## **Trustees Report** ## **Year Ending 31[ST] July 2025** Registered Charity No.: 1175404 The Trustees present their report for the period ended 31[st] July 2025. ## **Structure, governance and management** The charity was established as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 27 October 2017. The charity is registered with the Charity Commission, number 1175404. The Trustees who served during the year were: Ben Jennings Christopher Block Christina Leigh Clive Block Alexa Shepherd The charity has a minimum of three and maximum of eight trustees. The power of appointment and/or removal of a trustee is vested in the members of the organisation. Trustee liability is limited and there is no requirement to contribute any funds on winding up. The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to major risks. ## **Public Benefit** ln considering the strategies and policies of the Charity, the trustees have had due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charities Commission, in accordance with the Charities Act 2006. ln reviewing and developing Magna Sinfonia’s activities and future plans, careful consideration is given to the public Page **1** of **9** Magna Sinfonia Trustees Report 2024-25 benefit arising from the organisation’s work. Magna Sinfonia core activities encourage the enjoyment of, and participation in music by the public at large. The ticket prices for public performances are purposely kept low though for regular venues they were increased for the 2022-23 season, this being the first increase since 2018. With the exception of larger venues such as Christchurch Priory and Lighthouse, prices remain at £12-£16 and the reduced price for under 18s remains at £2. The Trustees maintain the aim that the Orchestra's live performances should be widely accessible to the public. ## **Orchestra Development** The trustees remain committed to the original objective for the orchestra, which was to provide an exciting platform for high-quality musicians (amateur through to professional) to experience top-quality conductors, varied repertoire, and a more focused, friendly setting in which to perform orchestral music. By maintaining this ethos, the orchestra has established a widely held reputation as the South Coast’s premier amateur orchestra and has thrived. Responsibility for the running of the orchestra and ensuring legal and Charity Commission compliance rests with the trustees. Trustees are automatically members, but may or may not be players and a mix of playing and non-playing trustees is preferred. Trustees are appointed at the CIO’s AGM in accordance with the procedures set out in the Constitution. Trustees may also co-opt members to assist with the running of the orchestra. To this end, there is a committee, which takes on many of the roles associated with the running of the orchestra and the trustees are grateful to Amy Taylor, Chris Gray, Lucy Baish, Bärbel Glaser, Caroline Poon and Christine Perry, who, along with the trustees, form the committee. Membership is open to musicians who meet the criteria set out in the CIO’s Rules and Regulations. ## **Finance** The trustees are responsible for preparing the accounts in accordance with applicable law and UK generally accepted accounting practice. Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the charity to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing accounts giving a true and fair view, the trustees should follow best practice and – - select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent - state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the accounts - prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation. Page **2** of **9** Magna Sinfonia Trustees Report 2024-25 The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2015)” Total unrestricted funds as at the end of the 2023-24 season were £13,046 and at the end of the 2024-25 season were £14,199. The accounts are not required to be independently examined for Charities Commission compliance. The Annual Accounts for the year to 31[st] July 2025 are provided as an addendum to this report. The orchestra’s season and financial year runs from 1[st] August to 31[st] July and the financial report shows a total income of £21,421 and expenditure of £20,582 creating a surplus for the 2024-25 season of £838. The trustees are aware that viability of concerts staged in large venues such as Christchurch Priory are financially dependent on good audience numbers and represent the highest financial risk. However, they are keen to continue providing both members and audiences with high quality experiences and to date all the large venue productions have been financially viable. Sources of