Hayley Westenra

by Darren Henley

Hayley's first performance as 'Little Star' in a Christmas play was perfectly pitched, beautifully sung and enthusiastically received. She was six years old. Now, at the tender age of twenty, she is the fastest-selling debut classical artist ever. Her string of musical accolades is astonishing and her audiences range from royalty to premiers. This is her story, from her first performance, through later roles in major productions such as "Annie", "La Boheme" and "The Sound of Music", her decision at the age of eleven to busk for her lunch money, and the subsequent record deals, money, charity work and classical superstardom.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 25, 2007

About the author

Darren Henley OBE is chief executive of Arts Council England. His two independent government reviews into music and cultural education resulted in England's first National Plan for Music Education, new networks of Music Education Hubs, Cultural Education Partnerships and Heritage Schools, the Museums and Schools programme, the BFI Film Academy and the National Youth Dance Company. Before joining the Arts Council, he led Classic FM for fifteen years. He holds degrees in politics from the University of Hull, in management from the University of South Wales and in history of art from the University of Buckingham. A recipient of the British Academy President's Medal for his contributions to music education, music research and the arts, his books include The Virtuous Circle: Why Creativity and Cultural Education Count and The Arts Dividend: Why Investment in Culture Pays.

Reviews

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Hayley Westenra.... she has an amazing voice, her songs always put me in a better mood. She came to my attention via AmazonUK recs... I'm a fan of Charlotte Church and Hayley's name came up in 'my amazon' section.

It was 'love at first listen'... I was blown away by her 'Pure' album and couldn't stop listening to it. I quickly tracked down her earlier albums (self title and 'my gift to you') and snapped up each of her albums as they came out. I even converted mom into a fan :) (And mom wasn't a fan of 'classical/opera' music).

I'm doing a poor job of showing my love for Hayley' voice and her music but she's lifted my mood and made smile (sometimes cry) with her songs... I can't sing her praises enough. Highly recommend her music, my recommendation would be to start with 'Pure' or 'Treasure' (also known as Celtic Treasure in the USA)

When I learned she was putting out a memoir I was excited... reading about the journey of one of my favorite singers? Sign me up! It was too pricey for me at the time but once I saw the price lowered, I jumped on it :).

It sat on the the shelves for awhile since I had a long tbr at the time, I just decided to go for it and start the book.

It was just... okay for me. Hayley is a lovely person and I loved reading about her early childhood and recording of her first album but I was mostly bored.

It's weird saying you weren't excited by a memoir almost like your saying you don't like the person. Not the case but I just didn't really connect with this one. The writing is lovely but it just didn't grab me. I found myself taking breaks from this and trying to figure out why I wasn't liking this.

I would still recommend it if your a fan of Hayley's, it just wasn't a hit for me unfortunately.

Happy reading!

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covering only the first 20 years of her life, this autobiography could lack substance. Yet those years have included, as she says herself "some amazing experiences, more than most people pack into an entire lifetime."
As I expected, this lovely young lady with the beautiful voice is no diva. She has the talent without the attitude. I'm an even bigger fan now than I was before.

[Nick Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first twenty years from idyllic childhood in Christchurch, New Zealand, to touring the world, singing to stadiums, the good and the great.
If you mentally add exclamation marks, the plain writing can't conceal the spirit of the subject.
In the middle of the e-book edition I read, there are dramatic colour photographs of Hayley Westenra and family, some composed by the subject's mother.
A few typos (edition version 1) don't spoil a bracingly honest, inspiring biography.
Growing up wasn't all Swallows and Amazons:

"Zac, the cockatiel, still lives with the family today. He is a small grey bird and he can talk a little, although I think he might be envious that he cannot sing. At least, whenever I sing and he's nearby, he makes a terrible racket."

Aww the family pet wants to be like her! Apparently (a dog is mentioned later) animals can't resist her voice.
There is a discography at the end which includes releases up to 2006.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about how Hayley Westenra (the author) singing career started and how far she has gone in the last 2 decades of her life and her experiences singing for world-famous people and travelling around the globe .Recommended for fans.Enjoyed reading this book

[Alexandra]

If you're a Hayley Westenra fan, you'll find this book interesting and entertaining (Westenra is very open and can be very funny!)