It survived the Soviet era, the collapse of the Russian economy in 1998, and now it is facing another battle: funding to stay alive.

Which is why the American Russian Youth Orchestra (ARYO) has included the Bermuda Festival in its current ten-concert tour.

"This is a critical year for us,'' ARYO executive director Edythe Holbrook says. "We are using this tour to underwrite us to go on into the future.'' The story of the ARYO goes back to 1987 when Mrs. Holbrook and others founded a young people's orchestra as a diplomatic initiative to bring the two superpowers, Russia and the United States, together in a totally unique effort concentrating on the younger generation, which was seen as the hope of the future of Russia.

"A symphony orchestra is arguably one of the most complex human organisations in the world,'' Mrs. Holbrook explains, "and we felt that if these kids could work together, anybody could.'' From the original concept of a "one shot, one year deal'' with the first ladies of each country as patrons, the orchestra has gone from strength to strength, surviving political and financial disasters, to become today, in Mrs. Holbrook's words, "a world-class orchestra.'' While its title suggests a children's orchestra, in fact its players represent the cream of each country's conservatory students. Ages range from 18 to 30, and many within its ranks are professional musicians, some of whom are playing in some of the world's top orchestras.

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the orchestra was faced with a void.

"I had an idea, an orchestra, and some money from American Express, but no country, because you had Russia, the republics -- everything,'' Mrs. Holbrook recalls. "So we decided to aim for Russia, and in 1993 set up the first jointly-produced exchange, and became the ARYO.'' Moving from serving as a catalyst for change in the new Russia, the ARYO scored a series of "firsts'': securing private sector funding from that country, which ran as high as $400,000 in 1997; opening up the audition process; and opening up cities formerly deemed "closed'' to foreigners on military or security grounds.

"Whereas in the former Soviet Union musicians were selected according to influence and connections -- a system known as blat -- and then only from Moscow and St. Petersburg, the ARYAO held open auditions throughout Russia, as it did in America,'' its executive director explains. "A lot of our forte has been identifying new talent in Russia, and what you are now seeing are musicians from Siberia, Volga, and other parts of Russia.

"We used the orchestra to take huge world tours and get into the closed cities. In fact we were the first Americans to get into them. In a nutshell, the musicians have all had a front seat in the transformation of Russia that is unique. That is the political side.'' On the artistic side, Mrs. Holbrook says the ARYO has been able to reach some of the best talent in Russia, "particularly focussing on the young people''.

She stresses, however, that far from contributing to that country's current "brain drain'' of many of its brightest and best musicians and teachers due to a poor economy, the ARYO is committed to encouraging its young musicians to stay in their motherland.

"Our goal is not to use the orchestra to create emigres, but rather to bring them overseas as emissaries of their country,'' Mrs. Holbrook says. "Russia is focussed on the here and now, and unless it is able to come up with a network of young people it is going to have a problem in the future.'' Justifiably proud of the ARYAO's achievements thus far, Mrs. Holbrook lists some of highlights of its track record in support of her argument that its future must be secured.

"Two summers ago we joined nine other orchestras and became part of a 1000-member Orchestra of the World which gave a concert in Moscow's Red Square. Last year we did a joint concert with the Kirov Orchestra in St.

Petersburg, and featuring a 14-year-old solo violinist from Siberia.

"We have been conducted over the years by some of the world's greatest names -- Slatkin, Mehta, Valery Gergiev, who is the artistic director of the Kirov, Smitri Kitayenko, and Leon Botstein, the music director of ARYAO and the American Symphony Orchestra.'' Battle for survival In fact, Mrs. Holbrook says many of the ARYO's young conductors have gone on to join some of the world's major orchestras: The Boston and Chicago Symphonies, for example, and the Bolshoi and Kirov, while others are being mentored by leaders in their profession.

Indeed, Alex Mikelthwate, the talented 29-year-old conductor of the 16-strong ARYO Chamber Orchestra performing tonight in the Bermuda Festival, is Music Director of the Scarsdale Youth Symphony, and assistant conductor of New York's Eos Orchestra.

For all its cultural successes however, the ARYO is now dealing with a serious financial dilemma. Whereas it was once jointly funded by the Russians and Americans, since the crash of the Russian economy in 1998, the orchestra now relies entirely on the American side for financial support to get through the next year -- support which comes from the Henry Luce and Starr Foundations, and Marsh-McLennan (who, as J & H Marsh & McLennan has a presence in Bermuda) among others.

"Both countries recognise the value of what is the only existing American/Russian cross-cultural exchange at this point,'' Mrs. Holbrook says.

"There is a tremendous amount of money in Russia, and for them to ask the rest of the world to underwrite their artistic institutions is not correct, so we would like to keep Russian/American funding alive.'' Hence the current Musika 2000 tour, which not only includes public performances but visits to schools.

Noting that, while "Russia's private sector is only very slowly picking itself up to go back into supporting the arts'', the ARYO executive director anticipates that renewed Russian funding will recommence after this year.

Nonetheless, she warns prospective donors that "Russia is a story of long-term commitment''.

"Unless you can make that commitment you can't operate in that country, and that takes tenacity which knows no bounds,'' she says.

Passionate in her desire to see the ARYO continue its mission, with all the opportunities such a cultural exchange affords, Mrs. Holbrook urges: "Russia's greatest asset is its culture, so everybody has to support the next generation of leadership there. I love those kids, and we are determined to make it. Please help us to get the job done.'' Tickets ($30) for tonight's performance, which will feature works by Loeffler, Shostakovich, Barber, Stravinsky, Still and Poulenc, are available from the Festival box office on Front Street between 9.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m.

Glorious Glasnost: Members of the American Russian Youth Orchestra (ARYO) were among 1000 musicians who, as the Orchestra of the World, performed in Moscow's famed Red Square. Tonight, the internationally recognised ambassadors will give their only performance at the Ruth Seaton James Centre. The ARYO chamber orchestra's Bermuda Festival appearance is part of a vital fund-raising tour.

Orchestra facing cash crisis in the new Russia BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL