Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1[st] April 2023 To 31[st] March 2024
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 |
In 2023-2024, Octandre released a CD recorded in 2022 on Another Timbre records, recorded and released another CD on the Winter and Winter label, and made another recording, with a view to arranging for a commercial release. All three projects involved British composers, at early, mid, and late career stages. |
| 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 beneft. |
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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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 | The Octandre ensemble specialises in performing repertoire that is either very much overlooked and thus rarely performed, or uniquely written for particular performers. We aim to make accessible high quality performances and recordings of music that would otherwise not be heard by our beneficiaries – the general public and various subsections thereof. In the year 2023-24, our activity focussed on recording projects. Releasing Frank Denyer CD, ‘Screens’ (Nov 23):November 2023 saw the culmination of a long-term project, with the release of Frank Denyer’s retrospective chamber music CD,Screens, on Another Timbre records. Fundraising began in February 2023, and we are grateful to the PRS Foundation, The RVW Trust (now the Vaughan Williams Foundation), and the Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung for support. The disc involved 18 musicians, playing works written over 50 years, for a wide variety of ensembles. Every track on the disc is a World-Premiere recording. The disc received some very positive reviews. It is a document of a unique voice within British contemporary music, performed by specialist musicians of the composer’s choice. Recording with Ed Cooper: In March 2023 we recorded_… as far as…_ _unloving still… down on your stomach…_by Leeds University Ph.D candidate Ed Cooper. Planned as part of his forthcoming debut CD ‘Chambers’, it is scored for the unique line up of contrabass flute, two bass clarinets, and two double basses. The 26- minute-long piece was recorded at Goldsmiths Music Studios bySean Woodlock on 26 March 2023. With each player straining for lowness amongst overlaid and unclear heartbeats, again through a selection of destabilising techniques, the music inhabits a world of |
deep, hollow melodies, with harmonies being introduced and disrupted through the mêlée of bodies. Christian Mason CD: Time-SpaceSound-Light: In August 2023, four Octandre musicians, including the composer Christian Mason, recorded music for a CD to be released on the German label, Winter and Winter. The project, ‘Time-Space-Sound-Light’, is a chamber music cycle for flute, cello, piano and electronics and auxiliary instruments, which was written especially for the individuals in the ensemble, and which they have performed twice before. A number of the pieces were written to be performed in the unique acoustic of the Internationales Kunstlerhaus Villa Concordia, in Bamberg, Germany. We are grateful to the Kunstlerhaus for supporting the project, and also to the Vaughan Williams Foundation and the Marchus Trust. The disc was released in March 2024 to critical acclaim, including being longlisted for the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik .
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 23/24, the accounts were balanced, with no moneys owed or owing to or by the CIO. |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | At the most recent AGM the Trustees discussed holding reserves, and they agreed that it is sensible to hold £1,000- £2,000. The funds available from one project to the next vary greatly. Taking that into account, the Trustees resolved that the organisation should seek, where possible, to hold back at least 5% of a given project budget. Reserves will be held to cover running costs such as bank charges; unforeseen or urgent project costs, or, in exceptional circumstances,to topup project budgets. |
| Amount of reservesheld | Para 1.22 | £1,928 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | n/a |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | The CIO has no funds or subsidiary undertakings that are materially in defcit |
| 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 abilityto continue as a going concern. |
Additional information (optional)
| Additional information (optional) | Additional information (optional) | 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 sources of funding for the CIO during the period 2023/24 was payments from hirers (University of Leeds, funded by a White Rose AHRC grant, a Westminster School payment for a workshop during 2022/23) and an award from the Vaughan Williams Foundation. |
| 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 | Consttuton |
|---|---|---|
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Charitable Incorporated Organisaton |
| 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 resoluton |
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
| 1 2 3 4 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) Mason Full name(s) Christian Position (eg Secretary, Treasurer Chair, etc) Date 23rd January, 2025
Annual accounts for 2023 – 2024
| INCOME | ||
|---|---|---|
| Balance brought forward from 31 March 2023 | £10,334.50 | |
| Hire of Ensemble | £4,622.88 | |
| Grants/Awards | £2,000 | |
| TOTAL INCOME | £6,622.88 | |
| PLUS BROUGHT FORWARD | £16,957.38 | |
| EXPENDITURE | ||
| Recording Engineer | £3,000 | |
| Equipment purchase | £290.85 | |
| Printing | £90.14 | |
| Artists’travel and accommodation | £4,837.86 | |
| Promotional videos for CD release | £600 | |
| Bank Charges | £60 | |
| SUB-TOTAL | £8,878.85 | |
| Musicians’fees | £7,063.20 | |
| TOTAL EXPENDITURE | £16,042.05 | |
| BALANCE IN BANK ACCOUNT | £915.33 | |
| LESS COMMITTED FUNDS: | £0 | |
| LESS ALLOCATED FUNDS: | £0 | |
| TOTAL OF COMMITTED & ALLOCATED FUNDS | £0 | |
| WORKING ACCOUNT BALANCE | £915.33 |