BUDDING singing sensation Hayley Westenra is set to appear alongside Bryn Terfel at this summer's Faenol Festival.

The teenager who found success through busking is also performing at London's Royal Albert Hall tonight - before even releasing a record in the UK.

She will be the first person to play at the Classical Brits without a British release to her name.

The 16- year- old singer, whose perfect pitch was discovered when she was just eight, has become a major star in her native New Zealand.

But now her family has moved to the UK as she records an album with Beatles producer Sir George Martin and his son Giles.

And she is expected to emulate the success of Welsh song-stress Charlotte Church with the album Pure to be released around the world.

Hayley, her 12-year-old sister Sophie and brother Isaac, 9, would regularly busk around th e ir h o m e town o f Christchurch.

Isaac has already tried his hand at busking in London to raise some pocket money but was given a friendly word of warning by police to move on.

Mother Jill said: "We've been past the Albert Hall several times and it is a dream come true to think that she will be playing there.

"Hayley can't go anywhere at home without being recognised. She spends all her time signing autographs. Even over here she has been spotted quite a lot by people who are over from New Zealand."

Hayley said: "I guess I'm missing my friends a little but I've been really enjoying myself over here while we worked on the album.

"It was very exciting working with George Martin."

The budding star will perform at the North Wales festival, taking place on August 23, 24, 25, on the Faenol estate, just outside Caernarfon.

 

Info courtesy of Keith S