FLUTIST TUNES UP FOR PERFORMANCE; AREA MUSICIANS TO PLAY FREE SHOW.

Byline: Sonia Giordani Daily News Staff Writer

Twice each year, Krissi Povah digs out the flute she grew up playing and starts rehearsing.

Among the more than 40 music enthusiasts who make up the Agoura Hills/Las Virgenes Community Concert and Jazz Band, Povah spent the past five weeks preparing for tonight's performance - one of two free concerts the group has been serving up for the past nine years.

``It's nice to be a part of that. We like playing music with a group, and we like to give something free to the community,'' said Povah, who joined the band about seven years ago with her husband, Derek, a saxophonist.

Povah said she played the flute throughout her adolescence until she started college and concentrated on completing her bachelor's degree in psychology. But Povah said she hasn't lost her love of music or of performing.

``I wanted to play for the fun of playing - no auditions, no competition, no stress,'' Povah said.

When the Agoura Hills/Las Virgenes Community Band was founded about eight years ago, the idea was to give nonprofessional musicians in the area a chance to jam with fellow enthusiasts and to give the community a couple of free concerts to enjoy.

``I felt there was a need in the community for people who used to be involved in music and performance to be able to continue doing it,'' said Harry Leff, founder of the community band and current music director at A.E. Wright Middle School in Calabasas.

Since then, the group has added jazz music to its repertoire and formed a full jazz ensemble that performs after the classical concert. The group hopes to add a third concert to its annual performances next year - and to find a new conductor in the coming months.

Leff conducted the group for several years and was replaced by Moorpark College music teacher James Song for more than five years. Song recently left the group to pursue doctoral studies.

Agoura Hills High School music director John Mosley will be the guest conductor for tonight's concert. A founding member of the band, Mosley said he looks forward to directing a unique group of musicians.

``They bring a real enthusiasm to the music,'' said Mosley, who returned to the group this year. ``These are people who played through junior high and high school and college and then went on to other careers. This gives them the opportunity to come back to something they really love.''

For Ellen Bell, the group was an opportunity to pick up her saxophone again after more than 15 years. The Westlake Village woman joined more than eight years ago and said she has seen the group evolve over the years with new musicians.

``New people show up all the time and old members come back,'' said Bell, a member of the band's board of directors. ``We play just for the plain old fun of it. And the musicians range in age and experience. We'll take just about anyone willing to play.''

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

Photo: (1--Color) (Color in CONEJO only) Agoura Hills High School music director John Mosley, leading pupils, is set to conduct the Agoura Hills/Las Virgenes Community Concert and Jazz Band.

(2--Color) (Color in CONEJO only) ``They bring a real enthusiasm to the music. . . . This gives them the opportunity to come back to something they really love.''

- John Mosley

Tonight's guest director

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News