Music played an important role at an early age in the life of Dutch singer Simone Awhina. However, she only discovered the gift of her voice after significant experiences in her life. Her voice became an instrument to take her within, to a feeling of deep inner peace, a connection to the essence of life. The name Simone means “listener”. In 1998, just after the death of her fiancée, Simone heard beautiful sounds in her head. Only years later she gained the courage to express these sounds. It turns out that the listener is deeply touched by them. The sounds Simone emits take the listener to a place within, a place of stillness, of peace and connection, where they truly are present in the moment. During her concerts Simone intuitively feels which sounds she may express in that particular moment. Beside these sounds she also sings beautiful, heartfelt songs and mantra’s. Her concerts both energize and leave the listener feeling deeply at peace. Since her debut in 2001 Simone has performed worldwide and released 5 CD’s. Her music is soothing, relaxing and can be used for healing and meditation. Simone has won prestigious awards in the USA and studied there with leading vocal coach Mr. William Riley. In 2011 her inspiring book about her pilgrimage to Santiago was published in the Netherlands. For more information: www.simoneawhina.com “I am so impressed with her heart, voice, and the love that shines through so clearly” Byron Katie “I have listened to hundreds of singers from around the world and I have never seen a performer touch the audience as Simone did.” Wayne Sanders, NY, musical collaborator for Liza Minelli, Judy Garland and Lucille Ball. “Simone Awhina has not only a very special musical gift, but also a sociological and spiritual mandate to help others in a way unlike any I have seen in recent years.” William Riley, NY, Leading vocal coach for Celine Dion, Faith Hill, Sarah Brightman and many other top artists. About her book “Simone Awhina’s life is so special that would be perfect for a movie,” Happinez (Dutch Magazine) When doubt and despair dominated the life of Simone, she was close to a burn-out, and didn’t want to sing anymore she decided to go on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. The heart of summer, more than eight hundred kilometers, across the Pyrenees, high plateaus, along vineyards and endless fields of grain, all alone. Simone desires to release everything that no longer serves her and while walking she relives her young but tragic and adventurous life again. Her emigration to New Zealand, where her life takes a tragic turn when her fiancée Nico dies of a brain tumor two months before their wedding. A year later her Jason her new love's death by a car accident. The discovery of the healing power of her voice, her singing career at times successful and then again very frustrating and her departure to America, where she hopes to break through as a singer and where she tours in her motor home, dreaming of a life full of glitter and glamour. The special people Simone met during her pilgrimage helped her to make the journey within. She gets deep, clear insights and discovers that singing is all she wants to do. With the completion of this challenging walk, her restless search finished and that which she desired for years, unexpectedly entered her life. “Simone is a woman with a voice that doesn’t just touch in the concert hall but also on paper…” Geert Kimpen, author of bestsellers The Kabbalist and The Secret Newton “Wisdom is timeless and only enters when written from the heart. And that is exactly what Simone did!” Inez van Oord, founder Happinez