Trustees’ Annual Report – Year Ending 31 August 2020
SECTION A (Reference and administrative details)
Orpheus Sinfonia Foundation
Registered charity number 1161411
Principal address: 442 Linen Hall 162-168 Regent Street London W1B 5TE
Trustees: David Shaw Chairman Appointed by Board of Trustees Russell Jacobs Trustee Appointed by Board of Trustees Clive Hodges Trustee Appointed by Board of Trustees Emily Petty Trustee Appointed by Board of Trustees Malcolm Singer Trustee Appointed by Board of Trustees
SECTION B (Structure, governance and management) Type of governing document – Constitution How the charity is constituted – Trust Trustee selection methods – Elected by the board of trustees
Additional governance issues:
The organisation includes one part-time operations manager and one part-time general manager carrying out administrative and artistic duties.
SECTION C (Objective and activities)
Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document:
Brilliant young musicians of rare talent and exceptional promise travel to London to train at leading conservatoires. Even for the very finest, a hurdle which can be insurmountable is the gap between leaving college training and gaining professional work. Within a working orchestra, Orpheus Sinfonia, we provide a mechanism which delivers a broad range of opportunities to soloists, ensembles and orchestral players who have recently graduated to enjoy an intense professional development and begin working in the industry.
The orchestra has grown to attract the very best of music conservatoire graduates, forming an elite group of performers excelling in artistic distinction.
Additional details of objectives and activities:
2019-20 coincided with the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. In accordance with government restrictions from 17 March 2020 and the ensuing lockdown from 23 March 2020, all performances were cancelled.
Following the outbreak of the pandemic, emergency grants were applied for and successfully received from the Arts Council of England and Westminster City Council to make up some of the shortfall in income. We also received donations from Friends and supporters alongside donations resulting from our online recitals between April and July (see below).
Financial resources were kept in accounts at the Charities Aid Foundation Bank.
SECTION D (Achievements and performance)
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year:
A challenging funding climate and complete annihilation of our standard activity caused by the Covid-19 pandemic presented a serious threat to the foundation and to the livelihoods of all of our musicians.
The first six months of this financial period proceeded along our planned trajectory and strategy. The second six months in complete contrast saw a seismic shift in our operations and planning, instigated by the cancellation of all concerts and engagements, and prohibition of live performances in the wake of the Covid lockdown.
Windsor Festival, September 2019, saw the soft launch of brand-new commission (generously supported by Michael Close) Fred and the Fantastic Tub-Tub, with music by James Marangone and story by Zeb Soanes. Orpheus were also invited to collaborate with Windsor & Eton Choral Society for the first time, in the closing concert of Windsor Festival, for a performance of Verdi’s Requiem in Eton College.
In November 2019 Orpheus was invited to perform at Hampstead Festival with massed choirs for Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius, as well as Haydn’s Creation with London Pro Arte Choir and a varied baroque choral programme with Hillingdon’s Sine Nomine Singers.
During later November and December 2019 Orpheus repeated the successes of 2018 with sold-out live performances to film of The Snowman, and with our own bespoke interactive introduction, in High Wycombe, Wellingborough, Watford and Windsor. The year was rounded off with a Christmas performance alongside Ealing Common Choir.
January 2020 included a performance of Rutter’s Requiem in Eton College Chapel with Windsor & Eton Choral Society. In March Orpheus opened the Windsor Spring Festival with the centenary celebrations of Spelthorne Choral Society in a performance of Handel’s Messiah.
March 2020 saw the onset Covid-19 Lockdown. In accordance with government guidelines and restrictions, from 17 March 2020 all performances were cancelled and all operations forced to cease with immediate effect for the foreseeable future.
Between April and July 2020 Orpheus curated 36 successful online recitals in our Adjourned but Still in Session series, and a handful of private digital engagements. These featured solo musicians and duos (where musicians were part of the same household), recorded and distributed digitally on YouTube. This series provided invaluable work and income for our musicians at a time of sincere uncertainty and financial difficulty. It also saw Orpheus as an organisation adapt very swiftly and effectively, developing extensive skills in digital production.
Most gratefully received, Arts Council Emergency Response Funding and also an additional restrictions grant from Westminster City Council, have been invaluable to Orpheus’ survival at this time. Without these lifeline funds Orpheus would very seriously have had to considered the continued viability of itself as an organisation.
The serious effects of the pandemic on the livelihoods of our musicians has and continues to pose a threat to the viability of the orchestra. Our resilience and imagination in curating numerous online recitals, and developing new series and partnerships, has helped to provide income both to our musicians and to the foundation.
SECTION E (Financial Review)
Brief statement of the charity's policy on reserves:
The charity's activities provide the management and organisation of the concerts in which the musicians perform. Reserves are kept to a prudent level adequate to meet all outstanding commitments and cash flow is carefully monitored to ensure this. Reserves have been expended in covering costs as a result of the pandemic. As such both the reserves and the reserves policy will be reviewed in the coming year.
