Sant Returns for Annual Thanksgiving Concert

Caesar Sant, 15, returned to the Clinical Center on Nov. 20 to play violin at his third Thanksgiving concert, giving thanks to his clinical team for the life-changing treatment that cured his sickle cell disease. Sant—at times accompanied by former NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins on guitar and former National Cancer Institute postbac Robert Masi on piano—performed several Bach pieces and two original compositions.

Collins called the event “the best way I can think of to celebrate Thanksgiving—which is to have an opportunity to give thanks for the combination of talents of a remarkable young violinist, Caesar Sant, and NIH, which has given Caesar a lease on life after his bone marrow transplant two years ago.” He said Caesar’s story is a prime example of how music can help with resilience and healing.

For more on Caesar's story, see: Young SCA Patient is Pain-Free Following Transplant