income are primarily membership subscriptions and ticket sales, but revenue also comes from bar sales (by donation) and raffles, which are held at many of the orchestra’s concerts. Subs payable by participating members are generally £40 per event. In addition, to the income sources stated above, the trustees are grateful to those who support the charity by making donations and others who become Friends of Magna Sinfonia. Also, many members Gift Aid their subscriptions, which accounted for an income of £1039.86 for the year. ## **Reserves Policy** ln accordance with best practice and Charity Commission guidance the charity maintains reserves in order to provide for contingencies that may arise in the future and to act as a buffer. The trustees define free reserves to be unrestricted funds which have not been designated for specific purposes. The Magna Sinfonia policy is to have in reserve an amount equivalent to the total cost of an expensive production. In line with this, the reserve amount was increased from £7.000 to £10,000 in January 2025. As at the end of the financial year 2024-25, the figure held was £14,199, the reserves were in excess of the amount set by the trustees. Page **3** of **9** Magna Sinfonia Trustees Report 2024-25 ## **Summary of the Orchetra’s 2024-25 Programme** ## **Sunday 22[nd] September 12:45 AGM** Bournemouth School for Girls Attendees 41 members, which included 4 trustees and 5 members of the committee. The meeting was chaired jointly by Ben Jennings and Chris Block. 1. Apologies for Absence were received from Neil Thompson Cheryl Slater Annual Report. Chris Block gave a summary of the 2023-24 season explaining that our 2023-24 season was intentionally quieter than the previous, with the intention of putting on a programme that was very achievable from an organisational perspective and financially cost efficient. A review of the 4 events of the year was given, with Chris explaining the absence of a Mahler weekend during the 2023-24 season. He reasoning for this was explained, and the meeting heard that this would still take place, but the timing would be moved to the beginning of the next season. The AGM was also informed of plans for the forthcoming year and the welcoming of 2 new conductors. Plus, Brahms Requiem in November and Britten War Requiem in July, thanks to the relationship being built with Bournemouth Symphony Chorus. Receipt and Approval of Accounts Acceptance of 2023/24 accounts proposed by Tim Smithers and seconded by Jane Gregson. Ben Jennings gave this report with key points: ● 2022/23 season concerts generated a profit, with the Christmas event again being a profitable money raiser for the orchestra. ● The Season Launch / AGM was again a loss because it is a free event (while donations are welcome there usually aren’t many) and there is no paying audience. It was noted that the 2022/23 accounts had been independently examined, this is required when income exceeds £25,000. The co-chair thanked Ben for putting in the additional work required by the audit. It was also noted that while Ben is still carrying out his duties as Treasurer, he is taking a temporary break from the committee for a period of paternity leave, and Alexa Shepherd has stepped up as acting Co-Chair during this time. Election of Trustees Page **4** of **9** Magna Sinfonia Trustees Report 2024-25 As required by the Constitution, 2 of the existing trustees, Alexa and Clive stood down, but were willing to stand again. Their re-election was proposed by Phillip Lloyd, seconded by Keith Penfold and supported by a unanimous vote from the members present. AOB There was no other business and the meeting concluded at 13:30. ## **Saturday 19th October 2024 7.30pm Autumn Concert: The Sea** Magna Academy, Ashdown Close, Poole, BH17 8RE Mendelssohn | Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage Britten | Four Sea Interludes Glazunov | La Mer Wood | Fantasia on British Sea Songs Arnold | The Padstow Lifeboat Conductor | Sam Scheer The sea theme was chosen to mark the bicentenary of the founding of the RNLI and the trustees invited the RNLI to join them in making it in part a fund-raising event for them. The entire proceeds of the orchestra raffle £316 was donated to RNLI. In addition, their own stall and donations bucket raised a further £165. Audience for this event was 100. Income £3,591. Expenditure £2,995. Surplus £595. ## **November 1[st] 2024 Peter Stark – Conductor Class** Income for this initiative was £500, and expenditure £190 so a surplus of £310 was added to the orchestra’s funds. ## **Sunday 10th November 2024 19:00 Bournemouth Symphony Chorus Concert** Lighthouse, Poole Bournemouth Symphony Chorus and Magna Sinfonia joined forces