STANDING tall and proudly Sarawakian, talented siblings – Shawn Thien Shuen and Jane Thien Jing are making waves in the local contemporary art scene.
Better known as SJ Borneo, the duo have been chosen to compete in the upcoming World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Hollywood, USA, which is slated to be held in July.
Recently, SJ Borneo has also secured another remarkable victory at the World Championship International Competition 2025 (Malaysia Preliminary), winning the Gold Award 2nd Prize.
This triumph qualified them for the Grand Final of the world championship in Bangkok, Thailand in May 2025.
In the grand final, Shawn and Jane will compete against participants from various countries, including Australia, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, North Macedonia, the Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, the United States, and many more.
The brother and sister duo are multi-talented music instrumentalists.
With a great love for the culture in Sarawak, the Thien siblings’ talent in playing various musical instruments is just magnificent!
Although most people know that they can play the Djembe and Sape perfectly, their musical talents go beyond, as they both also play the piano, ukulele, guitar and drums.
At just 15 and 12 years old respectively, both have been passionate about music from a very young age and have over six years’ experience of playing musical instruments.
Shawn’s endeavour into music started in primary school when he joined the school’s choir.
Sharing more, his mother, Hazel Toh shared that the choir teacher, Ms Wong Yung Fong noticed his captivating voice and sensitivity to music, and had encouraged him to pursue music further.
“With the patience and support of his teachers, Shawn became more and more passionate about music.
“He expressed an interest in taking drum classes, and his teachers gave him plenty of opportunities to perform on stage, including drumming and djembe performances,” said Toh.
Meanwhile, Jane followed her brother to the class and has been part of the group ever since.
She had also accompanied the choir teacher to several international choir competitions and last year, had won the Gold Award at the MCE International Choral Festival in Kuala Lumpur.
To further hone her vocal skills, Jane goes under the tutelage of vocal Teacher Jenny Tan and Teacher Jong Wei Khim.
The siblings are also part of the cultural band ‘Baby Dream Machine’, under the guidance of teacher Sim Kok How and teacher Sky Lim.
With their passion for music, Toh describes their daily routine includes bouts of playing whatever instruments that they felt like playing on that day – jamming in the living room before bed.
Together, they both enjoy each other’s company that way, while also entertaining their parents with their musical talent.
“We feel incredibly joyful and fulfilled when playing musical instruments.
“It allows us to express ourselves freely, connect with the audience, and be immersed in the beauty of the music we play.
“We truly enjoy every moment on stage, feeling the rhythm and emotions flowing through each note,” they chimed in.
The love for Sape
Poised with a percussionist rhythm and a captivating voice, both also showcase their impressive talent in strumming the Sape.
Despite being raised Chinese, the siblings became captivated by the Orang Ulu musical instrument by watching numerous performances and competitions.
Wanting to learn something different, they picked up the Sape two years ago.
Toh shared that they sought training from Cikgu Elizabeth Bungan, Cikgu Danison Manium (Chen), and Cikgu Frederick Maldini.
“At first, it felt unfamiliar and challenging, but our passion drove us to explore, practice diligently, and improve.
“With our teacher’s encouragement, we became more familiar with the sape.
“Then, we started searching online for videos of Sarawak’s sape masters, including Alena Murang, Jerry Kamit, Mathew Ngau Jau, Anderson Kalang, and Hezekiah Asim to explore more skills.
“Let us not forget to express our gratitude to the sape masters, including Cikgu Dines Ngau Wan, Cikgu Hallan Hashim, Cikgu Standford Ryan, and others,” Shawn shares.
Aside from Sape, the siblings also learned other cultural instruments such as the Ocarina, Kompang, Chinese Drum, and Gambus.
Under the guidance of Cikgu Narawi Rashidi, SJ Borneo also joined ‘Potres Orkestra’ where they were provided with opportunities to learn more traditional musical instruments.
Although they both picked up fast in learning the various traditional musical instruments, however they also experienced challenges along the way.
Sharing further, they note that mastering the techniques and styles differs from modern instruments.
“Each traditional instrument has its own fingering, strumming, or breathing techniques that require time and patience to perfect,” said Shawn.
Jane added that there is also the challenge of preserving authenticity while adding personal expression.
“Ethnic instruments carry deep cultural significance, so balancing tradition with creativity can be difficult.”
To overcome these challenges, the duo dedicated their time to consistent practice, watching performances by experienced musicians, and seeking guidance from skilled mentors.
“We also immerse ourselves in the cultural background of the instrument, which helps us connect more deeply with the music and meaning,” she said.
Admiringly, SJ Borneo aims to continue showcasing the beauty of Borneo traditional music on the international stage.
“We are committed to promoting and preserving the rich musical heritage of Sarawak and Malaysia while innovating new ways to blend traditional and modern elements, giving new life to traditional music,” they expressed.
Looking ahead, the duo upholds their motto – ‘Sape for all’ – aiming to inspire people from diverse backgrounds to embrace and appreciate Sarawak’s traditional music.
“We hope to let the melodies of Borneo shine on the world’s arena.”
As for their mother Toh, she felt that it was important to expose her children to other ethnicities as it helps them develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for different cultures.
“This exposure fosters empathy, respect, and open-mindedness, allowing them to grow into more inclusive and accepting individuals.
“By learning about different traditions, languages, and perspectives, children can build meaningful connections with people from diverse backgrounds,” she said.
To join the siblings’ journey on social media, do follow their Facebook page at SJ Borneo – Shawn and Jane.
Where will SJ Borneo be competing next?
⦁ Bangkok, Thailand • World Championship International Competition @ APIAF Music and Talent Festival 2025 on May 9 – 12, 2025.
⦁ Hollywood, USA • World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) on July 16 – 24, 2025.
SJ Borneo recent accolades:
⦁ Top 5 Best Talent Award (Under-18) at the 2024 Kuching International Busking Festival.
⦁ Gold Award at the Malaysian Division of the 2024 Taiwan International Music Competition.
⦁ 2nd-Runner Up in the 2024 Pertandingan Bakat Kenyalang.
⦁ Gold Award for the Malaysia Championship of Performing Arts (MCOPA) 2025.
⦁ Gold Award 2nd Prize Winner at the World Championship International Competition 2025 (Malaysia Preliminary) hosted by Asia Pacific International Arts Festival
Jane’s recent individual achievements:
⦁ 2024 Malaysia Kids Got Talent — Top-5 National Stars Achiever Award (Traditional Instrument Category – Sape).
⦁ Champion for the 29th Pan-Borneo Teenager & Children Mandarin Song Elite Singing Competition
⦁ 1st-Runner-Up for the 2024 Sarawak Kids Got Talent
⦁ Champion for the 2025 Pertandingan Sape’ Cilik
⦁ 2nd-Runner-Up for the 2025 Borneo Sape Competition (Open category)
