Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1[st] August 2023 To 31[st] July 2024
Charity name: Sinfonia of Leeds
Charity registration number: 1021886
Objectives and Activities
| Objectives and Activities | ||
|---|---|---|
| SORP reference |
||
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The objects of the Society shall be to advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of music in all its aspects by any means the trustees see fit, including through the presentation of public concerts and recitals. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Presentation of four symphonic concerts during the year. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | In planning our activities for the year the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. |
| Additional information (optional) | Additional information (optional) | |
|---|---|---|
| You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: | ||
| SORP | ||
| reference | ||
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | |
| Policy on social investment | Para 1.38 | |
| including program related | ||
| investment | ||
| Contribution made by | Para 1.38 | |
| volunteers | ||
| Other |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference |
||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | Sinfonia of Leeds 2023-2024 season was a varied, challenging and familiar programme for both members and audiences alike. The performance of Bluebeard’s Castle (Bartók) was an exceptional undertaking for players and the orchestra committee - bringing a work of this nature to St Edmund’s of Roundhay was an extraordinary opportunity for members and for our audience to experience the likes of Henry Waddington and Yvonne Howard at such close quarters and accessible ticket prices. Our first programme delivered Finnish nationalism and a Russian epic. Sibelius’s Finlandia, both rousing and turbulent, is a stark contrast to the Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber, a piece of sublime calm and beauty. Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 was an enormous effort for players. To complete the programme was Dvorák’s Slavonic Dance No. 8, a live performance of the orchestra’s second online lockdown project, a moving experience revisiting a work that took us back to the depths of covid, reminding us all just how important the network of Sinfonia of Leeds is to all who are part of it. Our artistic director David Greed swapped baton for violin in January in a performance of Brahms’ much loved Violin Concerto, alongside the composer’s Symphony No. 2. It was an electrifying experience for the orchestra and our audience to experience David as a soloist, and this concert was all but sold out. Unfortunately, Tony Kraus fell ill just before the concert weekend and the committee and David worked hard to find a conductor who could step in at the last moment to conduct the concert with experience and understanding of the ability of an amateur orchestra. We were very fortunate that Peter Stark travelled from London to conduct the concert and the experience was incredible for us all to work with a conductor of his calibre, despite us all missing the beloved Tony Kraus. In March SOL embarked on one of the orchestra’s most ambitious projects: Bartók’s only work for the stage, Duke Bluebeard’s Castle, sung in English. This intense psychodrama needs no opera house or set, as the orchestra vividly portrays the castle with its grandiose and grizzly secrets. We were extremely fortunate to be able to welcome international artists Yvonne Howard and Henry Waddington to perform with our orchestra, in an experience usually reserved for much higher ticket prices. As a season finale, Blair Sinclair (Principal Trombone, Opera North) played unfamiliar but brilliantworks byNinoRota andLeopoldMozart, |
while the orchestra completed the programme with Wagner, Ravel and Tchaikovsky. Concert 1: 11 November 2023 Sibelius - Finlandia Barber - Adagio Dvorak - Slavonic Dance No. 8 Rachmaninov - Symphony No. 2 Conductor David Greed Concert 2: Saturday 20 January 2024 Brahms - Violin Concerto Brahms - Symphony No. 2 Soloist David Greed Conductor Peter Stark (replacement for Tony Kraus who was unwell) Concert 3: Saturday 23 March 2024 Haydn - Symphony No. 90 Bartók - Duke Bluebeard’s Castle Soloists Henry Waddington & Yvonne Howard Conductor Tony Kraus Concert 4: Saturday 22 June 2024 Wagner - Overture ‘Rienzi’ Ravel - Pavane pour une Infante défunte Leopold Mozart - Trombone Concerto Nino Rota - Trombone Concerto Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker Act 1 (highlights) Soloist Blair Sinclair Conductor David Greed
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | The 23/24 programme was ambitious and varied and took the skill and ability of both the orchestra and the committee to new levels, especially in regards to the performance of Bluebeard’s Castle. A last minute illness of conductor Tony Kraus in the second programme of the year saw us bring in an external professional conductor. The entire orchestra was saddened to miss working with Tony Kraus to complete his Brahms symphony cycle but everyone got so much out of professional conductor Peter Stark coming to take rehearsals at the last minute and rallied together in the final rehearsal before the performance with a new conductor. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | Our 23/24 box office target was£8780and we brought in£10184- the first two concerts we sold almost 163% and 148% respectively of our target, the second two came in under at 71% and 89% of forecast. The regular and committed membership base accounted for a third of our income, and in the 2023/2024 financial year we received £11129. We saw an increase in the amount of donations in our ‘patrons’ scheme, which brought us £2660, an increase on the projected £1800 (NB two of the patron payments reported in the 23/24 financial year were for the 24/25 season). In this financial year, we have received payments for two years of Gift Aid returns: £5504.36 (22/23) and £3286.48 (23/24), totalling £8790.84 received this financial year. Likewise, we received a Orchestra Tax Relief return for both the 22/23 and 23/24 seasons within this financial year. This accounts for £16445of our income (£7767 for 22/23 and £8678 for 23/24 respectively). |
