UNITY — With almost a month yet to go before Saskatchewan’s favourite telethon celebrates 50 years, many national and local acts are working overtime as they prepare to take to the TeleMiracle stage Feb. 28 and March 1. This year, Unity resident Crystal Gilbert will be performing alongside her daughter, Madison.
The Gilbert women have been singing for as long as they both can remember. For Crystal, singing with her mother and sisters around the house or on long road trips are some of her fondest childhood memories. She took to the stage for the first time around the age of 17, placing second at a country talent search in Saskatoon and being invited to perform on the main stage at Craven.
Madison began singing lessons at the age of five, receiving her vocal training from Chrystal Fawell in Unity. With an interest in the performing arts, Madison was also commonly found in the dance studio, before earning scholarships in the United States and attending a three-year post-secondary program at Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts in Toronto, Ont.
The duo said they are excited and honoured to perform during the milestone year, as the Kinsmen, Kinettes and TeleMiracle have been part of the family’s lives since its inception.
“My sister, Raechelle Sabiston, was a child when she had her first open-heart surgery in Toronto, and Madison’s Uncle Ted’s trip to the Mayo Clinic was all supported through TeleMiracle. Madison’s grandparents were Kinsmen and Kinette, and when she was in Grade 6, she did a research project on the telethon and was invited to see the running of it backstage during the show, which was awesome,” said Crystal.
TeleMiracle 50 will be Madison’s first telethon performance, while Crystal has showcased her solo vocal talent twice before. Although the mother-daughter vocalists have sung together throughout the years, their taste in music genres is quite widespread.
“We share a passion of country, Motown, musicals, pop music and some rap. In fact, I’d say our music choices are fairly eclectic, and that made it hard to select a duet to perform,” laughed Crystal.
The pair were chosen for the show from a video posted online for the Unity Christmas Carol Festival during the year of COVID-19. With Crystal still residing in Unity and Madison teaching in Saskatoon, they have decided to practise individually, organizing a few days when they can meet up and rehearse together.
The duo have selected “For Good,” a song from the musical Wicked, for the telethon.
“With our love for musicals, the fact that TeleMiracle is a family show and the added bonus that Wicked is in theatres, we landed on that song. I get shivers from singing these lyrics as I believe they apply to being so fortunate to be Madi’s mom,” said Crystal.
Both women are currently collecting donations, which can be made online here.
“This is an incredible show with passionate people volunteering their time to help others. It’s so important to support in any manner one can, whether through donations or volunteering in any capacity.”
Another local talent set to grace the TeleMiracle stage is the duo Two Against One, based out of Kerrobert. Dates and times for the two performances have not been announced at this time.
