Cabbie Mohamed Khalil displays his medal from the city of Newark, N.J., presented to him on April 23 to recognize his return of a $4 million violin to musician Philippe Quint. (Mike Derer/Associated Press)

A New Jersey cab driver who reunited a professional violinist with his more than 250-year-old instrument was to receive his musical reward on Tuesday.

Classical violinist Philippe Quint was slated to give a private, 30-minute performance at the taxi waiting area of Newark Liberty International Airport Tuesday afternoon to thank cabbie Mohamed Khalil for returning his rare violin.

Returning from a performance in Dallas in late April, the Russian-born Quint left his 1723 Antonio Stradivari Ex-Kiesewetter violin in Khalil's taxi.

The violin, which was on loan from New York philanthropists Clement and Karen Arrison, is valued at $4 million US.

Realizing his error, Quint notified authorities and travelled to the Newark Taxi Commission to view photos of taxis.

Meanwhile, Khalil was unaware of the rare violin in his cab and parked it until the next morning, when the dispatcher called on cabbies to look for the missing instrument.

The Egyptian-born Khalil found it and got in touch with Quint, who, upon meeting the cabbie, immediately gave him $100 US — all he had in his wallet, he said later.

The City of Newark subsequently presented Khalil with a medal.

As another expression of his gratitude, Quint has also invited Khalil and his family to be his guests at his next gig in New York: a May 19 concert with the Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church.