|---|---|---|
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | At the end of the 2023/24 season, the orchestra has built up to have almost a year’s operating costs in the bank. This is due to catching up with gift aid and orchestra tax relief returns after covid, a small raise in membership fees and ticket prices (ticket prices were raised for the first time in almost 12 years to help reflect the artistic quality of concerts presented, in particular soloists and conductors). |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Reserves are held at the discretion of the treasurers in consultation with the whole committee and with the Sinfonia of Leeds Ltd. directors. Due to receiving two years’ worth of returns of both gift aid and orchestra tax relief in the 2023/24 financial year, in addition to a noticeable increase in box office attendance, we built to have roughly a year's operations costs in cash reserves. The committee is committed to not go beyond this and has begun to use these funds to invest back into assets (e.g. purchasing of a new suite of stands), programming (larger works with more extras, percussion, expensive music hire costs) and a sensible increase of artist fees. Looking beyond the 25/26 season Sinfonia of Leeds will see a change in artistic leadership and more frequent guest conductors who may require investment into travel and other subsistence, something which the orchestra has not had to consider in recent years due to the locality and agreements made with the current permanent conductors. The illness of Tony Kraus in our second concert of the year highlighted the need to have sensible reserves in our bank account so the committee can appropriately respond to emergency needs in replacing conductors or soloists at short notice with those who are professional and experienced enough to do so, which often come with higher fees. Ensuring there are funds to cover last minute artistic illness is sensible and responsible. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | Balance of funds at the end of the 23/24 financial year was £33,729.09 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | There are 4 sources of funding - this year saw a higher than usual income owing to receiving two years’ worth of returns for both gift aid and OTR. See below for details. Box Office- 20% of income The 23/24 box office target was£8780and we received£10184. Subscriptions- 22% of income There were 72 paying members in 2023/24. Subscriptions totalled £11129. Patrons/Donation- 5% of income |
| Patron donations totalled £2660. NB two of the payments received in the 23/24 financial year were for the 24/25 season. Gift Aid- 17% of income In this financial year, SOL received the payments for two years: £5504.36 (22/23), £3286.48 (23/24), totalling £8790.84. OTR- 32% of income We received a Orchestra Tax Relief return for both the 22/23 and 23/24 seasons within this financial year. This accounts for£16445of our income (£7767 and £8678 respectively). |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | ||
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | Loss of Income The main identifiable risk is the changing cost of living and ability of audience members to attend a concert (or ideally regular concerts) of Sinfonia of Leeds Increasing Costs Our venue's current fee structure is the foundation of our budget. There aren’t other venues of the size of our performance venue which are easily comparable in facility and cost. Likewise our rehearsal venue which is unavailable to us during 2025/2026 due to building renovation forcing us to search elsewhere for a comparable facility with a comparable cost. |
|
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Trust |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Volunteers who are elected by the orchestra membership at AGM |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and Para 1.51 training of trustees The charity’s organisational structure and any wider Para 1.51 network with which the charity works Relationship with any related Para 1.51 parties Other
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Sinfonia of Leeds |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 1021886 |
| Charity’s principal address | C/O The Treasurer 62 Oxford Avenue Guiseley LS20 9BX |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Nam e of pers on (or body ) entitl ed to appo int trust ee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALISON GILCHRIST |
n/a | |||
| VALERIE STYGALL |
SECRETARY | |||
| EMMA BARNETT | TREASURER | |||
| LESLIE BROADHEAD |
CHAIR PERSON | |||
| ADRIAN STYGALL | n/a | |||
| 20 |
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Truslee name Dates acled if nol for whole ear
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
| Description of the assets held in this capacity |
N/A |
|---|---|
| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects |
N/A |
| Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets |
