Suzuki in Space!

By ESA Administrator

27th September 2024

In conjunction with the El Sistema USA /Polaris Dawn curriculum released last Spring, SUZUKI™ trained Violinist Sarah Gillis (previously Sarah Levine) recorded a performance of Rey’s Theme from Star Wars in space this week during the Polaris Dawn mission.

This arrangement of Rey’s Theme was composed by John Williams for Anne-Sophie Mutter, who granted permission for Sarah’s performance.  Her performance has been blended into the orchestral accompaniment recorded in July 2023 at the Eastman Scoring Stage at Warner Brothers in Los Angeles, and supplemented by several student groups from around the world.  The theme of the performance is to highlight the resilience and hope of children around the world.

Sarah was a student of William Starr as well as a participant in the Boulder Suzuki Strings program, Colorado, USA from a very young age.  She uses the skills Mr. Starr taught her every day as an engineer!

Sarah collaborated with Barbara Barber at Robertson and Sons in Albuquerque to donate an instrument for this project, and the instrument was made by Christian Pederson.

The outfit will be auctioned to raise funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Watch the performance!

 

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