“This will be our third year performing but our first virtual performance,” said instructor Rita Hilbig. “We performed in 2018 – a song called ‘No Roots’ which we did with vocals and drums.
“The second was in 2020, just before the lockdown and we performed a song called ’The Lotto’.
This year they sent in a video of the choir performing at the beginning of November and were recently contacted by the producers that they would be on the show.
“Our performance will also be virtual this year,” explained Hilbig. “We will be invited to do an in-studio recording in early January in Regina which, while not live performing, will still give my students the feel of the professional performance world.”
Hilbig said participation in the decades-old tele-a-thon has a definite educational aspect for her choir.
“It’s a good experience,” she said. “The audition process encourages us to get ready quickly and the performance part teaches us so many important skills – dealing with the public, being on stage, how to conduct ourselves when in the public eye, etc.”
This year there are some added benefits too.
“This year I think we wanted the excitement and wanted a sense of normalcy,” said Hilbig.
“Plus it has become a challenge to see if we can be a part of such a fantastic fundraising initiative. Our school really gets behind Telemiracle fundraising and having us perform makes that even more meaningful.”
Being a school choir participants have seen the help Telemiracle gives up close as well.
“We have had several students in our school who have been helped by the funds raised,” noted Hilbig. “Again, this makes it relevant for us.”
This year the choir will be performing a pop hit.
“We are performing a song by P!NK called ‘Cover Me With Sunshine’, said Hilbig. “We’ve chosen that song for the simplicity and beautiful message. It is a song about hope for better days ahead.
“It’s also a song about looking for the positives in whatever situation one encounters. The message and the music are well-suited for my choir, the present climate and for Telemiracle.
“As a bit of an added honour, we have also been asked to record O Canada for the closing portion of the show.”