to perform Brahms’ largest choral work, the powerful Ein Deutsches Requiem – A German Requiem. Conductor | Gavin Carr This was a BSC event, but Magna Sinfonia were invited to provide the orchestral accompaniment. Whilst members were not asked to pay subscriptions, the event required support from Magna Sinfonia funds to the value of £213.93 Page **5** of **9** Magna Sinfonia Trustees Report 2024-25 ## **Saturday 14th December 2024 3pm Christmas Concert: A Very Magna Christmas** All Saints Church, Southbourne A family-friendly celebration featuring seasonal music and carols. The Choir Engine were invited to join the orchestra and sang a number of seasonal pieces. Coleridge-Taylor | Christmas Overture Arr. Smith | A Rhapsody on Christmas Carlos The Choir Engine | Festive Selection: part 1 Tchaikovsky | Nutcracker (Overture, Pas de Deux) arr. Chase | Around the World at Christmas arr. Krogstad | Christmas at the Movies The Choir Engine | Festive Selection: Part 2 arr. Krogstad | The Christmas Song arr. Krogstad | A Most Wonderful Christmas arr. Goeller | Christmas Carol singalong Tickets sold: 139. This event yielded a surplus of £513.09 with income of £1,737 and expenditure of £1,224. ## **Saturday 8th February 2025 7.30m Winter Concert: Symphony in Surround** Parkstone Grammar School, Poole This was a departure from the normal audience seating arrangement It was a unique chance for the audience to sit among the musicians and feel the music from the heart of the orchestra. To hear the violins soar, the brass roar, and the percussion rumble— all from the midst of the action. Standard seating was also available. The Programme Rossini: Overture to The Thieving Magpie Korngold: Violin Concerto, featuring the extraordinary Rose Gosney, leader of the National Youth Orchestra and BBC Young Musician of the Year 2024 quarter-finalist. Shostakovich: Symphony No. 1, a thrilling masterpiece that showcases the orchestra’s full power. Soloist: Violin Rose Gosney. Conductor Ondřej Soukup. Audience for this event was 151. For this event there was a surplus of £303, expenditure being £3,920 and income £4,224. Page **6** of **9** Magna Sinfonia Trustees Report 2024-25 **Saturday 24th May 2025, 7.30pm Summer Concert: A Night at the Opera** Christchurch Priory The Programme: Wagner | Tannhäuser (Overture, Verdi | Rigoletto, Overture, Caro nome che il mio cor, La donna e mobile) J Strauss | Die Fledermaus (Overture, Mein Herr Marquis, Die Uhr Duett) Mozart | Die Zauberflöte (Overture, Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen, Der Vogelfanger bin Ich ja, Pa-pa-papageno) Bernstein | Candide (The Paris Waltz, Glitter and be Gay) Conductor | Leo Geyer Soloists Miku Yasukawa | Coloratura Soprano Merilee Brunet | Soprano Daniel Gray Bell | Tenor Thomas Humphreys | Baritone Total expenditure for this production was £6,254 whilst income was £5,782, resulting in a deficit of £472. The event attracted an audience of 354. ## **Saturday 12th July 2025 7.30pm Benjamin Britten War Requiem** Lighthouse, Poole This was a Bournemouth Symphony Choir event, but Magna Sinfonia were delighted to join them in performing this stunning and moving work Also involved was Bournemouth Symphony Youth Chorus. Soloists: Rusné Tušlaité | soprano Elgan Llŷr Thomas | tenor Florian Störtz | baritone Chorus Director was Gavin Carr. Members were not asked for subscriptions and whilst the orchestra incurred costs of £1,103, this was largely offset by a donation of £900 from BSC, resulting in the orchestra covering £181 in costs. ## **Summary of planned programme for the 2025-26 season** ## **September 6[th] 2025 Season Launch and AGM** Bournemouth School for Girls, Bournemouth, BH8 9UJ ## **Season Launch** Brahms Symphony No. 2 Page **7** of **9** Magna Sinfonia Trustees Report 2024-25 ## **Saturday 18th October 2025 A Symphony of Celebration** St Peter’s, Church Poole Programme Shostakovich | Festive Overture Gershwin | Rhapsody in Blue Glazunov | Symphony no. 5 ‘Heroic’ Conductor | Enyi Okpara Piano | Sam Hanson **Saturday 13th December 2025 Christmas Concert** St Peter’s, Poole Details to be confirmed ## **Saturday 7th February 2026** Programme Ravel | Bolero Britten | Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra Stravinsky | Petrushka Conductor | Peter Stark ## **Saturday 13th June 2026** **Mahler | Symphony no. 8 ‘Symphony of a Thousand** Lighthouse, Poole This Trustees Report was prepared by Clive Block and approved by the trustees on 17/08/2025 Page **8** of **9** Magna Sinfonia Trustees Report 2024-25 **Trustees Report Year Ending 31[ST] July 2025** ## ADDENDUM ## Financial Statement for year ending 31[st] July 2025 Page **9** of **9** Magna Sinfonia Trustees Report 2024-25