Recovered opera hopeful voice for nations | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

Hayley Sellars' ambition to become an opera singer is a step closer to fruition with the Wanganui schoolgirl selected to sing national anthems at Rugby World Cup matches.

The Wanganui Girls' College student, aged 17, has been selected as part of the New Zealand Choral group to perform at matches across the lower North Island.

She's had just two weeks to be word perfect in the national anthems of Tonga, South Africa, Wales, Namibia, Italy, Japan, the US and Romania.

On Sunday, the mezzo-soprano will sing at Westpac Stadium in Wellington for the game between South Africa and Wales. She will also perform in New Plymouth, Palmerston North and at the quarter-finals in Wellington.

It is a busy time for Miss Sellars, who is working towards Level Three NCEA. She spends a day per week at university in Wellington studying voice performance and music, works part-time at her parents' pub in Kai Iwi, as well as local pony club activities and horse riding.

Last year, she broke her back in a freak horse accident and was flown to the Burwood Spinal Unit in Christchurch.

It was a drastic way to effect the huge changes she has made in her life.

"It's really changed me. I was a bit of a toad before the accident, like I was pretty naughty really," she said.

While incapacitated in Burwood, she realised many things.

"I just knew I really had to start working hard for school ... for everything," Miss Sellars said.

"I wouldn't suggest breaking your back to learn some very big lessons ... It's what happened to me but I wouldn't want it to happen to anyone else."

Her love of singing meant she headed for Wellington's Victoria University this year to train with acclaimed vocal coach Linden Loader.

Her voice has grown and she won a swag of trophies at the Wanganui Competitions last month.

"I know now I have a lot of work to do over the next three or four years before I can even think of applying for a scholarship to study in London or Manhattan.

"I don't have a social life any more but it doesn't matter ... I know that what I'm doing is right. You have to work at what you love."