Horsham Symphony Orchestra
Trustees’ Annual Report for the year-ended 31 December 2024
Reference and administration details
The Horsham Symphony Orchestra (“HSO”) is a registered charity, number 1053231, whose principal address is:
62 Charlock Way Southwater Horsham RH13 9GZ
The charity’s trustees, all of whom were involved in managing the charity were:
Timothy Alexander Corbett-Clark (Chairman – resigned 1 May 2024) Fiona Henderson Clifton (Chairman – appointed 1 May 2024) Craig William James (Secretary) Andrew William Meredith (Treasurer) Fiona Corbett-Clark (resigned 1 May 2024) Matthew Henry Cooke Rebecca Jane Goffey Charles William Hancock Alexandra Jane Knight Stephen John Medhurst Andrew George Sykes Clare Elizabeth Thornton-Wood
Structure, governance and management
HSO is a charity constituted by association and governed by a constitution adopted on 27 June 1995 and last revised on 5 May 2023. The trustees are appointed or reappointed for a period of 3 years at the Annual General Meeting.
All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or other financial benefit from the orchestra. Expenses are reimbursed when these are incurred wholly and necessarily for the purposes of promoting the objectives of the orchestra and its concerts, and must be verified by appropriate receipts as far as possible.
HSO is a member of Making Music, the National Federation of Music Societies.
Objectives and activities
The objects of the orchestra are the promotion, preparation and performance of classical music for the enjoyment and education of members and audiences in the Horsham area. We believe our activities make a substantial contribution to the public benefit, particularly in the following areas:
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the public has an opportunity to enjoy classical orchestral music performed to a high standard at the principal arts venues in Horsham on a regular basis.
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the orchestra has developed links with local schools; compositions by pupils produced as part of their examination studies are performed in public allowing the students to assess their performability and effectiveness.
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the orchestra is actively looking for collaboration with other local groups in classical and other musical styles and encourages the work of local contemporary composers.
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opportunities to rehearse and perform concertos are given to members, up-and-coming young soloists and more established, local supporters of the orchestra.
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membership of the orchestra is open to anyone who plays a required instrument to an appropriate standard and subject to the availability of places. The orchestra maintains links with well-known professional musicians who provide coaching as part of the preparation for concerts. Members under 18 or in full-time education also benefit from a substantially reduced subscription.
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a second orchestra, “H2O”, provides players of a slightly lower standard to enjoy orchestral playing in a less formal environment. Members include adult learners, people studying a second instrument and students.
Achievements during the year
Under the leadership of conductor and musical director Steve Dummer, the orchestra promoted and performed three concerts in Horsham during 2024.
23 March 2024 - The Capitol Theatre
Mark Elvin: On this Day, In this Life Stravinsky: Violin Concerto Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64
After enjoying a second performance of Mark Elvin’s piece written specially for the orchestra we welcomed soloist Sophie Mather as soloist in Stravinsky’s violin concerto, a piece rarely performed by amateur orchestras. The second half of the concert was more familiar fare in the form of Tchaikovsky’s fate-infused fifth symphony, one of the cornerstones of the orchestral repertoire.
29 June 2024 - St Mary’s Church
Dvořák: ‘Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104 Brahms: Symphony No. 3 in F minor, Op. 90
In the tranquil setting of St Mary’s church the orchestra joined forces with Kieran Carter, local ‘cello soloist, to perform Dvořák’s deservedly popular ‘cello concerto and then tackled Brahms’ masterful third symphony.
2 November 2024 - St Mary’s Church
Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major, K.622
Bruckner: Symphony No. 4
Steve Dummer was both soloist and directed the orchestra in another popular mainstay of the concerto repertoire. After the interval the orchestra took on the challenge of Bruckner’s mighty fourth symphony, as far as we can tell the first time the orchestra has ever performed a whole Bruckner symphony.
Throughout the year H20 continued to meet during school terms and promoted its own concert in aid of charity in December 2024.
Financial Review
After 2 years of significant deficits, at the beginning of 2024 the trustees formulated a plan to return the orchestra’s funds to a more sustainable level over a 2-year period and are delighted to report that the 2-year target has been wholly achieved during the 2024 financial year. The orchestra’s accounts show the financial performance and position of the orchestra, including a concert-by-concert breakdown of its income and expenditure. The accounts may be obtained by writing to the treasurer at the charity’s registered office.
The orchestra’s reserves policy is at any time to carry reserves which would allow it to survive for one year without the benefit of membership subscriptions or donations from patrons or other sources - this is determined as an amount at least equal to the likely deficit arising on three concerts assuming a combination of poor ticket sales and significantly higher than anticipated expenses. The orchestra had no funds in deficit during 2024 or as at 31 December thereof.
Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report as set out above.
Craig William James 29 October 2025
THE HORSHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA STATEMENT OF INCOME & EXPENDrruRE for the year ended 31 December 2024 GENERAL ACCOUNT 2023 2024 Income Subscriptions and donations Subscriptions and donations Gift Aid reclaimed Humphrey Richardson Taylor Charitable Trust Grant Donalions Inlerest Income from concerts (see 3. Concert Accounts) 9,493.00 3,332.00 1,038.83 HSO H20 10.452.68 3,095.00 5,740.17 4,000.00 350.00 135.04 17,428.78 21)0.00 104.26 20,613.49 34,781.58 Total Income 41.201.67 Expenditure General expenses HSO General expenses H20 PayPal and Sumup fees Bank charges Expenditure on concerts (see 3. Concert Accounts) 1,091.69 2,061.48 183.67 72.40 34,457.65 1,389.63 3,239.63 193.93 61.60 19,602.08 37,866.89 Total Expendilure 24,486.87 (3,085.31) Surplus l (deficit) on General Account 16,714.80 22,058.73 13,085.31) Account balances brought forward from 2023 Plus surplus I minus deficit for the year 18,973.42 16.714.80 18,973.42 Account balance5 carried forward to 2025 35,688.22 RECONCILIATION 18,973.42 Account balances carried forward to 2025 35,688.22 (951.53) Deduct PaentS for 2025 concert season made in 2024 and receipts for 2024 concert season not received until 2025 Add PaentS for 2024 concert season not made until 2025 Total {1,616.47) 595.00 18,616.89 661.99 34,733.74 Represented by: 10,883.56 6,704.88 208.56 819.89 18,616.89 HSBC Current Account HSBC Savings Account 1 HSBC Savings Account 2 PayPal Account 16,049.41 6,835.84 212.64 11,635.85 34,733.74
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HORSHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT Year ended 31 December 2024 Inde endent Examinerfs Re ort to the Trustees of Horsham S hon Orchestra I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Horsham Symphony Orchestra ("the Orchestra") for the year ended 31 December 2024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the Orchestra's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the ACV'I. The Orchestra's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144{2) of the Act and that an independent examination is needed. I report in respect of my examination of the Orchestra's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)Ib} of the Act. Independent examinerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect-. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records- or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the exarnination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be hed. Roger Clarke 26 March 2025 Independent Examiner