Kensington Symphony Orchestra: Annual Review 2023/24
Adventurous programming continued to be KSO’s hallmark in this season. We welcomed Paul Hoskins for a second time as guest conductor and played Dohnányi and Boulanger alongside the more mainstream Mahler and Stravinsky. This also highlighted our collaborations with accomplished singers, with Claudia Huckle giving the contralto contribution to the Rückert-Lieder. This theme was replicated in Fairfield Halls, Croydon, where the orchestra joined forces with longterm associates, Epiphoni choir, to give a performance of Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius, which was one of the most ambitious artistic ventures of the orchestra’s lengthy career. All three vocal soloists on that occasion gave nigh definitive performances. And our season had started with John McCabe’s evocative Notturni ed Alba, again with a soprano soloist (Donna Lennard). This sat elegantly alongside Vaughan Williams’ ever popular 2nd Symphony (‘London’).
The orchestra’s ambition brings certain challenges which the trustees and volunteers endeavour to tackle. Chief amongst these is the availability of concert venues in London which are suitable for our size and repertoire choices. Fairfield Hall in Croydon provides the perfect venue, but with constrictions of attractiveness for audiences. Smith Square Hall remains a vital mainstay for most of our programming, but we also use Cadogan Hall (which only suits the smaller scale pieces) and Queen Elizabeth Hall, which is perfect, but costly to hire and thus a risk in respect of suitable programming for audience attractiveness. The position is fragile but we continue to make the best use of these facilities, as long as they are available.
Outreach continued in the form of our ‘Music Tracks’ work with Year 7 pupils of Pimlico Academy, and we have noticed a steady improvement in the standards achieved by the students. This is highly refreshing in a period when music education is known to be under continual threat.
Our accounts continue to remain in balance. The turnover was reduced owing to the need to step down from six concerts to five, but the overall robustness of the financial position was maintained. Participants continue to support our work via subscriptions, and our Friends give considerable financial help with their donations. We are also grateful to the Cuthbert Horn Trust for continued support.
Graham P Elliott
Secretary June 2025
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to the trusteesl members of Kensington Symphony Orchestra On accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 Charity no (if any) 1069620 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my Èxamination of the gecounts of the above charity (°the Trust.) for the year ended 3110812024 Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {"the Act.). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Dircctions given by th¢ Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of the Act. 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: accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord wrth the accounting records Independent examiner's statsment I have no concems 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. Signe Date: 28.5. AQZ Name: A-Tr-¥- é SP&)cc-_- l ) Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Fo, FCCA, CI A Address: ktAi a6 Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. d1ctionS and guidan for examiners). IER October 2018