However, she will not have long to practise as the pop-classical artist will be walking up the aisle within the next two months.

Townsend, who turns 22 today, is engaged to her manager, Glyn MacLean, 39.

They say they denied their feelings until they revealed their love over Skype (an internet chat programme).

But Townsend said she knew MacLean was in love with her. "I could see it in his eyes," she said.

"Every time he'd talk to me or question me on something, he'd have moist eyes.

"And I knew that was not for nothing. I'm a person who doesn't show emotions well, and Glyn challenges me every day."

Of the 17-year age gap, Townsend said she had always felt older than her years.

"I had to learn to be very independent from a young age," she said.

"I have always felt older than my age. Well, it's either me who feels older or Glyn who feels younger. If I feel about 30 and he feels about 30, then that makes us the same age."

Townsend said she did not recognise the love instantly, but she vividly remembers their first meeting.

"He challenged me on a whole lot of issues -- like where my career was going -- and I thought, `Wow, that was intense'," she said.

Townsend said they planned to write their own vows but had not thought about who might sing at the wedding.

"It's going to be very hard for me to choose a good wedding singer. I may just sing at my own wedding," she said.

MacLean said he and Townsend were having dinner with a guitarist friend on November 29, discussing how people should be more honest with one another, and Townsend flicked him a sharp look.

Later that night, they were both sleepless and online. She asked him about his feelings towards her through the chat programme and he answered her honestly.

"Because I didn't want to be a coward, basically," he said. "But I didn't kiss her that night; I'm a gentleman."

MacLean said "we are a modern couple".

He asked Townsend's mother and stepfather for their permission to marry. The romance had been short, but it seemed longer as they were together "24/7".

Source: Marlborough Express