In a remarkable turn of events at Sydney’s Darling Harbour Theatre, a 21-year-old university student named Sterling Nasa saved the day during a performance of ‘La La Land in Concert.’ The original pianist fell ill, and Nasa, a student of politics and international relations, was volunteered by a friend to take the stage.
A Moment of Opportunity
Academy Award-winning composer Justin Hurwitz, who scored the original movie, asked the audience if there were any capable sight readers present. Nasa, who also tutors bagpipes, stepped up to the challenge with only a brief two to three-minute briefing before performing.
Hurwitz expressed his initial nervousness but was quickly impressed once Nasa began playing. ‘Until he started playing I didn’t know how it was going to go,’ Hurwitz said. ‘As soon as he started playing, I was impressed.’
Audience Reaction
The audience, including Maddie Corwin who captured the moment on Instagram, was thrilled by the unexpected twist. Corwin described the experience as ‘completely unique,’ noting how Nasa’s composure and skill won over the crowd. ‘You could really see that everyone was rooting for him,’ she said, adding that the performance exemplified the spirit of ‘La La Land’—artists chasing their dreams.
Nasa later reflected on the experience in a LinkedIn post, calling it a ‘challenging but such a fun experience.’ His impromptu performance ensured that the show continued smoothly, embodying the adage that ‘the show must go on.’
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
