Cedar Falls - Sydney Coloff sat in the cello section, hands clasped tightly on her lap.

In her bright pink sweater, in the first row seated next to cellist Jonathan Chenoweth, with her feet dangling four inches above the floor, she was hard not to notice. Jason Weinberger, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra music director, gave her a smile as he swept his arms in a broad, expressive gesture and the orchestra began to play.

Coloff's head swiveled back and forth from Weinberger to Chenoweth. Her dad, Jim, sat directly behind her, his head nodding a little in tempo with the lyrical music from the third movement of Antonin Dvorak's Symphony No. 8.

On Tuesday evening, the Coloffs and a dozen or so other guests got a taste for what it's like to sit on the Great Hall stage at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center with the WCFSO and create music. Orchestra board members, civic supporters, the media, including the Courier's music critic George F. Day, listened and observed rehearsal from the various sections - winds, brass, percussion and strings.

"This is just such a blast for us. It's so much fun to do something different," enthused Weinberger. "On the flip side, it's great to be able to extend ourselves and to share what we do, to connect with the community in another way."

Syndey Coloff, 9, enjoyed the experience. "I think it's cool to sit next to the musicians. I play piano and violin and this was really fun. When I get in the fifth-grade, I'm going to learn to play clarinet. But I want to be a vet. I'll play instruments just for the fun."

Dvorak's spritely Symphony No. 8 was part of the "Accidental Americans" program presented last night in the Great Hall. Pianist Alexander Solomon was the guest artist showcased on Sergei Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto.

"This is as real as it gets. We've only played this a couple of times, so henceforth, we're going to ignore that you're here," Weinberger told the guests at Tuesday's rehearsal.

He paused frequently to explain nuances and phrasing in the music. Musicians scratched notations on their scores and followed his lead. Weinberger is both expressive and concise in his direction.

"Think about the way tall grass waves in a light breeze … it sways," he said, swaying back and forth at the podium like a snake charmer. All eyes were riveted on him. "The music sways from bar to bar … that's what we want to hear …" and later, "Don't be afraid to be silly here … it's lilting."

The woodwinds, including a sweetly wistful oboe and nearly effervescent flutes, and sonorous bassoons, cheerful brass and whispering, singing and soaring strings cascade together to create a waterfall of music in one of Dvorak's best-known works, inspired by Bohemian folk music. The short symphony is as sweet and airy as cotton candy.

And the guests enjoyed being at the epicenter of sound.

"I'm kind of nervous," confessed first violin Amy Beekhuizen. The University of Northern Iowa graduate student smiled, "What if I mess up and you hear it, sitting right next to me? I've never an experience like this before, but I think it's a neat way to give people a different perspective on the orchestra."

The Rev. Jan Ekstedt nestled his violin protectively in the crook of his arm as he leaned over to converse with guest Bett Peterson. It was the second side-by-side rehearsal for Peterson, a teacher at Edison School.

"Last year, I was with the brass section. I find it fascinating to sit on stage with the orchestra. It's a nice experience. The symphony is a supportive of Edison as our Partner in Education and Jason has come to the school to work with students. I teach deaf children and interpret for Jason. It's a good experience for the children," she explained.

Ekstedt drives from Hampton to play with the orchestra, sitting fifth chair with the first violins. The side-by-side rehearsal is fun for the musicians, too, he said, and gives guests who usually sit no closer to the orchestra than first row, an exciting experience. He also praised Weinberger's skill as a conductor. "He's the best conductor I've ever played for, and I've played for a few," he said, smiling. "Jason is the reason I keep coming back."