Sarah Gillis became an engineer and astronaut after finishing Waldorf school. She now works for SpaceX, the US aerospace company. On September 13, Gillis was the first person to play the violin in space.
The concert took place during a five-day mission, during which Gillis orbited the Earth with a fellow female astronaut and two male astronauts, as well as carrying out an external mission. Gillis played John Williams’ “Rey’s Theme” from the soundtrack of the movie Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The piece, which lasts just under three minutes, was broadcast live on Earth and accompanied by young musicians playing various instruments in Venezuela, the United States, Brazil, Sweden, Uganda, and Haiti. The musicians used the concert to raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and El Sistema USA. The international organization originating from Venezuela enables children from financially disadvantaged backgrounds to learn a classical musical instrument.
Gillis’ own journey with music began early: she grew up as the child of a violinist and music teacher who taught her to play the violin. In an interview with El Sistema, Gillis describes how the discipline, work ethic and creativity of her musical training paved the way for her career as an aerospace engineer and astronaut. A pivotal moment along the way was meeting former NASA astronaut Joe Tanner, whom Gillis met at a lecture during her high school years at Shining Mountain Waldorf School in Boulder, Colorado. Tanner became Gillis’ high school mentor and encouraged her to study aerospace engineering. Twelve years later, Gillis looks into the livestream camera from inside a rocket before she begins to play: “This performance, bringing together talent from around the world, symbolizes unity and hope and affirms the resilience and potential of children around the world.”
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Translation Charles Cross
Image Screenshot from the broadcast
