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Last Updated: Tuesday, 1 March, 2005, 06:55 GMT
Hayley Westenra
Hayley Westenra in the Breakfast studio
Hayley: recorded her first CD at 12 years old
Teenager Hayley Westenra should be getting used to breaking records.

She's become the fastest-selling classical artist of all time in Britain, with her album Pure.

The 17 year old, from Christchurch in New Zealand, began her musical career in time-honoured fashion, when she appeared in a school play at the age of six.

Her parents and teachers realised she had an extraordinary talent: she was pitch perfect - and so she began violin lessons.

  • This morning, Hayley Westenra dropped in to the Breakfast studio.

    She told us how she recorded her first CD at 12, as a memento for friends and family.

    Someone passed it to a record company executive - and she found herself with a recording contract.

  • Hayley mentioned the Classicalive exhibition at the Olympia exhibition venue in London, from 18th-20th March. Tickets cost from £5 to children to £14 for peak rate adults.

  • BBC NEWS:VIDEO AND AUDIO
    Breakfast's live interview with Hayley



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