A violinist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra is getting his prized instrument back.

Jim Wallenberg, a 30-year veteran of the TSO, accidentally left his custom-made violin at a streetcar stop last Thursday night.

Distracted because he is expecting newborn twins and buying a new house, Wallenberg left the violin on a plastic salt container outside a streetcar shelter at Queen's Quay and Spadina Street.

He put up reward posters for the Ansaldo Poggi instrument, which has been in his family since 1972. The violin was given to Wallenberg by his mother, who taught him to play.

A couple spotted a homeless woman recently with the violin in her shopping cart. They paid her $35 for the instrument.

The couple was expected to return the violin to Wallenberg and collect the $1,000 reward on Thursday afternoon.

Wallenberg described the violin as one of his favourites and said losing it felt like he lost a family member.