Details of any funds materially in deficit:
Not applicable
Further financial review details:
Prior to the onset of the pandemic, much of our core cost funding came from private individual giving. Many of our concert engagements record surpluses and these contribute to our running costs. Applications to emergency response Covid funding have been an absolute lifeline to Orpheus. Applications are continuing to be made to grant-making bodies and foundations to support and enable the work of Orpheus Sinfonia Foundation. We have also received sponsorship for a new collaborative commission ‘Fred & The Fantastic Tub-Tub’ (formerly known as The Flying Machine) and these funds are restricted.
SECTION F (Other Optional Information)
None
SECTION G (Declaration)
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
David Shaw Malcolm Singer Emily Petty Clive Hodges Russell Jacobs
||2019120
I|20191202019|20
t
I|2018/19
t|
|---|---|---|---|
||RESTRICTED|UNRESTRICTEDTOTAL|TOTAL|
|INCOMINGRESOURCES||||
|lncomingresourcesfromgeneratedfunds||||
|Voluntaryincome|6,150|1A7,121113,271|149,367|
|lnvestmentincome
Activities forgeneratingfunds||14
14
3,000 3.000|17
12.387|
|Totalincomingresources|6,150|110,135I16,285|161,771|
|RESOURCESEXPENDED||||
|Charitableactivities||||
|CostofCharitable Activities
Governancecosts|19,138|g7,297106,435
725|167,951|
|Total resources expended|19,138|87,304106,442|167,956|
|NetlncominsResourcesfortheyear(12,988)||22,8319,843|(6,185)|
|OPENING FUND BALANGE|20,000|9,64629,646|15,831|
|CLOSING FUND BALANCE|7,412|32.47739.489|9S46|
| Notes | 2019t20 f |
2A18r19 f |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||
| Debtors Cashatbank |
4,329 5Le50 |
1,220 34.W+ |
|
| 57,279 | 35,544 | ||
| CREDITORS | |||
| Arnountsfallingduewithinoneyear | (17,799) | (5,898) | |
| NETCURRENT ASSETS | 39,489 | 29,646 | |
| NETASSETS | pg.4$g | 2e#!6 | |
| FUNDS | |||
| RestrictedFunds Unrestrictedfunds |
7,012 32,477 |
20,000 9,646 |
|
| TOTALFUNDS | 39.489 | 2g.W |
| 201W24 f |
201W24 f |
2018/1I f |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| INCOMINGRESOURCES | |||
| Activities forgeneratingfunds | |||
| Donations | 19,134 | 14,888 | |
| Friends | 1,875 | 500 | |
| GiftAidreceived | 3,861 | 12,162 | |
| Grantsreceived | 31,958 | ||
| Sponsorship | 3,000 | 12,397 | |
| Coreconcerts | 6,453 | ||
| lnvestmentincome | 14 | 17 | |
| Engagement services | 57,443 | 115,364 | |
| Other | |||
| Totalincomingresources | 1 | 16,285 | 16{ ,771 |
| RESOURCESEXPENDED | |||
| Charitableactivities | |||
| Charitableactivities | 106,435 | 167,951 | |
| {06,435 | 167,951 | ||
| Governancecosts | 7 | 5 | |
| Total resources expended | 106,M2 | 167,956 | |
| Netincomingresources / {loss} | 9,843 | (6,185) |
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of The Orpheus Sinfonia Foundation for year end 31 August 2020 Re8poctive responslbiiities of trustees and examiner Report to the trustees of The Orpheus Sinfonia Foundation on accounts for the year ended 31M August 2020 on the page 4. The charty's trustees consider Ihat an audit is not required for this year under section 43 (2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to Examine the accounts (under section 43 of the Act). To follow the prodUleS laid down in the General Directions given by the ChaTty Commission lunder section 43(7)(b> of the Aci), and To slate whether particular matters have come to my attention. Ba818 of Independent •xamlnerfs statement My examination was carried out in accordan given by the Charrty Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and the accounts presented wilh Ihose records. It also includes consKteration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provKle all the evidence that would be required in an audit. and consequently do not express an audii opinion on the accounts. Independent examlner's •tstement In the course of my examination. rK) matter has come to my attention 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any malerial respect the requirements. lo keep proper accounting records are kept (in accordance with section 41 of the Act),. and to prepare accounts which agree with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirernents of the Act; have not been met.. or 2. to which in my opinion. attention should be dra4Yn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Soned.. Date: 281h April 2021 Hana oh-Tadafe On behalf of H.O.T. Accounting servi Ltd 2. 91 Lansdowne Place. Hove. 8N3 1FN