CHORUS NEEDS NEW PLACE TO DWELL.

Byline: Patricia Hesselbach / Special to the Daily News

``I Will Never Pass This Way Again,'' is one of the lovely inspirational selections performed by the Agoura Hills Harmony Chorus. It also reflects the singers' ongoing quest to establish a permanent rehearsal home.

The Agoura Hills Harmony Chorus is affiliated with Sweet Adelines International. Sweet Adelines is a worldwide organization that promotes the appreciation and performance of women's barbershop singing. Over 30,000 women throughout the world participate.

A 1997 Sweet Adelines regional award winner, the Agoura Hills Harmony Chorus is an ensemble of 65 women who are highly dedicated to preserving an art form.

``If you know of any place that wants us and our risers, please let me know,'' Sylvia Drake, the Agoura Hills Harmony Chorus board president said in her plea for a rehearsal hall. ``We're nice ladies and we don't make a mess.'' A chuckle rolled through the women on the risers like a wave rolls through the grandstands at a sporting event.

For more than a year, the singers have held their weekly Tuesday night rehearsals at Aspen Elementary School in Thousand Oaks. School officials recently notified the singers that they could no longer store their folding risers in the auditorium, and they will need to find a new home soon.

Undaunted, the singers are confident they will find a new venue.

The singers from all over Ventura County, the San Fernando Valley and as far away as Lancaster, Santa Monica and Palos Verdes plan to continue to make their weekly trek to rehearsal, no matter where that might take place.

They also have lost their post-rehearsal habitat.

Members of the group traditionally gathered at Jack's Restaurant in Westlake Village after rehearsals to have a snack and treat other diners to a tune or two. A change in Jack's hours of operation has left the singers without a regular gathering place, where they can wind down from rehearsals.

``We go to different places. It's hard not to have a regular place,'' said Drake, who admitted that it can be difficult for any restaurant to seat as many as 30 or 40 singers.

These mobile messengers of song take their prize-winning performances to the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, The Oaks mall and to appreciative audiences far and wide. Sometimes the set of risers goes along with them.

Watching rehearsal of the Agoura Hills Harmony Chorus was almost as entertaining as seeing one of the group's performances. While waiting their turn to rehearse, singers in the bass section were inspired by the bouncing rhythm of ``Doctor Jazz'' to dance a few steps. ``We call them overachievers,'' said chorus member Mary Weitzman.

An upbeat director and two competent assistant directors gave the ensemble their downbeats. The key tone was offered at regular intervals by a singer wielding an electronic tuner.

At the break, a chorus member made the announcement that long-awaited sparkling vests had arrived. Representatives from the Gentlemen Songsters Chorus made a surprise appearance to pitch their upcoming performance. Two choreography team leaders went over a few steps at the back of the auditorium in preparation for the second half of rehearsal.

``Splish, Splash, I Was Taking a Bath'' - harmony and choreography crossed paths in an exciting rendition of a '50s medley.

The end of rehearsal was no less stimulating. After celebrating the birthday of a chorus member in song, the evening came to a close. But excitement and anticipation still permeated the auditorium. An experienced Sweet Adelines singer hoping to transfer into the Agoura Hills Harmony Chorus prepared to audition for the director and board members. She and her auditioners went into another room, as a small quartet in the corner of the main room piped up with ``Ain't Misbehavin'.'' Within a few minutes, Joanie Adler emerged from her audition.

The auditioners re-entered the auditorium with good news. Adler had passed the audition. A collection of people clustered around the singer, cheering and applauding her.

``It's a huge energy, and I love all of it,'' said the Agoura Hills Harmony Chorus director Anne Casey. ``Taking music from a piece of paper and turning it into song is exciting.'' A member since the inception of the chorus in 1991, Casey has directed the group for more than two years.

For information about the Agoura Hills Harmony Chorus auditions and performances or to suggest a new rehearsal location, call [phone].

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PHOTO The Agoura Hills Harmony Chorus will soon lose its rehearsal home.