Sarawak's rising star Taylor Louise shines at Asia Student Arts Festival in London
KUCHING (Aug 2): Sarawakian singing prodigy Taylor Louise has done Malaysia proud after being named the recepient of the Winner Showcase Award at the prestigious 10th Anniversary Asia Student Arts Festival (ASAF), held on Aug 1 at the Britten Theatre, Royal College of Music in London.
The 11-year-old from Kuching received the award on stage from acclaimed baritone Jerome Knox during a showcase that brought together top young talents from across Asia and beyond.
Taylor, the only Sarawakian Malaysian to be honoured with the award at this milestone event, delivered two standout performances — 'Quiet' from the musical Matilda and her award-winning rendition of 'Easy On Me' by Adele.
Her rendition of 'Easy On Me' had earlier earned her top honours at the ASAF International Finals in Hong Kong earlier this year, where she emerged champion in the 'Pop Vocal (10–11 Years Old)' category, outperforming 17 other finalists.
With the win, she became the first Sarawakian to clinch the title in that category.
The audience at the Britten Theatre was captivated by Taylor's emotional depth, vocal control, and stage presence beyond her years.
'Standing on the stage of the Royal College of Music is a dream come true. I'm so thankful to my family, my coaches, and everyone in Sarawak and Malaysia who believed in me. This award isn't just mine — it belongs to everyone who supported me,' Taylor told The Borneo Post when contacted.
Explaining her song choice, Taylor said she selected 'Quiet' from Matilda because its lyrics reflect her personal journey.
Taylor holding the Jalur Gemilang among fellow participants from across Asia during the ASAF 10th Anniversary Showcase at the Britten Theatre, Royal College of Music in London.
'The song tells the story of finding inner strength and peace despite all the noise, criticism, and doubt from the outside world. That's something I've gone through too, learning to ignore negativity and focus on what I love, which is performing,' she said.
ASAF, established to celebrate and nurture young artistic talents, marked its 10th anniversary with a showcase featuring top winners from both past and current seasons.
Taylor earned her place in the London event after winning both the Malaysian preliminary and international final rounds earlier this year.
Despite her young age, Taylor already has a growing list of accolades.
She won a Gold medal at the World Championship of Performing Arts in Los Angeles and received a Special Mention at the Sanremo Junior World Finals in Italy, where she ranked among the Top 5 globally in her category.
Taylor proudly holds the Ibu Pertiwi and Jalur Gemilang flags outside the Royal College of Music in London, where she represented Malaysia at the ASAF 10th Anniversary Showcase.
Taylor is currently preparing for her next major appearance in Dreamweaver: The Musical, where she will play the role of Rayna, the youngest member of the cast.
The production is set to be staged at the Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPAC) on Aug 29 and 30, with three shows scheduled over two days.
It marks her debut in a full-scale professional theatre production, continuing her rise as one of Sarawak's brightest young talents. lead music performance taylor louise young talent
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