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KUCHING (Feb 12): Ten-year-old Baptista Emmanuell Korintus from Belaga, Sarawak, is making headlines as he prepares to represent Malaysia at the 28th World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Long Beach, California, this July.
Baptista, fondly known as Nuel@Levat, secured his spot in Team Malaysia 2025 after clinching second place at the Malaysia Championship of Performing Arts (MCOPA) Final Showcase@Star on Stage, held in Kuching on Feb 8. His impressive performance earned him a silver medal and a RM2,000 scholarship, paving the way for his participation in the prestigious global competition.
The young sape player will compete in the Instrumental Solo Category at WCOPA, often dubbed the “Olympics of Performing Arts,” which will bring together talents from over 70 countries between July 15 to 26.
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Baptista hails from Rumah Sekapan Piit in Belaga and is of Sekapan ethnicity. His journey with the sape began at the tender age of five. Guided by his father, Korintus Leban, a talented sape maker and musician, Baptista later explored contemporary sape styles at nine years old.
“Baptista has participated in various talent competitions at the state level, winning several awards along the way,” said Korintus. “WCOPA will be a great platform for him to showcase his talent and grow as an international performer.”
The young sape prodigy hopes to follow in the footsteps of Dion Das Louis, another Sarawakian performer who won a gold medal at WCOPA 2024.
Sarawak’s rich cultural heritage will once again shine on the international stage through Baptista’s performance, inspiring young talents to pursue their dreams and keep traditional music alive in a modern world. — The Borneo Post