Philadelphia Orchestra to replace stolen trombone

After a young boy had his trombone taken from the curb in front of his house, the Philadelphia Orchestra has decided to step in to help.

Aidan Milligan, a fourth-grade special needs student at Manoa Elementary in Haverford, left his trombone outside Thursday morning before school; when he went back out, the instrument was gone.

The Philadelphia Orchestra has offered to replace his trombone, spokesperson Katherin E. Blodgett wrote by email Saturday, and is working to schedule a meeting between Aidan and the orchestra's trombone players.

But first things first: "Right now I'm trying to work with our musicians to figure out the best way to quickly get a new trombone into his hands," she wrote.

Milligan, who has down syndrome, put the trombone outside his Drexel Hill home so he wouldn't forget it, a family friend said by phone. The trombone's disappearance so devastated the boy, the friend said, he had to leave school early.