Llewellyn Kingman Sanchez Werner plays Saturday with the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra in Baghdad. Werner says he wanted to show Iraqis that 'the U.S. has a lot of wonderful things to offer.' (Karim Kadim/Associated Press)

A 13-year-old piano prodigy from Los Angeles has become the first American guest musician to play with the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra in Baghdad.

Llewellyn Kingman Sanchez Werner, who is already in his third year studying piano and composition at New York's Juilliard School, got a standing ovation from the audience of 250 on Saturday at the Rasheed Hotel.

"It was just amazing," said the teen. "We connected well with this orchestra."

The young musician arrived in the city on Friday with his parents. His father, Llewellyn Werner, and his investment firm have been working in Baghdad along with the U.S. Department of Defence for three years.

'Several mistakes from my country have been made in terms of the invasion and occupation.' —Piano prodigy Llewellyn Kingman Sanchez Werner

His mother, Martha Sanchez Werner, credits her son with having a strong social conscience, having played last year in Rwanda as well.

As for arriving in the dangerous region, the teenager said he was "a little scared" ahead of the trip.

"But as soon as I arrived, I felt safe in a way," he added, adding that he never had to put on a bulletproof vest before.

Llewellyn says he didn't want to miss the opportunity to bring something different from the U.S. to the Iraqis.

"Several mistakes from my country have been made in terms of the invasion and occupation … me being here is one way to show the U.S. has a lot of wonderful things to offer."

Orchestra in tatters after 2003 invasion

Karim Wasfi, the orchestra's director and chief conductor, said the performance itself was a kind of miracle.

Wasfi, who also plays cello, says getting 90 musicians and their instruments through multiple checkpoints and to the Rasheed, in the Iraqi capital's heavily fortified Green Zone, was a logistical nightmare.

"I am amazed how easy it is for bombs to move around Baghdad and how difficult it is to transport musical instruments," he noted.

After the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, the orchestra was at near-collapse with many musicians opting to leave the country.

Wasfi reconstituted it in 2005 with 50 musicians, and it has since blossomed to 90 members, performing twice a month in the capital and occasionally in venues in other parts of the country.

"I have decided not to let the political and security situation affect our dedication to restoring Iraq's cultural life," declares the conductor.

For his part, Llewellyn, who already holds a college degree in music, the dangerous trip was well worth it.

"Music is a way to connect," he said. "I'm excited to make a difference."

With files from The Associated Press