College Student, 21, Saves “La La Land” Concert After Pianist Falls Sick Halfway Through Performance

In a remarkable turn of events during a concert in Sydney, a 21-year-old university student stepped up to perform in front of a packed audience after the show’s scheduled pianist fell ill. The concert featured the score of the Oscar-winning film “La La Land,” composed by Justin Hurwitz, who was taken by surprise and sought assistance from the audience when the situation arose.

The concert took place at the Darling Harbour Theatre, where an audience of 2,500 eagerly anticipated the live performance. As the show progressed, Hurwitz was faced with an unexpected dilemma; the main pianist was unable to continue. In a video shared by 7NEWS Australia, he can be seen asking the crowd if there were any talented sight-readers available to take over.

“I’m looking for someone who can sight read,” Hurwitz said, scanning the audience to gauge if anyone could step in effectively. Amid the applause and cheers from the audience, Sterling Nasa, a student of politics and international studies, was prompted by a friend to volunteer. Initially seated far back in the theatre, he found himself unexpectedly ushered onto the stage to perform.

Upon arriving on stage, Nasa had just moments to prepare himself as he faced both the infamous composer and a complex score that he had never seen before. Reflecting on the experience, he shared with 7NEWS: “I’m just glad that I managed to contribute in a very small way to what was an incredible orchestra.”

Despite his trepidation, it quickly became apparent that Nasa possessed the skill required to execute the demanding pieces of music. Hurwitz later elaborated on his doubts, stating, “Until he started playing, I didn’t know how it was going to go… I was trying to just like trust it, have fun with it. As soon as he started playing, I was impressed.”

The audience watched in astonishment as Nasa tackled the intricate number “Start a Fire,” originally performed by John Legend and featuring a challenging synthesizer solo designed to complement the on-screen character Sebastian Wilder, played by Ryan Gosling. Hurwitz had his reservations about whether any musician could replicate the technical demands of the solo without prior rehearsal.

“It’s really technical, and I thought even a highly skilled sight-reader might struggle with it,” Hurwitz noted. Nevertheless, Nasa adapted quickly, improvising to lead the orchestra through the song. His impromptu performance culminated in a resounding standing ovation from the enthusiastic audience, reflecting the sheer talent displayed that evening.

Describing the performance, Hurwitz praised Nasa’s ability to improvise under pressure, remarking, “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 — it was remarkable.” His compliments highlighted the unique qualities of Nasa’s performance, which not only captivated the audience but also met the high standards of the lauded film score.

As plans were made to ensure the production had pianists prepared for future performances, Nasa returned to his studies, viewing the entire episode as a significant milestone in his musical journey. Summing up his experience, Nasa described it simply as “quite a blessing.”

The story of Sterling Nasa serves to illuminate the unexpected joys that can arise from unforeseen circumstances and the incredible talents that can emerge in the most unpredictable of situations. It will undoubtedly remain a cherished memory both for him and for the audience who witnessed his extraordinary moment on stage.