Trustees Report of Yorchestra Trust for the year ended 31[st] October 2025
Registered Charity No: 1074042 Registered Address 52 Westminster Road York YO30 6LY Trustees Martin Dreyer (Chair) James Behrens Kate Andrews Cherry Fricker Professor Stephen King Dr Sophie MacKinder Bank CAF Bank
Aims and purposes
volunteers has been running non-residential music courses during the school holidays, staffed by professional tutors and supported by voluntary help from players’ parents. In accordance with our declaration of trust (November 1998) Yorchestra exists to advance the education of young people under the age of twenty-five, in the theory and practice of music, by the provision of such education in the City of York.
Objectives and Activities
York’s Youth Holiday Orchestra, Yorchestra runs inspirational non-residential music courses during the school holidays, for beginners and experienced players alike: all young instrumentalists are invited to apply. We give them an unrivalled opportunity to enjoy music-making in a rewarding way, while also making new friends through the shared pleasure of playing, balanced with high standards of musicianship and intensive rehearsal.
Our four levels of orchestras allow players of all abilities to achieve this, whether they have been learning their instrument for just six months or for many years. Each orchestra gives a concert at the end of its course, where family and friends are invited to hear some of the music it has been rehearsing.
Yorchestra has an excellent team of professional musicians, assisted by student tutors, who conduct and coach members to a very high standard. A number of our tutors are past Yorchestra players who return to teach on courses, so they know exactly how our young musicians are feeling throughout the course.
The Christmas and Summer courses take place at the University of York’s music department. We are extremely grateful for their vital support in offering their rehearsal and performance spaces available to us at minimal cost. Without this support we would be unable to welcome so many children to our courses in such an inspirational environment. Our smaller Easter course (which excludes our senior orchestra, Maestro, since many at this age are preparing for exams) is given at Archbishop Holgate’s School.
Achievements and Performance
In 2024/25 we worked hard to maintain the high number of players taking part in our 3 courses that we achieved in 2023/24, with just a small decrease. Of the 349 players across the year (23/24 369), 71 players were new to Yorchestra (23/24 62), introduced mainly through referral by friends, family, or instrumental tutors.
| Christmas 2024 |
Easter 2025 |
Summer 2025 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Maestro(Grades 6-8+ & at secondaryschool) | 50 | - | 55 |
| Mezzo(Grades 3-5) | 54 | 45 | 45 |
| Primo(Grades 1-2) | 23 | 27 | 34 |
| YoYo(forplayers aged 6+pre Grade 1) | 7 | - | 9 |
| Total | 134 | 72 | 143 |
Yorchestra continues to attract professional musicians who enjoy working with young musicians to be our course tutors and conductors. We were thrilled to welcome back Helen Harrison to conduct the Summer 2025 Maestro Orchestra, and Dan Shilladay at Christmas 2024, with Mezzo and Primo Orchestras led throughout the year by the highly experienced Tim Bayley and Kieran Lynch. Nina Kumin expertly guides our enthusiastic YoYo players in their two half days of playing. We aim to engage tutors with a range of experience, balancing long-term experienced Yorchestra tutors with younger music graduates.
Trustees place great emphasis on ensuring that Yorchestra continues to have a majority of state-school educated children on its courses and is proud that the young people at Yorchestra come together regardless of their educational background. However this is becoming an increasing challenge with 58% of participants in 24/25 (23/24 64%) either state or home educated. We appreciate the support of York Music Hub, North Yorkshire Music Service, York Music Education, the East Riding Music Service, Artforms Leeds and Richard Shephard Music Foundation in signposting young people to Yorchestra.
The Yorchestra management team have placed a great emphasis during 24/25 on developing the advance information sent to parents for sharing with their children, along with a focus on the wider experience of attendees – such as more social introductions, chamber groups, conducting opportunities, singing, breathwork, and an increasing focus on the physical health of musicians.
Bursaries
We recognise the increasing challenges for parents and carers to support the musical education of their young people and are conscious that the cost of attending Yorchestra can be a barrier. As such, Yorchestra has always ensured that access to our bursary funds is straightforward – ours is called the Family Fund which offers support from 25% up to 75% of course fees. We started the year with bursary funds of £3,179, and after awarding funds totalling £1,153 to 22 players, we closed the year with a bursary fund of £2,026. This is a lower value than awarded in 24/25 - 36 players - value of £1,983. Our family fund has been made possible due to previous grants from York Music Hub and the Ed de Nunzio Charitable Trust.
