Kyle Levy, a local teenager with leukemia, got the surprise of his life when he was invited onstage with the Philadelphia Orchestra to play under the baton of conductor Nathalie Stutzmann on his new, custom-made cello, writes Shaun Brady for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The October surprise was organized by Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware & Susquehanna Valley. This was the highlight of a tough year for the junior at Central Bucks South High School who was diagnosed with cancer in February.

Never losing optimism, Levy kept up as many activities as he could through his regimen of chemotherapy and T-cell therapy, including training in karate and practicing on a rented cello for his school orchestra performances.

When he was approached by Make-A-Wish, he asked for something that would last – a new cello of his own. In the end, though, he got much more than just the instrument.

Levy entered the Kimmel Center thinking he was going to just watch the Philadelphia Orchestra’s rehearsal. Instead, he was handed his new cello and invited to join the orchestra.

“It was very moving,” said Philadelphia Orchestra CEO Matías Tarnopolsky.

Read more about Kyle Levy in The Philadelphia Inquirer here.

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