Hayley Westenra - Gabriel's Oboe [Whispers In A Dream] - Mario Frangoulis Live with The Boston...

I came across this next singer/artist by accident, but when I saw her photo, I knew right away that she is or had been a singer on Celtic Woman and I was right... I am pleased to present her to you for this afternoon's Music Interlude... performing "Gabriel's Oboe", live with the Boston Pops Orchestra...

Background:
Hayley Dee Westenra (born 10 April 1987) is a New Zealand classical crossover singer and songwriter. Her first internationally released album, Pure, reached number one on the UK classical charts in 2003 and has sold more than two million copies worldwide. This is one of the fastest selling albums in her country's history.

Hayley was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. Her parents, Gerald and Jill Westenra, have two other children. Hayley's grandmother Shirley Ireland was a singer, and her grandfather was a pianist who also played the piano accordion. She has Irish, Dutch and English heritage.

She began performing at age six in the Christmas play at her school, Fendalton Open Air School. After the show, a teacher said she was "pitch perfect" and encouraged Hayley to learn how to play a musical instrument; soon after she learned to read music and play the violin, piano, guitar, and recorder. She then began voice lessons and discovered a passion for musical theatre. By age 11, she had performed more than 40 times on stage, but was often given male parts. Westenra attended Cobham Intermediate School in 1998 and 1999, where a performing arts building was later named in her honour.

In August 2006, Westenra joined Celtic Woman and is featured on their second major DVD/CD album, Celtic Woman: A New Journey, which was released 30 January 2007 and immediately hit the Billboard Top 200 music chart at number four. She toured with the group in the United States in 2007, with scheduled appearances in 88 venues across the country; the tour ended in June. During this time, Hayley alternated with Méav Ní Mhaolchatha, who had recently returned from maternity leave, to maintain a five-member line-up. She also got along well with another member, Chloë Agnew, who was at the time only 17 years old.

LYRICS:

"Gabriel's Oboe (Whispers In A Dream)"

Whispers in a dream
The world is quiet and waiting
And all around the air is still
And sings the angels

When all is come to pass
The storm has breathed it's last
And the rain
Has washed our fears away
Love will find

Whispers in the wind
The clouds part to let the light in
And all around the people sigh
As birds take to the sky

When all is come to pass
The storm has breathed it's last
And the rain
Has washed our fears away
Love will fall on us all
The world will smile again

Whispers in a dream
The world is quiet and waiting
And all around the air is still
Then sings the angels

When all is come to pass
The storm has breathed it's last
And the rain
Has washed our fears away
Love will fall on us all
And we can smile again

Writer(s): Ennio Morricone