'La La Land' kid from Sydney nails Ryan Gosling solos at the Greek Theatre

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Set us as preferred Here’s to the ones who dream.The anthemic thesis of “La La Land” — the Ryan Gosling/Emma Stone movie musical celebrating its 10th anniversary — became a moment of musical reality in May when a 21-year-old student in Sydney, Australia, was plucked from the crowd at a live concert of the film during intermission.Sterling Nasa proceeded to stun composer-conductor Justin Hurwitz and the 2,000-person audience with his flawless, impromptu performance.“Jumping into that concert in Sydney, and having an earpiece and seeing all this, was a little bit crazy,” says Nasa with well-mannered modesty, “but we somehow got through it.”Nasa is sitting backstage at the Greek Theatre between rehearsals, preparing to make his Los Angeles debut.

After that remarkable incident, an international feel-good news story, Hurwitz invited Nasa to fly out and play the entire concert at the anniversary screening here, in Griffith Park, where many of the film’s iconic scenes were shot.“He’s playing better than most of the professional pianists I’ve worked with,” says Hurwitz, who regularly conducts “La La Land in Concert.”“He’s nailing it,” Hurwitz explains during a break.“Those Sebastian solos, the ones that Ryan Gosling plays in the movie, he’s playing those as perfectly and cleanly as I’ve heard them in a very long time.

Very few of the pianists I work with around the world — and they’re all great professionals — but very few of them play it this well in sync with the picture.”Saturday’s rehearsals took place under a scorching sun.Half of the assembled musicians played on the film’s original soundtrack; star trumpet soloist Bijon Watson can even be seen wailing in the Lighthouse jazz scenes.

Sitting in the midst of these veteran L.A.sessions players, Nasa looked focused but con...