SATURDAY: SECOND TIME AROUNDThe fledgling Conejo Valley...

SATURDAY: SECOND TIME AROUND

The fledgling Conejo Valley Symphony Orchestra will make its second appearance since forming in March when it performs in an installment of the “Thousand Oaks Arts Festival ‘96” at Ascension Lutheran Church.

Created to replace the home-grown orchestra when the Conejo and Ventura County symphonies disbanded to form the New West Symphony, the group of professionals includes many musicians displaced by the merger. The symphony is guided by Howard Sonstegard, the former Conejo symphony’s assistant conductor.

The orchestra will be joined by organist James Pingelli for the staging of Rheinberger’s Concerto for Organ, No. 1 in F major. Pingelli, who studied organ performance at Juilliard, is director of music ministries at St. Paschal Baylong Catholic Church in Thousand Oaks. Also included in the 8 p.m. program will be works by Rossini, Pachelbel and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 in C major. Advance tickets are $15; $18 at the door. The venue is at 1600 Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. Call 495-8774.

SMOOTH SOUNDS

When it comes to horn players who can balance romanticism and blues grit, tenor saxophonist Teddy Edwards is one of the finest and smoothest on the scene. And, in the last few years, Edwards has been much more on the scene than before, especially since his aptly titled “comeback” album, “Blue Saxophone,” was released on Verve in 1992.

Edwards, a Los Angeleno since the ‘40s, makes his way up the coast to play at 66 California, 66 California St., Ventura. He’ll be backed by pianist Jane Getz and bassist Louie Spears. Edwards will play from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., and tickets are 10 bucks, a reasonable fee considering the veteran talent. For more information, call 648-2266.

SUNDAY: THE QUEEN, FOR FREE

About 20 years ago, Ida Guillory got a dream job promotion, from bus driver to Queen, bypassing about 6 zillion in-between jobs. Now, 10 albums and a Grammy later, Queen Ida will bring her Cajun/Creole/zydeco dance band to the Conejo Community Park in Thousand Oaks for a free show beginning at 5 p.m.

Once upon a time, the former school bus driver played a few songs at a parochial school benefit, and a reviewer gave her a tag that stuck, the queen of zydeco. These days, Ida’s resume is longer than this section. Suffice to say, she knows how to move feet. The stage isn’t the only place where Ida cooks. She will appear at 2:30 p.m. at Borders to autograph CDs as well as her cookbook, “Cookin’ With Queen Ida.”

The park is located at Hendrix and Dover avenues, and Borders is at 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Call 381-2747.

UP THE COAST: The popular Live Oak Music Festival returns this weekend with another eclectic--and impressive--lineup of acoustic-music talent. The eighth annual festival kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday and continues through Sunday evening.

Highlights include: Tish Hinojosa (folk, Hispanic, country), the David Grisman Quintet (jazz, bluegrass), the Dirty Dozen (New Orleans jazz), the Fairfield Four (gospel), the Laura Love Band (Afro-Celtic), Rosalie Sorrels (folk, storytelling) and others. There’s also plenty of activities for children and teenagers.

The festival is held at Live Oak Camp, nestled in the Santa Ynez Mountains off California 154, about 20 minutes from Santa Barbara. Single-day tickets: $20, $25. Passes: $80 (three-day), $65 (two-day). Discounts available for children. There is on-site camping for those who purchase two- and three-day passes. For more information, call (805) 781-3030.