N/A |
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Type of adviser Name Address |
Type of adviser Name Address |
Type of adviser Name Address |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) | |||
Other optional information
N/A
Declarations
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The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s)
rr |
Full name(s) Emma Anne Barnett
— a
Position (eg Treasurer
Secretary, Chair, etc)
TT ee
Date
27/05/2025
i: [7
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Charity Name No (if any)
Sinfonia of Leeds 1021886
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
SS For the period Period start date To Period end date
from 1/8/2023 31/7/2024
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Endowment
Restricted funds Total funds Last year
funds funds
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Generated Funds - 40,180- - - - - - - - 40,180- - 24,457-
Charitable Activities - 10,518- - - - - - - - 10,518- - 7,829-
- -- - - - - - - - - - - - -
- -- - - - - - - - - - - - -
- -- - - - - - - - - - - - -
- -- - - - - - - - - - - - -
- -- - - - - - - - - - - - -
- -- - - - - - - - - - - - -
- 50,698- - - - - - - - 50,698- - 32,286-
ese Sub total (Gross income for AR)
A2 Asset and investment sales, (see
table).
None - -- - -- - -- - - -
- -- - -- - -- - - - - --
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CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
31/05/2025
1
| Sub total- -- Total receipts - 50,698- A3 Payments |
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| - 50,698- |
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- 50,698- |
- 32,286- |
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| Charitable Activities | - 31,571- |
- -- |
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- 31,571- |
- 29,762- |
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| Sub total - 31,571- A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
- 31,571- |
- -- |
- -- |
- 31,571- |
- 29,762- |
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| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
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| None | - -- |
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| Sub total - -- Total payments - 31,571- Net of receipts/(payments) - 19,127- A5 Transfers between funds - -- A6 Cash funds last year end - 14,733- Cash funds this year end - 33,860- |
- -- |
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| - 31,571- |
- -- |
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- 31,571- |
- 29,762- |
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| - 19,127- |
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- 19,127- |
- 2,524- |
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| - -- |
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| - 14,733- |
- -- |
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- 14,733- |
- 12,209- |
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| - 33,860- |
- -- |
- -- |
- 33,860- |
- 14,733- |
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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
31/05/2025
2
| Categories B1 Cash funds |
Details | Details | Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
Restricted funds to nearest £ |
Restricted funds to nearest £ |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash at bank and in hand | - 33,860- |
- -- |
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| - -- |
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| B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets |
Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account (s)) Details Details |
- 33,860- |
- -- |
- -- |
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| OK | |||||||
| Unrestricted funds to nearest £ - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- Fund to which asset belongs |
Restricted funds to nearest £ - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- Cost (optional) |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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CCXX R3 accounts (SS)
31/05/2025
3
| B4 Assets retained for the | - | -- | - | -- | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| charity’s own use | - | -- | - | -- | ||||||
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| Details | liability relates | (optional) | (optional) | |||||||
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| Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Signature | Name | Date of approval |
CCXX R4 accounts (SS)
31/05/2025
4
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Emma Barnett 27/05/2025
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CCXX R5 accounts (SS)
31/05/2025
5
Date: If nKG¥¥gL & S gr-F>ty/LlJ
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfo report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to the tru¥(eesl members of On accounts forthe year ended Charity no (if any) Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charty ('Ihe Trustl for the year ended Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible forthe preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance wtth the requirements of the Chartlies Act 2011 (Yhe Act.). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention (otherthan that disclosed below l in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with Ihe accounting records Independent examIneS statement I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets If they do not apply. Slgned: Date: Name: P ¢Mkif NKGk¥gL Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: IER O¢tpber 2018