“Being Disabled should not mean being disqualified from having access to every aspect of life.” – Emma Thompson
Three visually impaired youngsters from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah – beat the odds, when they won first place in the International Youth Music Competition (IYMC), under the Folk, Ethnic, Traditional, World Music category. The event was based in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States, but was held virtually in light of the ongoing global pandemic.
Dubbed as The Trio, the group consists of Kimberly Lo Jing Wei, 12, John Paul Paulus, 12, and Putra Ahmad Naim Mohd Masri, 13. Competing against 49 groups from 21 countries across the globe, these three aspiring young musicians wooed the judges with their very own rendition of Lenggang Kangkung. Their recorded performance involved three traditional percussion instruments: the gong, played by Kimberly, a bamboo drum, sported by John, and a kulintang, which is an eight-piece brass gong, that Putra handles with mastery.
(Credit: The Star)
The young trio are from SK Pendidikan Khas Tuaran in Putatan. When schools were still open, they would practise during school hours with their teacher, Cikgu Stefanus Lucas, and would also go to school during the weekends. After which, they switched to having virtual lessons. Their teacher decided to submit their recorded performance to the IYMC, which hosts a monthly international music competition online. The theme for the July competition was Folk, Ethnic, Traditional, World Music, which was perfectly fitting for The Trio’s genre of music. Mr.Stefanus, knowing full well just how talented these young individuals are, knew that they stood a good chance.
(Credit: The Star)
Not only did they clinch the coveted prize for this competition but just last month, they were also awarded a silver diploma in the online version of the XI World Championship of Folklore 2021 in Bulgaria.
Despite their disability, these children challenged themselves and worked extremely hard, training every day to master playing by ear and to remember the pitch and melody of different songs, which is no easy feat. With the help of their dedicated teacher, who applies fun learning concepts and unique teaching methods, they have managed to prove themselves to the world and have achieved great heights at such tender ages. These young aspiring musicians are an example of the kind of strength, perseverance, and resolve, that everyone should adopt in difficult times like these.
The Trio have also proved that having a disability is not a barrier or hindrance, with a little spirit, courage, passion, and determination, anything is possible.
(Credit: The Star)
Every person with a disability is still an individual striving to accomplish great things. It is easy for community members to focus on the disability and define the individual by it, while it is important to recognise their rights and personal struggles, it is just as important to see their abilities, to them as more, as capable, just like everyone else.
“There is nothing more debilitating about a disability than the way people treat you over it.” – Solange Nicole
