Minnesota Sings champion Miriam Gilbertson, a Chanhassen resident and 2024 Eden Prairie Sings! winner, holds her $5,000 prize check following her first-place finish at the statewide contest earlier this month in Austin. Photo by Laura Gilbertson
Chanhassen resident Miriam Gilbertson, who won the 2024 Eden Prairie Sings! competition, has claimed first place in the 13-20 age division at the 12th annual Minnesota Sings competition, held Oct. 11-12 at the Historic Paramount Theatre in Austin, Minnesota.
Gilbertson earned top honors for her performance of “The Wizard and I” from the musical “Wicked.” Her win included a $5,000 cash prize, an additional $500 to donate to a charity of her choice, and a recording session at Pachyderm Studios in Cannon Falls. She chose to direct her $500 donation to Westwood’s Hope House, a local youth shelter.
“I am so grateful for the $5,000 cash prize and I am also so happy to be able to donate an additional $500 to Westwood’s Hope House,” Gilbertson said. “Great job to everyone who performed — what a fun day!”
The statewide contest featured top amateur vocalists from across Minnesota. Other finalists in Gilbertson’s age group included singers from Shakopee, Kasson, Hutchinson, Cottage Grove, Lake Park and Plymouth.
A freshman at Chanhassen High School, Gilbertson has recently performed as Anne Boleyn in “SIX” with Youth Performance Company, Elsa in “Frozen” with Eastern Carver County Schools, and Teen Fiona/Mama Bear in “Shrek” with Youth Performance Company. She also sings in a rock band, competes in vocal events, and performs with her church’s worship band.
The Eden Prairie Optimist Club, which hosts the Eden Prairie Sings! competition each summer during the city’s Arts in the Park festival, sponsored Gilbertson’s entry and celebrated her statewide victory.
“Congrats Miriam! Wow, what an incredibly well-deserved honor,” said Ryan Affolter, lead organizer of Eden Prairie Sings! “You’ve touched countless people who are so proud of you. I remember the summer you won this spot as the youngest winner ever at our Eden Prairie event. You looked right at me and said: ‘I’ve got this.’ And you did.”
(From left) Sadie Maguire, Miriam Gilbertson and Sophia Repice — all past Eden Prairie Sings! contestants — pose during the 11th annual Minnesota Sings competition, held Oct. 11-12 at the Historic Paramount Theatre in Austin, Minnesota. Gilbertson won first place in the 13-20 age division at Minnesota Sings; Repice was this year’s Eden Prairie Sings! champion, and Maguire is a three-time finalist. Photo by Laura Gilbertson
Eden Prairie Sings! representatives (from left) Lainey Donoghue, Grace Hunter, and Lilianna Rindal pose during the 11th annual Minnesota Sings competition, held Oct. 11-12 at the Historic Paramount Theatre in Austin, Minnesota. Donoghue competed in the 21+ division, while Hunter and Rindal were finalists in the 13-20 age division. Photos courtesy of Minnesota Sings
Affolter and fellow Eden Prairie Sings! co-host Lainey Donoghue, who won the local contest in 2023, added: “You owned that stage and poured so much raw, genuine vulnerability and energy into your performance. The talent at this level was fierce; we are ecstatic and so proud you absolutely crushed it.”
Other Eden Prairie singers who competed at the state finals included Sophia Repice, this year’s Eden Prairie Sings! champion; Grace Hunter and Lilianna Rindal, 2025 finalists; Sadie Maguire, a three-time finalist; and Donoghue, who competed in the 21+ division.
The Optimist Club thanked Minnesota Sings organizer Chuck Spavin and Eden Prairie’s Arts in the Park festival for supporting youth arts and helping showcase local musical talent.
Founded in 1978, the Eden Prairie Optimist Club sponsors programs such as Minnesota Sings, the Optimist Essay and Oratorical contests, Hooked on Fishing, and Youth Appreciation Awards. More information is available at facebook.com/EPOptimists.