HONOLULU -- The Honolulu Symphony confirmed on Friday it owes its musicians and staff six weeks of back pay, mirroring a situation a year ago.

An anonymous donation of more than $1 million saved the last season. However, economic times are much tougher now and symphonies in cities across the country are going dark in light of serious cash flow.

The Honolulu Symphony's 12th Annual Symphony Ball on March 21 at the Hawaii Convention Center could be crucial.

This week the Honolulu Symphony has been on the Big Island performing in schools and throughout the community.

For the past month and a half, the symphony's 63 musicians and 18 staff members have been receiving paychecks. However, they are still owed another six weeks of salary from over the holidays, sources said.

Fans are worried about losing the symphony.

"We need those musicians. They participate in so many other things besides the symphony. They are in quintets and quartets," fan Koali Anderson said.

Last year, students from the Honolulu Youth Symphony rallied to draw attention to the plight of their mentors. The students penny pinched about $1,400 and urged the community to support the arts.

The symphony is preparing to roll out a fundraising campaign and is fearful of negative publicity. Musicians and staff are being tightlipped about their paycheck woes.

Ticket sales make up 35 percent of the symphony's budget. The rest has to come through other fundraising efforts.

The year's annual Symphony Ball may be its most critical event given the economic downturn.

To some, the $300-a-head dinner-dance themed "Ports of Call" just could be the S-O-S distress call for help.