By Sabrina Wang
It is immediately clear: Madison Mailey is an experienced veteran, used to giving interviews and speeches. She sends me her resumé, and it’s bursting at the margins with awards. Hailing from a musical lineage - her uncle is a flautist, her grandfather a concert pianist - Madison started her singing career at the age of four with the CM singers. It went only uphill from then. A few years later, she recorded a CD with them and sent the songs to Japan - at only eleven years old. She is a frequent face and medalist at the Kiwanis Festival and has even performed at Carnegie Hall; this year, she received a scholarship in the Classical Intermediate Voice category.
It is immediately clear: Madison Mailey is an experienced veteran, used to giving interviews and speeches. She sends me her resumé, and it’s bursting at the margins with awards. Hailing from a musical lineage - her uncle is a flautist, her grandfather a concert pianist - Madison started her singing career at the age of four with the CM singers. It went only uphill from then. A few years later, she recorded a CD with them and sent the songs to Japan - at only eleven years old. She is a frequent face and medalist at the Kiwanis Festival and has even performed at Carnegie Hall; this year, she received a scholarship in the Classical Intermediate Voice category.
Her grandfather Dr. Derrick Rogers has been her greatest inspiration. As a pianist he has performed for many years with the Chilliwack Metropolitan Orchestra. He has been truly dedicated to Madison as her collaborative accompanist over the past decade.
“I did piano when I was younger.” She shakes her head as she laughs. “I didn’t continue with it.” Aside from her musical talent, Madison has other numerous activities that she pursues to an extreme degree of refinement. Her busy schedule includes multiple rowing practices (at a national level), dance, and voice lessons. She has also seamlessly integrated her singing career into the school spotlight. For her, singing is an “emotional saviour,” a separate muscle that needs to be used every day.
After performing song after song, her favourite pieces are Un Motto di Gioia by Mozart and The Water is Wide, an English folksong. Her favourite concert was when she performed at Carnegie Hall. “Being surrounded by professionals - it’s amazing.” At university, Madison plans on majoring in Business with a minor in Music Performance on a full scholarship. Her next challenge is to audition for the New England Conservatory, a challenge in which she is sure to succeed.