CLEVELAND — From the very first note you can hear and see Allen Choo's passion for music.
"Every violin is different, the violin is basically my music voice." he says.
Different because each and every one is connected to its musician.
A musician whose voice has been silent recently after his custom made, baroque violin was stolen in its backpack from St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights on Friday.
Also in his backpack were Apple air pods and a tracker, which traced everything to a plaza on South Taylor Rd in Cleveland Heights. Choo and police went there asking questions, looking in garbage cans, and even posting fliers for the missing violin along with a $400 reward offer.
"The stolen violin is significant to me that money can't buy," Choo added. "I believe that I can really communicate and express myself through music. This instrument is very special is really important and significant for me because my career grew with it."
His baroque violin was made in New York City and is a one-of-a-kind.
Choo has been playing it since 2018 and his career has flourished in the Apollo's Fire Baroque Orchestra.
He knows the thief doesn't understand that the instrument is his baby, but he is begging for its return.
"I would like to play a song for the thief," Choo says, so they can really see how his music comes to life when he has his violin.
UPDATE: In a recent post on Instagram, Choo has raised his reward offer to $2,500.