It was 1976 and there were few arts organizations in 性视界传媒 鈥� at the time considered a mere suburb of Vancouver.

But Lucille Lewis had a vision. Budding young musicians, she thought, needed an orchestra of their own where they could learn and perform and grow.

After all, Vancouver had established a youth symphony 40 years earlier.

And so the 性视界传媒 Symphony Society was born. With just 17 members at the outset, the group quickly blossomed, much like the booming city around it.

Hundreds of kids and teens toting their violins and cellos and French horns have played with the group over the past three-and-a-half decades.

There are now three orchestras 鈥� the junior strings, intermediate strings and 性视界传媒 Youth Orchestra 鈥� comprised of about 125 talented youth.

But this year is bitter sweet for Lewis. While the symphony is celebrating 35 years, she鈥檚 counting this as her last.

Lewis, the founding president of the society and youth orchestra conductor, is retiring.

And while she has come now to terms with leaving, she wasn鈥檛 so at ease with the notion when she first gave her notice last year.

鈥淥riginally I had a lot of mixed feelings about it,鈥� she says.

Now, she admits she鈥檚 quite excited about further pursuing her tennis game 鈥� which she only took up eight years ago 鈥� and spending time at her new vacation home in California.

She鈥檚 leaving the symphony society in good hands and hopes that as 性视界传媒 heads toward being the largest city in B.C., the society might one day outshine Vancouver鈥檚 youth symphony and become the first choice for young musicians provincewide.

In the meantime, however, she has no doubt her biggest reward has been the connections she鈥檚 made with hundreds of students over the years.

鈥淣ow and again you鈥檒l run into somebody or, out of the blue, you鈥檒l get a note from one of the kids and you feel like 鈥榦h my gosh 鈥� what we鈥檙e doing here really does matter,鈥� 鈥� she says.

A reception honouring Lewis鈥檚 contribution to youth and music will be held in conjunction with the society鈥檚 35th anniversary concert on May 14 at the Bell Performing Arts Centre.

Anyone, including alumni of the orchestra, is invited to attend.

鈥淚 would love to see as many former students as can come,鈥� Lewis says. 鈥淚鈥檇 love that.鈥�

Tickets ($17.50 for adults and $10.50 for seniors, students and alumni) are available by calling 604-572-9225 or at inquiries@surreyyouthorchestra.org.