Aya Hirano

Aya Hirano (平野 綾 Hirano Aya), born October 8, 1987 in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, is a Japanese voice actress and singer. Primarily starring in anime, Hirano's first voicing role was Momo in Tenshi no Shippo Chu! in 2001.

Career
Hirano rose to stardom during her role in the popular anime The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, which was an immediate hit. Based on the popular light novel, The Melancholy details the adventures of Haruhi Suzumiya, voiced by Hirano, and her fellow S.O.S. Brigade members.

Since The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Hirano has proceeded to voice roles in other anime series, including Mahiro Muto in Busou Renkin , Misa Amane in Death Note, Mamori Anezaki in Eyeshield 21, Reira Serizawa in NANA, Yoko Sasakura in School Rumble Nigakki, Kaoru Akashi in Zettai Karen Children, Konata Izumi in Lucky Star, and Lucy Heartfilia in Fairy Tail.

In 2010 Hirano announced that she was suffering from a benign pituitary gland tumor, and decided against surgery as it could affect her voice. She announced the next year that she wouldn't take on new voice acting roles in anime, but would continue voicing characters for currently-existing roles.

Later that year she was dismissed from Lantis, a music company, due to a scandal. She announced that she had resumed new voice acting roles in anime later that month.

In 2015, she appeared as part of the main cast (as "The Lady of the Lake") in the Japanese version of Monty Python's SPAMALOT featuring Spam&reg; stage musical. In 2016 she announced in Spring, she was planning to study abroad in New York for several months, which appeared to be part of her new focus on musical theater as she would start the program after her role in another musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood. In 2017, it was announced she would be playing an alternating lead for the musical Lady Bess, sharing the role with (known for starring in the ).

Singing Career
Hirano has sung several Haruhi Suzumiya franchise songs, including “Bouken Desho Desho?” the opening theme to Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu, “Hare Hare Yukai” (along with Minori Chihara and Yūko Gotō) the ending theme to The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, as well as the songs performed during the episode "Live Alive": “God Knows”, and "Lost My Music".

In September 2006, Hirano released her first non-anime related single titled "Ash'ita no Prism". Towards the end of 2007, she went on a three-month consecutive single release campaign, creating singles such as "Love Gun", "Neophilia", and "MonStAR".