Keyboardist Steals Spotlight in Live Orchestra Performance of ‘La La Land’

When 21‑year‑old Sterling Nasa woke up on Saturday, he could not have imagined that he would soon perform before a crowd of 2,000. The day, which he described as “run‑of‑the‑mill,” began with helping a friend on a student film and running errands around Sydney. Later, he planned to enjoy a “La La Land” screening with live orchestral accompaniment at the Darling Harbour Theatre.

Instead, the evening turned into a once‑in‑a‑lifetime opportunity.

“I’ve obviously hit the algorithm to some degree,” Nasa reflected on his unexpected surge of internet attention. “I don’t think I’ve fully rationalized it yet.”

The disruption began during an extended intermission of the 2016 musical, which tells the love story of aspiring actress Mia (Emma Stone) and ambitious musician Sebastian (Ryan Gosling). While the audience waited, composer Justin Hurwitz appeared onstage.

“Is anybody an amazing sight‑reader?” Hurwitz asked, explaining that a musician had fallen ill and needed a replacement. The request—to perform with a professional orchestra on the spot—was daunting. Nasa was asked to fill in with minimal preparation.

The situation was akin to shouting, “Is there a doctor in the house?” Singing for a live orchestra with a sudden audience of 2,000 was nothing short of audacious.

While the hall buzzed, Scarlett Pearce—Nasa’s friend—stepped forward. “I was kind of a maniac,” she later recounted. “I shouted into the crowd that Nasa was the man for the job.”

Nasa hesitated, but after Pearce’s encouragement, he rose and made his way to the stage, where the composer and the orchestra awaited. “I just tried not to fall down the stairs,” he joked.

Hurwitz asked for his name and handed him to the keyboard technician for a quick rundown. Within a minute, Nasa was onstage.

“I was pretty nervous,” he admitted. By the tenth minute, he was in his groove, reminding himself that this was a rare chance to seize. “When else are you going to have this opportunity? You just have to go for it.”

Nasa’s highlight was a solo during “Start a Fire,” originally performed by John Legend in the film. He improvised, earning enthusiastic applause from the audience.

For Nasa, who is about to graduate from the University of Sydney with a degree in international relations, the performance reaffirmed his passion for music. “My impromptu performance gave me the confidence to consider pursuing it as a career,” he said. “Holding my own among such skilled musicians shows that my goals are not completely out of reach.”

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