English Schools’ Orchestra and Choir
2021 Annual Report
The ESO Autumn course resumed in 2021 despite continuing restrictions. All these were overcome to welcome 100 young musicians to Dame Alice Owen’s School for a five day residential/non residential course leading to a concert at St John’s Smith Square in Westminster on Sunday 31st October. We were delighted to welcome the internationally renowned saxophone soloist, educator and broadcaster Jess Gillam to join us. Jess very kindly agreed to carry over her contract from 2020 when we had to cancel. This was much appreciated by all of us, including the delighted orchestra members themselves who were able to enjoy a very informative Q and A session as well as the thrill of performing and rehearsing with a brilliant musician not much older than themselves.
The programme began with Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, coinciding incidentally with the release of a superb Oscar Winning new movie of the Musical directed by Stephen Spielberg. This was followed by Jess Gillam performing Milhaud’s electrifying Scaramouche with its dazzling display of virtuoso passages and exciting Latin rhythms. Jess also provided a soulful encore to the delight of the large enthusiastic audience. After the interval the orchestra gave a highly dramatic performance of Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony.
This year for the first time we welcomed two guest conductors. Gonzalo Acosta has enjoyed a long career as a professional violinist, including as Leader of the English National Opera Orchestra. He is experienced at working with young musicians at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and in many other contexts. James Widden is experienced as a teacher, professional violinist and violist. He has led many orchestras and performed with the London Mozart Players and the Aurora Orchestra at the Proms. He has conducted at the Schools Proms with young string orchestras.
Recruitment for the October 2021 course has been extremely successful with a large number of new students and new schools applying and being accepted. The new ESO Mentor Scheme went very well with greater structure to the recruitment of mentors to help students develop during the course and consider their career opportunities as a professional musician. It was aimed at prior ESO musicians now in their final year of University/Music College or in postgraduate education. It was then widened to include any talented students in their final year of postgraduate education who were looking to become a professional musician. As with the orchestra members the mentors increasingly come from a wider geographical area across the UK. The ever fuller national reach of the orchestra is part of our ongoing objective to encompass as many areas as possible in our recruitment.
As more opportunities arise in 2022 and 2023 we hope to continue to improve and develop the Orchestra’s activities.
English Schools' Orchestra and Choir 2021 Receipts and Payments for the year ending 31st December 2021
| Receipts | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2021 Course and Concert | 16,197.80 | |
| Other events | 820.00 | |
| Sponsorship | 9,080.00 | |
| Donations | 365.77 | |
| Bank interest | 9.33 | |
| Total Income | 26,472.90 | |
| Payments | ||
| Other events | 1,380.00 | |
| 2021 Course and Concert | ||
| Course | 9,593.94 | |
| Concert | 10,555.66 | |
| Residential | 18,883.76 | |
| Tutors/Mentors | 11,592.50 | |
| Music & Percussion | 3,088.83 | |
| Soloist | 3,600.00 | |
| Advertising | 0.00 | |
| Printing and Postage | 0.00 | |
| Programmes & notes | 1,928.00 | |
| Sponsorship/trustee | exps | 182.36 |
| Insurance | 498.00 | |
| Office & Admin costs | 1,532.70 | |
| Misc | 0.00 | |
| Total Expenditure | 62,835.75 | |
| Income over Expenditure | -36,362.85 | |
| Balance bfwd from 31st December 2020 | 122,147.83 | |
| Plus Income - Expenditure 2021 | -36,362.85 | |
| Balance cfwd 1st January 2022 | 85,784.98 | |
| Balance in all accounts on 31 December 2021 | 85,784.98 |
English Schools, Orchestra and Choir Income and Expenditure- January 1st to December 31st 2021 Auditor's Certificate I have examined the above Income and Expenditure Account with the books, records and vouchers of the English" Schools, Orchestra and Choir and certify the same to be in accordance therewith. To the best of my knowledge and belief the sums properly due have been received and the payments have been properly made. Date fyfyrclrL loL Signed Name Address CL£JTkiALL tIl)s L E41LLLc