SPOKANE — Spokane astronaut Anne McClain has a theme song to listen to as she returns to space.
When Spokane Symphony lead violinist and concertmaster Mateusz Wolski heard that McClain was part of NASA’s Crew-10 mission to the International Space Station, he was inspired to compose a song for the moment.
“I just felt compelled to create something nice for her and knowing how much the Spokanites here appreciate her,” Wolski said. “It just came over me.”
He recently watched the film “Wicked,” so he was thinking about “The Wizard of Oz.” Stuck in his head was the theme “Over the Rainbow” — a song about hopes, dreams and, in a way, coming home. He adapted the melody into an original composition evoking the cosmos.
After a few hours of practice last weekend, he recorded it on his iPhone and texted it to McClain, wishing her the best on her travel. He didn’t expect it to be publicized, but McClain loved it so much she shared it. She also sent it to herself so she can listen to it aboard the ISS, he said.
“It feels completely surreal from my perspective,” Wolski said. “All I was trying to do was — a person like her with all the stress happening in the world could use something uplifting and beautiful.”
Wolski plans to record a higher-quality version after NASA asked to share it. He also plans to perform it as an encore during the symphony’s Masterworks concerts March 29-30 at The Fox.
Wolski met McClain a little more than five years ago when she was a special guest for the symphony during a concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. Wolski asked her lots of questions about space travel, and the two kept in touch.
The tribute is about two and a half minutes long.