2022-08-31-accounts - Orpheus Sinfonia Foundation

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

Trustees’ Annual Report – Year Ending 31 August 2022

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 Kim Waldock 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:

Artistic direction continued to be enthusiastically led by Thomas Carroll, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor.

The organisation includes one freelance part-time chief executive and one freelance parttime operations manager consulting on artistic, business and administrative duties. This is further supported by ad hoc work from a freelance Development Assistant and freelance Marketing Officer.

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 train at leading conservatoires. Even for the very finest, a hurdle which can be insurmountable is the gap between leaving college study 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:

During the year grants were made from the Foundation to Orpheus Sinfonia for the purposes summarised above.

Successful applications for funding assistance were made to Arts Council England: Cultural Recovery Fund and Westminster City Council Covid Relief Fund as well as a number of Trusts and Foundations. Donations were also received from individuals and Patrons of Orpheus Sinfonia.

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:

2021-22 was a year of emergence and rebuild following the Covid pandemic. Orpheus activity developed during the year as the trustees deemed most prudent in the current climate to secure opportunity for our musicians to perform and fulfil our primary aim of supporting musicians’ livelihoods. 203 musicians performed with Orpheus during the year, and increased public audiences and children were reached with our activity.

Our continuing re-emergence from the Covid-19 pandemic was marked with an own promotion concert at St George’s Hanover Square in September 2021 at which we were able to open our doors to a full audience for the first time in 18 months. Under the baton of Artistic Director, Thomas Carroll, the orchestra performed works by Prokofiev, Schoenberg and Copland.

As funds allowed, further core concerts were put on during the year. In December we organised our inaugural Celebration of Christmas concert featuring seasonal favourites and carols from around the world. At the end of March we promoted the Orpheus Principals at St George’s Hanover Square performing chamber music by Schumann, Beethoven, ColeridgeTaylor and Tan Dun. In partnership with Tredici Choir, the Orpheus Principals performed Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet.

The end of the year saw Orpheus concluding our ground-breaking adaptation of Wagner’s Ring Cycle (arranged by Jonathan Dove) in partnership with the Arcola Theatre. Four performances of Siegfried and Götterdämmerung were given in the Hackney Empire to sellout audiences as part of the Grimeborn Opera Festival. The productions were received to great critical acclaim and featured 18 Principal Orpheus Musicians.

Choral partnerships increased during the year as confidence amongst choral societies revived following the pandemic – both to reschedule covid-postponed performances and to organise new programmes. Our choral collaborations included Windsor & Eton Choral Society, Hertford Choral Society, Sine Nomine Singers, West Sussex Philharmonic Choir and Tredici Chamber Choir.

Our educational, children’s and outreach work continued to rebuild and began to reach live audiences once more. Our ground-breaking screenings of The Snowman with live orchestra returned in December with a successful performance at the White Rock Theatre in Hastings. In March 2022 we undertook a pilot schools project of our new educational work, Fred and the Fantastic Tub-Tub (Story by Zeb Soanes; Music by James Marangone) in Southwark and Westminster. A workshop performance conducted by Thomas Carroll, involved 600 students from schools spread across the borough, and subsequently invited audiences were presented with a pilot performance from which feedback and development ideas for next steps were then explored. In June the orchestra returned to Windsor for a workshop and community performance of Fred and the Fantastic Tub-Tub , again with Zeb Soanes narrating, conducted by Thomas Carroll, on the town Bandstand, for a community Platinum Jubilee event supported by the Berkshire Community Foundation and Arts Council England.

During 2021-22 Orpheus was also invited to play for a number of events in venues across London and the Home Counties. Of particular significance, in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee of the late Queen Elizabeth II, Orpheus Sinfonia was invited to take part in a gala concert on 3 June, in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. A massed Jubilee choir and renowned soloists came together under the direction of our Principal Guest Conductor, Oliver Gooch and presenter Petroc Trelawny.

Several composers invited Orpheus to record their compositions during 2022 for classical album release. Orpheus organised recording sessions for these at Air Studios Edel and St Jude’s Hampstead.

We continued to seek out those whom Orpheus can provide benefit and support to in our work. In September, Orpheus held a further day of auditions for new players, following the exceptional level of demand for auditions in Summer 2021. Further schools’ relationships and community integration, particularly in our key areas of Westminster and Windsor/Slough, were developed during the course of the year. Particular attention was given to ensuring reach is being made to those otherwise underserved and marginalised from arts and music opportunity and engagement.