Financial Review
A combination of strong player numbers and careful cost control enabled us to make a small surplus of £1,870, strengthening our unrestricted reserves to £28,637. Along with the designated reserves of £3,000 and bursary reserves of £2,026, we have total funds at 31[st] October 2025 of £33,663 (24/25 £32,947). Tutor and conductor fees represent our greatest cost at approximately 70% of income – a ratio that we have maintained for many years. Our strong financial situation means that we are again able to maintain course fees at the same level as they have been for years.
Reserves Policy
The trustees aim to hold unrestricted reserves of £25,000 which equates to the cost of running our summer course, which would enable us to meet our obligations to tutors and conductors in the event of cancellation.
Structure, governance and management
Yorchestra is governed by a small group of trustees who meet several times during the year. The trustees delegate the administrative operation of the courses to a voluntary team consisting of Yorchestra Manager, Course Administrator, Artistic Advisor, Librarian and Treasurer, and supported by other committee members. The team is enhanced by a Course Producer and Course Production Assistant, both of whom receive a small honorarium in recognition of the professional expertise that they bring to the role. During the year we appointed Megan Humphries as Course Producer, supported by Eve Battersby as Assistant Course Producer. Both Megan and Eve are former Yorchestra participants, now working as either professional musicians or music educators.
Signed by
28[th] August 2026
Martin Dreyer, Chair of Trustees
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of YORCHESTRA TRUST
On accounts for the year 31 October 2025 Charity no 1074042 ended (if any) Set out on pages (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 /10/2025
- 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 carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) 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 the accounting records
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.
Signed: Name: Philippa Bull-Diamond Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any):
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Date: 15 August 2026
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October 2018
1
IER
Address: Stone Lea, Welburn, York, YO60 7DZ
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
October 2018
2
IER
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
October 2018
3
IER
Yorchestra Trust
| Year ended 31st October 2025 | Year ended 31st October 2025 | Year ended 31st October 2025 | Year ended 31st October 2024 | Year ended 31st October 2024 | Year ended 31st October 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Designated | Unrestricted | Total | General | Designated | Unrestricted | Total | ||||
| Funds | Funds | Bursaries | Funds | Funds | Funds | Bursaries | Funds | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||
| Income | |||||||||||
| Fee Income (inc discounts) | 33,467 | - | 33,467 | 35,626 | - | 35,626 | |||||
| Concert Ticket Income | 1,771 | - | 1,771 | 1,895 | - | 1,895 | |||||
| Bank Interest | 825 | - | 825 | 963 | - | 963 | |||||
| Other Income | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| Donations - Commission | - | 4,500 | 4,500 | ||||||||
| Donations - Other | 501 | - | 501 | 776 | 1,625 | 2,401 | |||||
| Total Income | 36,564 | - | 36,564 | 43,760 | 1,625 | 45,385 | |||||
| Expenditure | |||||||||||
| Tutor Fees | 30,567 | 1,153 | 31,720 | 28,979 | 1,983 | 30,962 | |||||
| New Commission | - | - | - | 5,017 | 5,017 | ||||||
| Venue Hire | 1,780 | - | 1,780 | 1,585 | 1,585 | ||||||
| Other Direct Course Costs | 802 | - | 802 | 1,337 | 1,337 | ||||||
| Library Costs | 492 | 492 | 223 | 223 | |||||||
| Printing, Advertising & Postage | - | - | - | 83 | 83 | ||||||
| Outreach | 200 | 200 | |||||||||
| Insurance & Making Music subscription | 700 | - | 700 | 675 | 675 | ||||||
| Bank Charges | 60 | - | 60 | 60 | 60 | ||||||
| Website maintenance | 93 | - | 93 | 90 | 90 | ||||||
| Depreciation | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| Total Expenditure | 34,694 | 1,153 | 35,847 | 38,049 | 1,983 | 40,032 | |||||
| Surplus/(Deficit) on Activities | 1,870 | (1,153) | 717 | 5,711 | (358) | 5,353 | |||||
| Represented by | |||||||||||
| Funds Brought Forward | 26,767 | 3,000 | 3,179 | 32,946 | 21,056 | 3,000 | 3,537 | 27,593 | |||
| Transfer Between Funds | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| Movement on Funds in Year | 1,870 | (1,153) | 717 | 5,711 | (358) | 5,353 | |||||
| Funds Carried Forward | 28,637 | 3,000 | 2,026 | 33,663 | 26,767 | 3,000 | 3,179 | 32,946 |
Yorchestra Trust
Balance Sheet as at 31st October 2025
