KUCHING: A sape player from Bau has emerged the 2024 Sape Junior Champion, becoming the first woman to win the music event.
Norfazlina Mohamad Fariz brought back a cash prize of RM 10,000 along with a trophy.
Fazlina started playing the sape musical instrument when she was 21 in 2017.
Prior to winning the 2024 Sape Junior Championship, she had also participated in several other sape competitions, securing third and second place finishes.
“I know my weaknesses, so I was nervous … thank God, I didn’t expect to win the Sape Junior Championship this time,” she said during a media interview after being crowned the winner at Auditorium P. Ramlee, here on May 11.
Second place was secured by a participant from Miri, Vandylan Roger James, and third place went to Sibu’s Stanford Ryan Sidi, each of whom brought back cash prizes of RM 7,000 and RM 5,000 respectively, along with trophies.
The contestant from Kuching, Ivana Anz Eddie, was crowned winner in the best performance category, receiving a cash prize of RM 2,000.
Additionally, three others received a consolation prize of RM 3,000 each.
The prizes were presented by the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts, Datuk Sherrina Hussaini.
Also present was Deputy Director of RTM Sarawak, Norjihan Yahya, who represented the Director of Broadcasting Sarawak.
