Sarawak’s rising star Aleysha set for global stage at Sanremo Junior finals in Italy

KUCHING (Jan 30): Sarawak’s rising singing star, Aleysha Shareef Van Der Horst is set to showcase her vocal prowess on the global stage at the 17th Sanremo Junior World Finals in Italy this April.

The competition for solo singers aged six to 15 will be held on Apr 14 at the Teatro Ariston in Sanremo.

Aleysha received official confirmation via email on Jan 20 and expressed her excitement at being selected, having missed last year’s edition due to a scheduling clash with the fasting month.

According to her mother, Shirley Hasmani Eddie, Aleysha will perform Lady Gaga’s ‘Always Remember Us This Way’ at the finals.

“Through her participation, Aleysha hopes to present her vocal talents to the international performing arts community, showcasing that Sarawak nurtures talented youths who are gradually making their mark globally, thanks to the state’s strong support to the creative industry and performing arts,” Shirley told The Borneo Post.

She added that she hopes the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts will consider sponsoring Aleysha’s trip to Sanremo, as the 12-year-old aspires to represent Sarawak as a performing arts ambassador.

Aleysha and her twin brother, Ryan Zachary, have already earned international recognition.

Their breakthrough came at the World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) 2024 in Los Angeles, where Aleysha won Division Champion in the solo category, while the twins took home gold and bronze medals in the under-12 duet category.

Aleysha also made history as the first Malaysian to receive a New York Film Academy Scholarship in the 27-year history of the competition.

Her achievements continued at last week’s International Youth Music Competition (IYMC) in New York, where she was named First Prize with Honours and Absolute Winner in the Junior II Vocal category, scoring 99 per cent.

Judges praised her voice for its richness and warmth, expressiveness, and strong communicative ability.

The competition drew participants from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, China, India, Italy, South Korea, Thailand, the United States, and Malaysia.

Following her success, Aleysha has been invited to perform at the Royal Academy of Music in London on March 29, as well as at the 2026 New York City Prize Winners Recital on Sept 5 and 6 at the DiMenna Centre for Classical Music in New York City.

Ryan also achieved acclaim, winning First Prize at the USA Artists of the Year International Music Competition.

The twins previously earned international recognition with their duet ‘Suasana Hari Raya’, winning First Prize with Honours at the IYMC USA World Music International Competition in July 2025.

Their performance was praised for its confidence, showmanship, and compelling stage presence.

Shirley noted that Aleysha also competes locally, having won the Sarawak Zone finals of Bintang Kecil RTM 2025, performing in Bahasa Malaysia and earning a place at the national level.

She added that Aleysha will soon release her first English-language international single, produced in the United States, making her the youngest Sarawakian to do so.