| Assets - music Assets - cash Debtors & Prepayments Total Assets Creditors - Trade Creditors - Fees received in advance Total Liabilities Net Assets Represented by: General Reserves Designated Reserves Bursary Reserves Total Reserves Bursary Reserves Note Reserves Brought Forward Bursary Funds received in year Bursaries Awarded in year Reserves Carried Forward |
As at 31.10.25 - 39,937 - 39,937 0 (6,273) (6,273) 33,663 28,637 3,000 2,026 33,663 3,179 - (1,153) 2,026 |
As at 31.10.24 £ - 40,770 625 |
|---|---|---|
| 41,395 0 (8,449) |
||
| (8,449) | ||
| 32,946 | ||
| 26,766 3,000 3,179 |
||
| 32,945 | ||
| 3,537 1,625 (1,983) |
||
| 3,179 |
Yorchestra Course Reports
| Yorchestra Course Reports | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forecast | Budget | Total | Summer 25 2024/25 |
Easter 25 Financial Year |
Xmas 24 | Total | Sum 24 2023/24 |
Easter 24 Financial Year |
Xmas 23 | Total | Sum 23 2022/23 |
Easter 23 Financial Year |
Xmas 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Course Income | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maestro | 15,850 | 9,490 | - | 6,360 | 15,895 | 10,468 | - | 5,427 | 12,438 | 8,669 | - | 3,769 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mezzo | 13,772 | 5,236 | 3,996 | 4,541 | 15,860 | 6,348 | 4,533 | 4,979 | 19,580 | 10,235 | 4,855 | 4,490 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Primo | 33,512 | 35,000 | 3,242 | 1,289 | 1,047 | 907 | 3,002 | 1,420 | 726 | 856 | 2,652 | 1,123 | 885 | 644 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Young Strings & Winds | 603 | 320 | - | 283 | 870 | 273 | 404 | 193 | 890 | 355 | 308 | 227 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bring a Friend Discount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Funding | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Concert Tickets | 1,771 | 1,750 | 1,771 | 910 | - | 861 | 1,895 | 1,045 | - | 850 | 2,200 | 1,310 | - | 890 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Concert Adverts | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Course Donations | 291 | 500 | 291 | 161 | 40 | 90 | 717 | 308 | 102 | 307 | 666 | 305 | 70 | 291 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Use of BursaryFunds | 1,153 | 1,500 | 1,153 | 609 | 258 | 286 | 1,983 | 937 | 270 | 776 | 2,334 | 1,146 | 405 | 783 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Income | 36,727 | 38,750 | 36,682 | 18,015 | 5,340 | 13,327 | 40,222 | 20,799 | 6,035 | 13,388 | 40,760 | 23,143 | 6,523 | 11,094 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Course Costs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Course Tutors | 29,720 | 32,000 | 29,720 | 14,537 | 4,474 | 10,710 | 29,462 | 15,438 | 4,375 | 9,649 | 28,292 | 13,842 | 5,679 | 8,771 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Course Venue Hire | 2,150 | 2,000 | 1,780 | 408 | 1,082 | 291 | 1,585 | 488 | 861 | 236 | 1,008 | 609 | 399 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Direct Course Costs | 1,000 | 1,500 | 802 | 297 | - | 505 | 1,337 | 857 | 190 | 290 | 587 | 405 | 8 | 174 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Direct Course Costs | 32,870 | 35,500 | 32,302 | 15,241 | 5,555 | 11,506 | 32,384 | 16,783 | 5,426 | 10,175 | 29,887 | 14,856 | 6,086 | 8,945 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Surplus/(Deficit) | 3,857 | 3,250 | 4,380 | 2,774 | (215) | 1,821 | 7,838 | 4,016 | 609 | 3,213 | 10,873 | 8,287 | 437 | 2,149 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Income | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bank Interest | 800 | 750 | 825 | 960 | 410 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General Donations | 210 | 200 | 210 | 4,560 | 544 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Donations/Grants (Bursaries) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Income | - | - | 490 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Costs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Web Hosting/Maintenance Printing & Advertising |
(93) | (500) | (93) 0 |
(90) (83) |
(90) (152) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outreach | (200) | (500) | (200) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Insurance | (700) | (700) | (700) | (675) | (544) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New commission | 0 | 0 | (5,017) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Course Directors | (2,250) | (2,250) | (2,000) | (1,500) | (1,250) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Miscellaneous | (492) | (223) | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation | (308) | (250) | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bank Charges | (60) | (60) | (60) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Surplus/(Deficit) | 1,316 | - | 1,870 | 5,710 | 10,216 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Without bursaries | 163 | 717 | 3,727 | 7,882 |