## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From 1[st] April 2022 To 31[st] March 2023**
## **Charity name: The Octandre Ensemble**
## **Charity registration number: 1178461**
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|To advance, develop and maintain the
public’s appreciation of and education in the
art of modern and contemporary music,
through the presentation of public concerts
championing the work of contemporary
composers, and the making and
dissemination of recordings.|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Para 1.17 and 1.19|During 2022-2023, Octandre Ensemble
gave the world premiere performance of a
major commissioned work by Frank Denyer
at London Contemporary Music Festival, as
well as recording a CD of music by Denyer
which included this work; collaborated with
Leeds University Ph.D candidate Ed
Cooper on a workshop and studio recording
(planned for future release) of a substantial
new piece; offered composition and
contemporary music workshops at
Westminster School, culminating in the
performance of works for flute, cello and
piano by student composers.|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|The Trustees have had regard to the
guidance issued by the Charity Commission
on public benefit.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making
Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other
## **Achievements and Performance**
SORP reference
||||**Frank Denyer commission and recording**
Our long-standing association with Frank
Denyer bore fruit with the world premiere
performance of a major new work ‘Five
Views of the Path’, which took place at
Woolwich Works as part of LCMF in June
2022. This was attended by a large and
diverse audience, and had the special
distinction of being conducted by the
composer himself; a rare and special
opportunity for many listeners to discover
Denyer’s unique music for the first time.
Consolidating the value of this performance,
Octandre went on to record a portrait CD
(for label another timbre) of Denyer’s music,
enabling interested listeners to pursue a
sustained engagement with his recent work
in the context of significant earlier works,
also being recorded for the first time. The
span of works ranged from ‘Unisons 1 &
3’ (1972), through Broken Music (1992) to
‘Screens’ (2018) and ‘Five Views’ (2022).
The recordings took place at Menuhin Hall,
Surrey, in August 2022. Sessions were
conducted by Co-Artistic Director Jon
Hargreaves and featured distinguished
guest artists Juliette Fraser (voice) and Ben
Gilmore (violin) alongside regular ensemble
members. The recordings were made by
Robert Bosch, a long-time collaborator of
the composer, and were supervised by
Frank Denyer. In addition to their inherent
musical value and the obvious benefit to the
composer and artists involved, these
recordings serve as an essential document
of a performance practice and will become
reference recordings for future musicians
engaging with this music.
**Ed Cooper Workshop and Recording**
In February 2023 we workshopped initial
sketches for a new work “As far as…
unloving still.. down on your stomach…” by
Ed Cooper (Leeds University) as part of a
project funded by WRoCAH. This process
was of direct artistic/educational benefit to
the composer and also resulted in a
subsequent studio recording, which will lead
to wider dissemination in due course.
**Westminster School Workshop**
Continuing an existing relationship, we
returned to Westminster School on
February 7th 2023 to deliver a composition
masterclass/workshop, exploring writing for
flute, cello and piano, led by Christian
Mason. This session was of direct benefit to
the six participating students, each of whom
received dedicated individual workshop
time, as well as a final performance. The
benefit also extended to the audience of
fellow students and parents who were able
to observe the creative process in action.|
|---|---|---|---|
||Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|**Frank Denyer commission and recording**
Our long-standing association with Frank
Denyer bore fruit with the world premiere
performance of a major new work ‘Five
Views of the Path’, which took place at
Woolwich Works as part of LCMF in June
2022. This was attended by a large and
diverse audience, and had the special
distinction of being conducted by the
composer himself; a rare and special
opportunity for many listeners to discover
Denyer’s unique music for the first time.
Consolidating the value of this performance,
Octandre went on to record a portrait CD
(for label another timbre) of Denyer’s music,
enabling interested listeners to pursue a
sustained engagement with his recent work
in the context of significant earlier works,
also being recorded for the first time. The
span of works ranged from ‘Unisons 1 &
3’ (1972), through Broken Music (1992) to
‘Screens’ (2018) and ‘Five Views’ (2022).
The recordings took place at Menuhin Hall,
Surrey, in August 2022. Sessions were
conducted by Co-Artistic Director Jon
Hargreaves and featured distinguished
guest artists Juliette Fraser (voice) and Ben
Gilmore (violin) alongside regular ensemble
members. The recordings were made by
Robert Bosch, a long-time collaborator of
the composer, and were supervised by
Frank Denyer. In addition to their inherent
musical value and the obvious benefit to the
composer and artists involved, these
recordings serve as an essential document
of a performance practice and will become
reference recordings for future musicians
engaging with this music.
