The Symphony of the Kootenays is on the verge of dissolving.

Formed 37 years ago, the symphony's concerts have suffered dropping attendance recently and it has created financial pressure on the organization.

"This whole discussion started because our numbers have been dwindling over the years and because we have been gradually eating up our financial reserves. That is when you have to start asking yourself the existential questions," said Hans Dekkers, president of the board.

The only way the symphony can be saved now is if four people come forward to take the reins of a new board. A special general meeting will be held Wednesday, May 16, at 7 p.m. at Knox Presbyterian.

"We have put out to the community to disagree with us. If there is a group of people that says, 'I find this crazy and it should continue,' then we welcome them to the general meeting and come forth as new board members," said Dekkers.

"If there are four of them that together say, 'We want to be the new board because we think that we can turn this around,' then as of the next fiscal year which starts this summer, the ship is theirs to sail. If they don't, the ship will be decommissioned."

The organization is not bankrupt, he added, but its accounts basically have a zero balance.

Dekkers said that the dwindling attendance caused the board into some deep debate before deciding to halt the organization. As for many arts groups, it has become difficult to win grants for the symphony. He said the board also started questioning whether it was legitimate to apply for grants when only a small percentage of the Kootenay's population would benefit.

"If grants benefit 1,000 people who watch an event, then you can say that is public money well spent. But if that group starts to dwindle down to 250 people, then that's a lot of public money that goes to a very small group of people. Is that legitimate?

"If you get money from a government grant, then ultimately that is taxpayer money. Somebody works for that money. Is it legitimate to take that money and give it to three people in town who want to see a symphony concert?"

It's not necessarily the board's opinion, Dekkers urged, but he feels that the Symphony of the Kootenays is an organization, rather than an orchestra in and of itself. None of the musicians who play in the symphony get by on that income alone, he pointed out.

"We are not really dismantling an orchestra. We are an organization that about four times a year asks a group of musicians to come and play a concert," said Dekkers.

"By removing the organization, you are not necessarily removing the orchestra, because the musicians are still there and the music is still there and the Key City Theatre is still there. We are just removing the vehicle through which it has been presented."

He hopes that if the symphony does dissolve, someone else will come forward to present orchestral music in Cranbrook.

It was a hard decision to make, Dekkers continued, but either path would have been difficult.

"As the incoming president, it's not a pleasant thing to do. You come in with a desire to make something of it, but you also must have the integrity to say, 'This is maybe something that needs to be brought to a halt.'

"Both steps take courage and it certainly has not been an easy one but I believe it is the right direction."

The symphony is requesting that subscribers consider allowing the organization to keep the price of the cancelled Chopin concert as a donation. Anyone who would like to be reimbursed for their tickets can do so before May 16 by contacting the Symphony at 250-489-4932.