HONOLULU -- The Honolulu Symphony on Thursday announced it is moving ahead with its 2009-2010 concert season after finding funding to keep the music playing.

It is undergoing sweeping organizational and financial changes that hopefully will keep the organization in the black.

One of the first things that happened with the changes was cutting checks for musicians who went nearly an entire season without getting paid.

"We just want to get back to playing and not have to worry anymore about getting paychecks," said Stephen Dinion, of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra Committee.

The Honolulu Symphony Foundation has advanced the symphony $1.8 million to get it out of debt. It is a fresh start for the symphony, which is about to launch its new concert season.

The changes do not come without some sacrifice. A 15-percent across the board pay cut is being instituted along with changes in the structure, planning and leadership.

"The additional funding along with these strings attached forcing the organization to make some major changes we think will take care of the past debt, but also get them going forward with a balanced budget," Honolulu Symphony Foundation President Mark Wong said.

The symphony will focus more on the business end and now will be working on a weekly budget as opposed to an annual one.

The artistic quality and education programs will continue.

"Because at the end of the day, it's not supposed to be about the money. It's supposed to be about the art," Honolulu Symphony Society Chairman Peter Shaindlin said.

The symphony plans to fill the 15 positions left vacant by musicians who quit last season. Officials expect to announce a new executive director next week.

"If we can regroup, if we can reposition and rebirth ourselves during the most challenging financial year since the 1920s, that we have a great chance for long-term continued prosperity and success," Shaindlin said.