**Ed Cooper Workshop and Recording**
In February 2023 we workshopped initial
sketches for a new work “As far as…
unloving still.. down on your stomach…” by
Ed Cooper (Leeds University) as part of a
project funded by WRoCAH. This process
was of direct artistic/educational benefit to
the composer and also resulted in a
subsequent studio recording, which will lead
to wider dissemination in due course.
**Westminster School Workshop**
Continuing an existing relationship, we
returned to Westminster School on
February 7th 2023 to deliver a composition
masterclass/workshop, exploring writing for
flute, cello and piano, led by Christian
Mason. This session was of direct benefit to
the six participating students, each of whom
received dedicated individual workshop
time, as well as a final performance. The
benefit also extended to the audience of
fellow students and parents who were able
to observe the creative process in action.|
|||||
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41||
|---|---|---|
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41||
|Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41||
|Other|||
## **Financial Review**
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|At the end of 22/23, no moneys were owed
to other parties. The CIO was in receipt of
grants from the PRS Foundation, the Ernst
von Siemens Musikstiftung, WRoCAH,
RVW Trust and Marchus Trust.|
|---|---|---|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|At present the need for reserves does not
exist as the charity has no ongoing
operational costs in terms of salaries or
premises and is holding minimal funds for
petty cash requirements. Its activities have
to date been undertaken on a project-by-
project basis, and funds are raised as and
when required for each project. The trustees
do however intend to review this regularly
and when necessary to address the
question of forming a policy for reserves.|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|As above there is no reserves policy in
place.|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|As above there is no reserves policy in
place.|
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|The CIO has no funds or subsidiary
undertakings that are materially in deficit|
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|At the date of approving the report and
accounts, there are no uncertainties about
the charity’s ability to continue as a going
concern.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|The source of funding for the CIO during the
period 2022/23 was payments from hirers
(LCMF, Westminster School) and awards
from:
•
WRoCAH
•
RVW Trust,
•
PRS Foundation
•
Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung
(Munich)
•
Marchus Trust|
|---|---|---|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46||
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46||
|Other|||
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|Cons%tu%on|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|Charitable Incorporated Organisa%on|
|Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|Appointed by resolu%on|
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees|Para 1.51||
|---|---|---|
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51||
|Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51||
|Other|||
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|Octandre Ensemble|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses||
|Registered charity number|1178461|
|Charity’s principal address|21 Polsted Road,
London
SE6 4YH|
|||
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
||**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year**|**Name of person (or body)**
**entitled to appoint trustee**
**(if any)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|1
2
3
4|Richard
Bernas|Chair|||
||Sarah Holford||||
||Guillaume
Descottes||||
||Christian
Mason|Treasurer|||
Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved
## **Director name**
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
**Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year**
**Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
Description of the assets held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
## **Additional information (optional)**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
**Type of Name Address adviser**
**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional** ~~**information)**~~
## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
## **Other optional information**
## **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature(s) Full name(s)** Christian Mason **Position (eg** Treasurer **Secretary, Chair, etc) Date** 22nd December, 2023
## **Annual accounts for 2022 – 2023**
|**INCOME**||
|---|---|
|**Balance brought forward from 31 March 2022**|£ 11689.39|
|Hire of Ensemble|£5150|
|Grants/Awards|£12,560.88|
|**TOTAL INCOME**|**£17710.88**|
|**PLUS BROUGHT FORWARD**|**£29400.27**|
|||
|**EXPENDITURE**||
|Venue Hire|£2770.80|
|Percussion Hire|£357.20|
|Equipment purchase|£528.43|
|Porterage|£301.30|
|Artists’ Travel costs (inc. ULEZ charges)|£62|
|Catering|£45.25|
|Accountancy|£360|
|Bank Charges|£60|
|**SUB-TOTAL**|**£4484.98**|
|Musicians’ fees|£14580.79|
|**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**|**£19065.77**|
|||
|**BALANCE IN BANK ACCOUNT**|**£10334.50**|
|LESS COMMITTED FUNDS:|£805.20|
|LESS ALLOCATED FUNDS:|£0|
|TOTAL OF COMMITTED & ALLOCATED FUNDS|£805.20|
|**WORKING ACCOUNT BALANCE**|**£9529.30**|