SECTION E (Financial Review)

Brief statement of the charity's policy on reserves:

The Trustees recognise that it is essential to maintain a level of reserves that is commensurate with the substantial risks of concert promotion and the current industry climate. These risks are reviewed on a regular basis in light of the charity’s commitments and available resources. The current minimum target for reserves is £40,000, which is

equivalent to approximately 12 months’ fixed operating costs or, alternatively and in extremely unlikely circumstances, it represents a provision against the possibility of performance costs not ultimately being received on a large-scale artistic project. The Trustees reaffirm their intention to continue to add to reserves as the level of activity grows and the fundraising effort gains momentum.

Details of any funds materially in deficit:

Not applicable

Further financial review details:

Applications to Covid recovery 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. The remaining sponsorship money tied to our collaborative commission ‘Fred & The Fantastic Tub-Tub’ remains in restricted funds.

Funds incoming in this financial year are in part allocated to projects that will happen in the following financial year, so hence the monies are carried forward for subsequent expenditure on planned activity.

SECTION F (Other Optional Information)

None

SECTION G (Declaration)

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

David Shaw Malcolm Singer Clive Hodges Russell Jacobs Kim Waldock

Independent Examiner’s Report to the trustees of Orpheus Sinfonia Foundation

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Orpheus Sinfonia Foundation for the year ended 31[st] August 2022.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of Orpheus Sinfonia Foundation you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). I report in respect of my examination of Orpheus Sinfonia Foundation’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination of the accounts as prepared by Orpheus Accounting Limited. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

accounting records were not kept as required by section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records.

I confirm that there are no matters to which your attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed:

Name: Jacquie Whittingham Address: 7 Beauchamp Road, London SW11 1PG Date: 22[nd ] May 2023

----- Start of picture text -----
Orpheus Sinfonia Foundation Charity No
(if any) 1161411
Annual accounts for the period
Period end
Period start date 01-Sep-21 To date 31-Aug-22
----- End of picture text -----

Section A Statement of financial activities

Recommended categories by activity Guidance Notes Incoming resources (Note 3) Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies S01 Charitable activities S02 Other trading activities S03 Investments S04 Separate material item of income S05 Other S06 S07 Resources expended (Note 6) Expenditure on: Raising funds S08 Charitable activities S09 Separate material item of expense S10 Other S11 S12 S13 Net gains/(losses) on investments S14 S15 Extraordinary items S16 S17 S18 Other gains/(losses) S19 S20 *Reconciliation of funds:* S21 S22 1 *Total* *Net movement in funds* Total funds brought forward *Total funds carried forward* *Total* Net income/(expenditure) before investment gains/(losses) Net income/(expenditure) Transfers between funds Other recognised gains/(losses): Gains and losses on revaluation of fixed assets for the charity’s own use	Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Endowment funds Total funds Prior year funds £ £ £ £ £ F01 F02 F03 F04 F05 60,449 - - 60,449 129,254 172,945 - - 172,945 39,547 - - - - - 14 - 14 - - - - - - - - - - -
	233,408 - - 233,408 168,801
	- - - - 227,505 - - 227,505 147,784 - - - - - 709 - - 709 39
	228,214 - - 228,214 147,823

	5,194 - - 5,194 20,978
	- - - - -
	5,194 - - 5,194 20,978
	- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
	5,194 - - 5,194 20,978
	53,455 7,012 - 60,467 39,489
	58,649 7,012 - 65,661 60,467

Section B Balance sheet

Unrestricted funds £ F01	Restricted income funds £ F02	Endowment funds Total this year £ £ F03 F04	Endowment funds Total this year £ £ F03 F04	Total last year £ F05
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-

-	-	-	-	-
1,563	-	-	1,563	1,012
-	-	-	-	-
66,300	-	-	66,300	65,844
67,863	-	-	67,863	66,856

2,202	-	-	2,202	6,389

65,661	-	-	65,661	60,467

65,661	-	-	65,661	60,467

-	-	-	-	-
-	-	-	-	-

65,661	-	-	65,661	60,467

-			-	-
	7,012		7,012	7,012
58,649		-	58,649	53,455
			-
58,649	7,012	-	65,661	60,467

Signature		Print Name		Date of approval dd/mm/yyyy
		DAVID LSHAW		30/05/23

CC17a (Excel)

17/05/2023