When 6-year-old Tyre learned his wish would be granted, it was music to his ears. As one of classical music’s littlest fans, Tyre loved watching orchestras perform and listening to the melodies they made.

And most of all, he loved keeping time with the person in charge of the music: the conductor. For his wish, Tyre wanted to wave the baton himself – and conduct a real orchestra at a live performance.

Tyre, who was born with spina bifida, often walks around his house conducting music with a wooden chopstick – or as he called it, his “inductor stick.” With the help of wish granters from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Mexico and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona, Tyre would soon be able to put all that practice to good use.

After a send-off party where he received a light-up baton, Tyre and his family were off to Arizona. The Phoenix Symphony Orchestra was performing the “People’s Pops Concert Series,” and the musicians were anxious to meet their official guest conductor.

Tyre put the orchestra through a rigorous rehearsal at Symphony Hall, and he received some professional tips – and a real baton – from conductor Robert Moody. He also took a VIP backstage tour in preparation for his big show. A natural leader, Tyre was even directing the local media when they came to cover his rehearsal, telling a cameraman to “point that at me!”

Before the curtain rose the next day, Tyre took some time to relax with a trip to the Phoenix Zoo and visits with Arizona family members. But when it was show time, he was ready to roll, looking regal in his tuxedo and arriving at Symphony Hall in a limousine.

Tyre enjoyed most of the orchestra’s performance from some of the best seats in the house, but when it came time for the show’s finale, the stage belonged to him.

The orchestra hit every note of the John Phillip Sousa classic, “Stars and Stripes Forever,” and at Tyre’s direction, the music swelled to a big crescendo finish.

The audience fell in love with the little conductor, honoring him with two standing ovations. The proud musicians presented their new director with a “Stars and Stripes Forever” score signed by each of them.

The curtain finally fell on Tyre’s symphony debut, and the day ended with echoes of thunderous applause. The magic certainly was in the music – and in the young conductor who brought it to life.