When the Osborn children stepped to the front of Panhandle Symphony Orchestra during Tuesday night's rehearsal, an adoring reaction hummed from the other orchestra members.

"So cute," a few murmured.

But once the four perched their violins on their shoulders and caressed their bows across the strings, cute just didn't cover it.

Performing with exacting precision, the siblings ages 10, 12, 13 and 16 produced a light cascade of notes, the waterfall fugue ever recognizable in a Vivaldi piece.

A poignant delivery.

And OK, maybe a little bit cute.

"I'm just thrilled my kids were invited to join this group," said the children's father, Andy, who attributed home schooling to his children knowing several instruments. "What a great group for them."

A quartet piece featuring the talents of Katelyn, Luke, Lindy and Kiersti Osborn is one of the highlights on the program at tonight's free performance by the Panhandle Symphony Orchestra, scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Kroc Center.

With performers ranging from the Osborn children's age to some in their 70s and beyond, the orchestra is intended to serve as a musical home for all performers keen on sharing their passion, said orchestra manager Larry Strobel.

"One thing I've said for a long time, music is something you can do for many, many years," Strobel said. "It really is a gift, and we should make good use of our gifts."

Although the concert is free, the group is asking for donations, Strobel added, with hopes the concert will raise funds to help sustain the roughly 50-member group.

The orchestra pays fees for practice space, insurance and concert venue, he pointed out, which can be tricky to cover with the group's commitment to free concerts.

"That's so if people have children and don't have much money and would like to expose their children to something like this, they can do it without spending a bunch of money," he said.

The Panhandle Symphony also needs a hand in covering another crucial expense, purchasing new music.

The group has been borrowing music from North Idaho College's music library, Strobel explained, and the orchestra has about exhausted its options.

"We'd like to expand our library any way we could," he said.

Tonight, the roughly hour and a half concert will include "Hoe Down" by Aaron Copland, which some might remember as the soundtrack to old beef commercials, and the notably darker "Egmont" overture by Ludwig van Beethoven.

The symphony's flutist Cynthia Horton will also perform "The Carnival of Venice" while accompanied by the orchestra.

"It's a real contrast of styles and sounds," Strobel said.

He emphasized that the performers are happy to provide free entertainment.

"However, if people want to come and think it's a great thing and want to give us quite a bit, that's up to them," Strobel said.