The Wichita Symphony Orchestra brought in a special guest star to help schoolchildren learn about classical music Wednesday at Century II Concert Hall, but she never made an appearance on stage.

Carmen Sandiego, the lovable thief of computer game and television fame, was there in spirit, though.

Carmen's imaginary theft of one of the Great Pyramids of Egypt prompted the orchestra, guest conductor Gary sheldon and some 2,000 fourth- and fifth- graders to embark upon a search for the monument, a pretend world tour marked by classical compositions from different countries.

Characters from the popular "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?' game, including Inspector Clue-not (Bobby Weinapple) and Agent Luke Warmwater (Wichita State University voice professor Matt Bean) introduced the audience to comical clues to the pyramid's whereabouts, prompting Sheldon to begin the appropriate musical excerpt.

Carmen's theft of the pyramid from the banks of the Nile River inspired a brassy rendition of the "Triumphal March" from the opera "Aida" by Giuseppe Verdi. Clues led to the Czech Republic, represented by "The Moldau" by Bedrich Smetana; to Austria and Johann Strauss' "The Blue Danube"; and to the United States and renditions of "Ol' Man River" and "When the Saints Go Marching In."

Between the orchestra's playing, the actors introduced various instruments, joked with the kids, solved musical riddles and even coaxed some children to come on stage and waltz to "The Blue Danube," prompting squeals of delight from their peers. Sheldon, music director of the Marin Symphony in San Rafael, Calif., created the educational concert six years ago.

"In a symphony orchestra concert we do the same thing that one does in the Carmen Sandiego game, and that is travel to different countries and learn about different cultures," he said. "It just connects classical music with the most popular medium today, which, of course, is entertainment on computers."

Sheldon presents Carmen Sandiego children's concerts with orchestras across the country. Next month he will take the program to Montreal.

Judging from the reactions of chldren and teachers Wednesday, "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" provides a fun introduction to the concert hall. Even without knowing anything about music, the children arrived at Century II with an excitement because many were familiar with the computer game.

"My favorite was the Carmen Sandiego theme song because of the rhythm and the melody," said Clarire Compton, a fourth -grader from St. Mary's School in Derby. "My dad got me a computer game, and I have seen it on TV."

Compton's teacher, Pat Lollar, said that the antics of Inspector Clue-not and the others engaged the children in ways a traditional classical music concert would not.