ST. ANDREWS, New Brunswick — Lewis Dalvit, the artistic director of the St. Andrews-By-The-Sea Performing Arts Center and Festival (July 29-Aug. 18), has conducted orchestras throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico and Central America. He has conducted such orchestras as the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Stuttgart Philharmonic and in such places as Carnegie Hall.

A protege of Pierre Monteux of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Dalvit is equally at home with symphony, ballet and opera. He led Russian defectors Valery and Galina Panov’s premier American tour; conducted superstars Mikhail Baryshnikov and Peter Martins’ southern tour; and twice conducted the International Ballet Competition.

Among the many other artists Dalvit has conducted are: Gelsey Kirkland, Anna Moffo, Rudolph Nureyev, Margot Fonteyn and Leontyne Price. Among the popular artists Dalvit has conducted are: Pearl Bailey, Ella Fitzgerald and Benny Goodman.

His unique talent for helping communities develop a high-quality and innovative symphonic program and support system has gained Dalvet a national reputation. He helped expand the Jackson Symphony in Mississippi from community status to an organization with an $850,000 annual budget and a statewide audience of 500,000. Currently, Dalvit is working with Canadian and U.S. arts organizations and government officials to develop an International Arts Festival in New Brunswick.

Dalvit, who was born and raised in Denver, Colo., and his wife, Patricia, became acquainted with St. Andrews about 16 years ago after a long search for a place to live on the coast. He said they finally found a 130-acre parcel on the bay in St. Andrews where they built a summer home to which they have returned each year.

“As you look up and down the coast there isn’t anything that matches the ambience of St. Andrews,” he said.

His association with the festival, Dalvit said, began in 1986, when he was approached by several residents of St. Andrews who asked him to help organize a summer arts festival. “Eventually the momentum built and we decided to begin in 1987 with our first event. It was the Surry Opera Company performing `Aida.’ It was a benefit for the Performing Arts Center,” he said.

This year’s summer festival boasts a program of 18 musical and dramatic performances and seven workshops. Dalvit credited much of the success of the center to the help received from board members and residents. “This is an all-volunteer operation. We have a low overhead because people pick up phone bills and copying costs,” he said.

“The summer operation has two goals, not just the festival, but (to establish) a performing center for young people. I really think that, basically, is the bottom line for this whole thing. We want a place for young people to come and study all the performing arts. The festival will take care of itself,” he said.

Dalvit said he believed it would take 15 to 20 years to fully develop the Performing Arts Center. “We plan to add at least one workshop a year. Next year we are going to look at choral, modern dance and ballet. Music for young children is going to be a great expansion and we hope the band camp starts taking off … We are in this for the long haul.”

St. Andrews-By-The-Sea Festival is July 29-Aug. 18. For ticket information, telephone 506-529-3672.