A remarkable moment unfolded during a live performance of La La Land in concert in Sydney when an audience member volunteered to replace an ill pianist. Twenty-one-year-old Sterling Nasa, a student at the University of Sydney, was attending the show where a live orchestra accompanies the film on screen. During intermission, the film's Oscar-winning composer and conductor, Justin Hurwitz, announced that the pianist had fallen ill and asked if anyone in the audience could play piano and sight-read music. Nasa, initially hesitant, was encouraged by a friend to volunteer. He was brought on stage, took the keyboardist's place, and successfully performed the piano part for the remainder of the concert.
A Leap of Faith
Nasa, who plays piano and organ and serves as bagpipes tutor at his former school, admitted to ABC Radio that he was tentative at first. 'I do owe a lot of the experience to my friend, Scarlett, who sort of … put my hand up for me,' he said. 'But I did end up finding the confidence and it was a very good decision to go down and volunteer myself.' He was particularly nervous about the piece 'Start a Fire' by John Legend, a difficult solo. 'I saw it on the score and I thought, oh, I don't know if I'm going to be able to sight-read that in one go,' he said. However, he improvised and earned a standing ovation.
Composer's Praise
Hurwitz called Nasa's feat 'remarkable' in an interview with the Guardian Australia. 'That is a whole other skill on top of sight-reading. To be able to play a really cool solo in the right key, in the right scale, on the fly with no rehearsal,' he said. Hurwitz was careful to ensure Nasa wasn't overconfident, asking several follow-up questions before allowing him on stage. His trust paid off, as Nasa, a longtime fan of Hurwitz's work, described the experience as unforgettable. 'It was quite a blessing to get to play a work that I'm in such admiration of,' he said.
Audience Reaction
Audience member Maddie Corwin, who filmed the viral moment, told CNN it was a 'unique' experience. 'I had never seen a professional production just stop and ask if anyone in the audience can step in and perform,' she said. The audience rooted for Nasa, and Corwin noted that 'everything completely flowed and meshed and you couldn't tell really that there was any disruption.' She added that the experience 'exemplified what La La Land is about… artists chasing their dreams.'
Future Plans
Nasa, who studies politics and international studies, has no current plans for a professional music career. However, Hurwitz believes he has the talent. 'I don't know what he's most passionate about,' Hurwitz said. 'Maybe he likes international relations a little more than music. But that's what La La Land is about. You've got to do what you love the most.'
