KUCHING: Singing prodigy Taylor Louise, 11, was crowned the champion of the Asian Students Art Festival Singing Competition in Hong Kong on Jan 11.
Taylor, as the only finalist from Malaysia, stood out among 18 other contestants from across Asia, emerging victorious in the vocal pop category for children aged 10 to 11 years.
Held at YTheatre, Hong Kong Youth Square, she achieved the highest marks during the competition, organised by First Education Group from Hong Kong.
Her remarkable achievement follows a successful performance in the preliminary round held in Singapore, which earned her a spot in the international finals.
Affectionately calling herself Penyanyi Ubi Kentang (Potato Singer), Taylor shared her joy and gratitude through a Facebook post.
“To my cherished followers, your steadfast support has been a beacon of light throughout this journey.
“Your encouragement has been instrumental in helping me reach this milestone, and for that, I am thankful and grateful,” she said.
Reflecting on the challenges she faced, Taylor recounted moments when others doubted her abilities, but the constant support of her mother kept her focused.
“Mama always reminded me to stay positive rather than allowing these words to deter me. And yes, Mama, you were right – I am not dumb as they said.
“I used them as motivation to strive harder and prove that with perseverance, one can overcome adversity.
“This victory is not just mine, it belongs to all who have believed in me. Thank you all for being an integral part of this journey. I look forward to sharing more milestones with you as we continue forward together,” she said.
When asked by Sarawak Tribune about her future plans and hopes, Taylor expressed her desire to continue improving her singing.
“My next move is to improve myself because I still have a lot to work on.
“My coach says I improve little by little, so I will keep gaining more experience in performing.”
As part of her prize, Taylor will represent Malaysia at the Royal College of Music in London this August, performing during the institution’s 10th anniversary celebration.
This latest triumph follows her earlier achievement as a Gold Medalist and Division Champion at the 2024 World Championship of Performing Arts in Los Angeles.
