaac, 8, and Sophie,
11.
Sophie
and Isaac are also very musical and Sophie
is keen to follow in her big sister's footsteps
with her singing and acting.
Hayley
is still deciding which direction her career
will head, but she would like to write some
original material.
Musicians
and music teachers predict that she possesses
a voice which will continue to improve and
develop.
