Irreplaceable violin stolen from Regina Symphony Orchestra musician

A centuries-old violin was allegedly stolen from a Regina Symphony Orchestra musician last week and she's been searching alleyways and online sales for hours in the past week hoping she might find it. 

Katie Gannon, a 10-year per-service violinist with the orchestra, says her Italian violin from the 1790's was stolen during a break and enter while she was at work. She came home on March 23 to her front door busted wide open and her pet cats roaming the porch.

At first she didn't consider her prized violin could be missing, after all, who would steal a violin in a house filled with electronics and other items, she thought. 

When she called her mom, then her mind shifted to the violin. 

"And then I kind of broke down," she said, adding the conversation ended with her parked at her house, sobbing. 

"I was just thinking, if the instrument's gone, that's the worst thing that could happen."

They also took a television, her children's Nintendo Switch and some art supplies, she said.

Regina Police Service officers found the TV stand in a back alleyway, she said. 

Since the evening her violin was stolen, she's spent hours surveying back alleys, trash and recycling bins, fearing the thieves aren't aware of the violin's true value — both monetary and emotional — and dumped it.

It cost Gannon about $18,000 when she bought it 15 years ago, but it's become a part of her since then.

She's said she's played in Regina, Newfoundland and the Canary Islands.

"My whole life is based around teaching and playing and performing, so I use it all the time and it's just not there anymore," Gannon said. 

"It's really painful."

Gannon has also been calling pawn shops and antique stores and checking Facebook marketplace, Kijiji and other places she thinks it might show up.