The economic climate in Canada is threatening the survival of one of the country's oldest small-town orchestras, the Prince George Symphony Orchestra in British Columbia.

The town of 70,000, commonly referred to as B.C.'s "northern capital," has had a symphony for almost 40 years.

'If the symphony goes away, it's not going to come back'—Orchestra manager Elizabeth Aman-Hume

The orchestra — with a core group of nine professional players supplemented by community and out-of-town musicians — has survived many economic downturns. But now it's in the fight of its life amid the collapse of the lumber industry and 12 per cent unemployment.

"Every month and every week, I'm looking at cash flow and thinking, 'Oh dear, oh dear,' " explained orchestra manager Elizabeth Aman-Hume, who said the Prince George Symphony Orchestra is on the brink of bankruptcy.

"If the symphony goes away, it's not going to come back."

Fortunately for the symphony, the town has always been supportive of its artists. Saturday's Messiah show was sold out, with all 790 seats filled.

"There's nothing exclusive, nothing elitist about what we do. It's all about communicating the power of music," musical director Leslie Dala told CBC Radio.

High calibre of performance

Prince George is unique in the struggling world of orchestras. A third of Canada's orchestras are facing death.

"I think the thing about the Prince George symphony is the calibre of performance that they manage to achieve in a relatively isolated part of B.C.," suggested Katherine Carleton, head of Orchestras Canada, a Toronto-based advocacy group for the country's orchestras.

"It's nothing short of amazing."

Cellist Jordan Dyck said he's confident the orchestra can pull through.

"I think we have to all support each other in time of need."

Dala said when times are tough, people cut back, but the arts are still essential.

"It's not a luxury," he said. "People need to have food and shelter,… but beyond that, we have to think about the quality and value of life, what makes that, and for me, music is right up there."

2010 marks the orchestra's 40th anniversary, and it's still in doubt whether it will reach that milestone.

Dala, who has held the conductor's baton for five years now, said he hopes the power of music will pull the symphony through.

(With files from Betsy Trumpener)