She has been nominated for a medal in next
month's Classical Brit awards.
Last night members of the choir - which won
first prize at last year's National Eisteddfod - said the starlet was probably
persuaded to join the choir on stage because of Wales' impressive male voice
choir tradition.
Choir member Rhodri
Hampson-Jones, of Trelogan, said: "It was the simplest thing. I went on
Hayley's website and it had her management's e-mail address.
"So we e-mailed and asked if they could
help us. Within a week it was all signed, sealed and delivered." Hayley
said: "I'm thrilled to be coming to Wales, it's always special. There are
so many amazing singers from there and I can't wait to sing with the choir. I
sing a lot of Celtic songs so I feel a great affinity."
A spokesman for the
singer, who is currently touring with all-male opera group Il Divo, added: "Hayley's
really enjoyed singing alongside Il Divo and is equally excited to be singing
with another group of talented guys in the Maelgwn Male Voice Choir."
The choir's musical director, Trystan Williams,
revealed Hayley and the choir were hoping to perform Maori love song Po Kare
Kare Ana at the North Wales Theatre.
Hayley performs the song in her concerts
and it is a favourite of the Maelgwn choir.
Mr Williams, 27, of
Deganwy, said: "The
choir have been successful recently on the competition platform.
"We came first
in the National Eisteddfod last year and came third in a national radio competition,
but this is a completely different kettle of fish.
"Hayley is a
such a well-known name."
He added: "It's
an entirely different contrast to have a young soprano on stage with 65 men,
but it should work well.
"We're hoping
to sing Po Kare Kare Ana, a Maori love song from New Zealand, which we've been
singing for two or three years."
Mr Williams said while
some of opera's best-known singers had sung with the Maelgwn choir, it was a
coup to get a household name like Hayley. "Hayley is what you'd call a popular classical singer," he
said.
"Our annual concerts
have been going for nearly 30 years and we've had some quite big operatic names,
but perhaps lesser-known names for most people.
"But to have
Hayley share a stage with us is something we're very excited about.
"It was a surprise
at first. But her agent knows about the male voice choir tradition in Wales and
I think they're glad to be a part of it."
Hayley became an instant classical world
star when she was invited by Pantglas bass-baritone, Bryn Terfel, to perform
at the 2003 Faenol Festival.
Her debut album Pure achieved double-platinum
sales in the UK, and proved a hit all over the world.
. Hayley Westenra was born in Christchurch,
New Zealand, in 1987.
. She has performed in venues such as the
Sydney Opera House and Royal Albert Hall. . Her debut album Pure, recorded when
she was just 15, sold more than 2m copies worldwide.
. In New Zealand, Pure is the biggest selling
home-grown album of all time.
. Her second album Odyssey, includes a cover
of Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now.
. Hayley used to busk with her siblings Sophie
and Isaac.
. In November 2004 Hayley made 16-year-old
Newport soprano Holly Hollyoake's dream come true when she invited the teenager
singer sing with her at Llandudno's North Wales Theatre.
