Hayley Westenra

Hayley Westenra, born April 10 1987, is a singer and songwriter best known for bridging the worlds of pop and Celtic music. Born in Christchurch, New Zealand to a family of Irish, Dutch and English heritage, Hayley Westenra took to music very quickly, first performing at school plays at age 6. By the age of 12, she recorded a demo album which attracted the attention of Universal Records New Zealand. After releasing an album of show tunes and one of Christmas songs, she made the move to Decca Records, with whom she released 2003’s Pure. A collection of classical, light pop, and Maori traditional songs, the album received critical acclaim for its fresh approach to standards as well as originals, such as the haunting, Celtic-tinged “Dark Waltz”. It was massively successful, shooting up to the top of the British album charts. After embarking on a world tour and releasing a live DVD, Hayley Westenra joined the acclaimed all-female Irish singing group Celtic Woman. Notably, she performed as part of the group for United States President George W. Bush during the 2007 St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the White House. Hayley Westenra continued releasing critically acclaimed albums, including 2011’s Paradiso, a collaboration with legendary Italian composer Ennio Morricone. In 2013, she made a departure from her operatic style of singing upon releasing Hushabye, a collection of lullabies and gentle songs, intended as a calming experience for both children and adults.