WESTFIELD-Madison Curbelo has a “golden ticket” and will soon be heading for the West Coast to follow a dream that was instilled in her by a Highland Elementary School teacher several years ago.
Curbelo, a junior at Westfield High School who just turned 17, will appear on this spring’s iconic singing competition – American Idol – which airs on Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC.
Westfield High School student Madison Curbelo has a “golden ticket” – she will appear on this spring’s American Idol television show. (Submitted photo)
“All of my teachers have always been supportive of my musical career, but my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Flinner at Highland Elementary, really pushed me to make my dreams a reality,” said Curbelo. “She always motivated me to reach for the stars and make my dreams come true. I can honestly say that without her words of encouragement, I might have never taken my music as serious as I do now, and I owe her so much for that!”
We reached Liisamaija Flinner on Wednesday morning at Highland Elementary and asked her for some reflections on her former student.
“Madison was a prolific reader and writer in fifth grade,” said Flinner. “She returned as a middle school and, later, high school student coach for my after school Wednesday Writing Workshops. Her skills with the use of language transcended into her understanding of poems and the lyrics in songs. Madison exudes the confidence to sing in front of audiences and shares her love of music inclusive of the beauty of the words and the spirit of the composition. She is a wonder!”
Curbelo, the daughter of Elizabeth and Luis Curbelo, has been watching American Idol for years.
“Every time the show would come on my parents would tell me that I could do that one day,” said Curbelo, adding, “who would’ve thought that they were really predicting my future.”
Growing up in the city, Curbelo said she has “always loved” performing in her school music groups and started in the choir and band in fifth grade.
“Singing and playing some good music has always been a great way for me to unwind during the school day,” she said.
Curbelo describes her style of music as “primarily indie-pop” but she admits the process is “ever-changing.”
Madison Curbelo answers questions following her audition for American Idol judges. (Submitted photo)
“I am always reinventing my sound and taking risks when writing new music, like adding new riffs of rhythms that I have never tried before,” she said. “That is the thing I really love about songwriting, the creativity is endless.”
In addition to singing, Curbelo plays the guitar, clarinet, and tenor saxophone, and is currently learning to perfect her skills on the piano and ukulele.
“I taught myself how to play all of these and I won’t stop until I master every instrument that I play,” she added.
When she has time to listen to music, her favorites include Lady Gaga, Prince, Michael Jackson, and George Michael.
“They definitely helped form the artist that I am today,” she said.
Curbelo noted that when the opportunity to audition for American Idol presented itself – she knew she had to take the chance.
“I really want to take music seriously as a professional career,” said Curbelo. “I prayed a lot about it and put my faith in God to do what is best for me. It is still so bizarre how it all happened, but I really owe it to my strong support system of loving family members and friends for never giving up on me.”
Curbelo said she had a few auditions before she met with the celebrity judges. Initially, she traveled to Buffalo, NY, for the first open casting call, and then traveled to Atlanta, Ga., for the next round of callbacks. After the second round, Curbelo met the judges – Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan – in New York City.
During her audition, she performed “When Doves Cry,” by Prince, “Man in the Mirror,” by Michael Jackson, and an original song titled “Better For You,” that she wrote for her parents as a thank you for everything they had done for her and her musical career. Curbelo said she is hoping in the near future to have “Better For You” professionally recorded along with some of her other original music.
“I received a lot of positive feedback from the judges,” said Curbelo. “Lionel Richie told me that I was a driving force in the talented 16-year-olds during the competition, and hearing that from a music legend like him filled me with so much joy. Katy Perry told me that I had star power waiting to be unleashed, and Luke Bryan said that I was a very good storyteller and my voice was very easy to listen to. It was truly a moment that I will never forget.”
Curbelo said her most memorable moment of the audition was Richie’s “kind spirit.”
“From the moment I walked into the room, I felt his positive energy just wanting me to do my best,” she said. “He felt like such a papa bear and I could definitely see that he believed in me the most.”
While live taping of American Idol starts in a few weeks, Curbelo has been tirelessly practicing as often as her schedule allows. She said she sings in coffee shops, her school, and other local music spots, but owes all of her success to “God and the power of prayer.”
“I practice every second that I can and I am always looking for places to perform,” she said. “My passion for performing makes it so easy for me to keep going nonstop. I know that it takes a lot of hard work to make music your profession but I am so ready for all of it.”
Curbelo noted that her American Idol experience thus far as been “phenomenal.”
“I have met so many amazing people and learned so much about myself and the direction that I want to take with my music,” she said. “I also gained so much more confidence in my performance ability and now I’m not afraid to own who I am! I am not in Hollywood yet but I am so ready to go and show the judges what I got one more time.”
As the weeks quickly pass, soon Curbelo will be on the biggest stage of her life – and is ready for the challenge.
“I just want to say thank you to everyone for showing me so much love and continuing to support me through this incredible journey,” she said. “I won’t stop working hard to make you all proud and I can’t wait to show everyone what I have to offer in American Idol and beyond. I am a proud resident of Westfield, and I wouldn’t live anywhere else.”
That sentiment was music to the ears of Mayor Brian P. Sullivan who remarked, “It is always exciting to see local talent get to a level of national recognition. The City wishes Madison all the luck in the world, and realizes she has already made us all very proud. Good luck from your hometown!”
