PARTY LINES : A ROUSING CHORUS OF APPROVAL.

Byline: Barbara De Witt

You thought ``Mr. Holland's Opus'' was fiction? The real-life maestro who inspired a love of music in more than 6,000 Los Angeles teen-agers is Ernst Katz, the creator and conductor of the Junior Philharmonic Orchestra of California, which celebrated its 60th anniversary Wednesday night with a gala and concert at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Los Angeles Music Center.

As a salute to Katz, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors members Yvonne Brathwaite Burke and Zev Yaroslavsky presented him with awards, President Clinton sent him a congratulatory letter, and umpteen senior members of Hollywood turned out to honor him with accolades and a REAL diamond-studded platinum baton for his many years of service to youth - and the country.

There were so many vintage TV stars you'd have thought they were filming a two-hour ``Love Boat'' special. Among the stars whom Katz and TV newscaster Terry Murphy hugged and presented with Diamond Baton Awards for their support of the unique orchestra were ``Barnaby Jones'' star Buddy Ebsen and his co-star Lee Meriwether; that lovable Don Knotts; ``Mary Tyler Moore'' and ``Lou Grant'' star Ed Asner; ``Night Court'' bailiff Richard Moll, ``MASH'' doc David Ogden Stiers; ``Bob Newhart Show'' dentist Peter Bonerz; ``My Little Margie'' star Gale Storm; ``Diff'rent Strokes'' star Gary Coleman; character actor Billy Barty; ``WKRP in Cincinnati'' salesman Frank Bonner and ``Burke's Law'' star Gene Barry, who still looks like a hunk.

But wait, there's more. Also honored were singer Pat Boone, who left his infamous heavy-metal ensemble at home and wore a snazzy tuxedo by Greg Chapman of Beverly Hills, but told me with a sly smile that one never knew when a heavy-metal moment might strike him again; and '60s songbird/actress Connie Stevens, who said she first met Katz when she was 17, and once served as guest conductor of the prestigious orchestra. Stevens, who now sells Forever Spring cosmetics on television, was joined by daughters Tricia and Joelly (she's on ``Ellen'') Fisher, who whisked their mom and her sparkling glass trophy out for a late-night celebratory dinner.

Other celebs receiving the award were newscaster Murphy, Edie Adams, Army Archerd, Linda Blair, Jack Carter, Nancy Cartwright, Bill Dana, Dr. George Fischbeck, Roy Firestone, Betty Garrett, Dennis Haskins, Tommy Hawkins, Linda Kaye Henning, Gloria Loring, Ken Minyard, Barry Newman, Louis Nye, Dennis Prager, Jack Riley, Avery Schreiber, Richard M. Sherman, Wil Shriner, Tom Snyder and Dr. Paul Winchell.

The program, which was produced by concertmaster Gary S. Greene, included a scene from Tchaikovsky's ``Swan Lake,'' performed by the current young orchestra members, followed by the most rousing rendition of Sousa's ``Stars and Stripes Forever'' I've ever heard, performed by past Junior Philharmonic members who were rounded up a month ago for the special concert performance.

The reason for the stellar performance? Katz, whose students have included composers David Rose (``The Stripper''), Meredith Wilson (``The Music Man'') and Sherman (``Mary Poppins'' and ``It's a Small World''), announced that the piece was played exactly as Sousa had personally taught him. The music was great, but Asner's narration of ``The Impossible Dream'' from ``The Man of La Mancha'' by Mitch Leigh, left the audience speechless.

After the concert, the black-tie crowd went to the Founder's Room for a sugar fix, with apple-size strawberries dunked in chocolate and lemon bars with after-dinner drinks. On the way out to the parking lot, I told Stiers how much I'd enjoyed him as the uppity doctor in ``MASH.'' Maybe he was just playing himself, as he told me that was 20 years ago, and he'd done lot since then. But he did hold the elevator door open for us.

More stars were shining over Six Flags Magic Mountain Thursday night as 2,000 celebs and their families turned out for a Victory Over Violence fund-raiser totally underwritten by the Valencia amusement park, which also donated a check for $50,000 to the group for its work to increase public awareness of issues surrounding domestic violence and help support shelters and victim resources. Receiving the check were VOV members Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and Kevin Nealon.

The fun began in the newly expanded Hurricane Harbor water park, where actor Ed Begley Jr. danced soaking wet with an inner tube around his waist and ``Days of Our Lives'' star Kristian Alfonso emphatically remarked, ``We had a great time, and, best of all, it was for a great cause!''

Back in the Valley, the Anti-Defamation League met at the Warner Center Marriott to present its San Fernando Valey Distinguished Community Service Awards to Health Net and its president and CEO, Arthur M. Southam.

The gala, held on May 21, was attended by more than 400 guests and raised $148,000 for the league. According to member Catherine Lockwood, the event began with a concert by the Justice Street Elementary School choir and a ``this is your life'' tribute to Southam, which included a citation from President Clinton. The event chairman was Dr. Keith Richman, who explained that the league was established ``to respond more rapidly to incidents of bigotry and hate crimes and to expand proactive programs that strengthen bonds of friendship among diverse groups.''

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4 Photos

Photo: (1) Celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of the Junior Philharmonic Orchestra are concertmaster Gary S. Greene, left, founder-conductor Ernst Katz, and Diamond Baton Award recipients Paul Winchell and Connie Stevens.

(2) Schmoozing at the Anti-Defamation League's San Fernando Valley Distinguished Community Service Awards gala are event chairman Keith Richman, left, executive chairman Bradley Hertz and honoree Arthur Southam of Health Net in Woodland Hills.

(3) Stevens is best-known for her singing career, but she once acted as guest conductor for the Junior Philharmonic Orchestra.

(4) Actors Jeff Goldblum and Laura Dern at the Victory Over Violence benefit at Six Flags Magic Mountain.