ANNUAL REPORT
by the Trustees of Rutland Sinfonia for the year ended 31st August 2021 (2020-2021)
Presented to the Members of the Rutland Sinfonia at the AGM on
12th November 2021
Rutland Sinfonia is a Registered Charity in England and Wales no. 11970959, and is a member of Making Music, itself a Registered Charity, which supports and champions voluntary and amateur music groups.
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ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR FROM 1[st] SEPTEMBER 2020 TO 31[st] AUGUST 2021
1. This is the Report of the Trustees of Rutland Sinfonia (the “Managing Committee”) for the Financial year ended 31[st] August 2021.
More information about the Rutland Sinfonia, (the “Sinfonia”), and details of the Programme for our 45th Season 2020/2021, how to become a member of the Sinfonia, and/or become a “Friend” or sponsor can be found on our website www.rutlandsinfonia.org.uk
Our orchestra email address for correspondence is rutlandsinfonia@gmail.com
2. Constitutional Matters and how Rutland Sinfonia is run.
The Sinfonia underwent significant constitutional changes during 2020. In order to provide additional protection to the trustees from liability, and to place the Sinfonia on a more professional footing, the Trustees of Rutland Sinfonia charity number 1140582 decided to apply to register the charity as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (a CIO). This application was successful and the new charity was registered on 15 September 2020. The Trustees therefore applied to wind up the old charity and this was completed on 9th February 2021. The trustees who were elected at the last Annual General Meeting of the old charity on 15th November 2019 were as follows
| Rachel Rayner | Chair | Kristi Newton | PR |
| Sarah Ayre | Secretary | Douglas Butler | Librarian |
| Katherine Hammond | Treasurer | Anne McCrae | Orchestral Manager |
| John Round | Budget/Oundle Concert Manager |
Vacant | Oakham Concert Manager |
These trustees were appointed as the ‘first Trustees’ of the Sinfonia. There was therefore no AGM of the Sinfonia in 2020 but under the new Constitution all the Trustees of the Sinfonia shall retire but shall be eligible for re-election. At subsequent AGMs the trustees shall retire by rotation ie. one third shall retire with the other remaining in office. The first three to retire shall be those who have been longest in office. Douglas Butler has resigned during the year for personal reasons and the Committee have appointed Nick Brown as Librarian - he will obviously stand down at the AGM but may put himself forward for re-election with the others.
The Sinfonia operates in accordance with its Constitution, as approved by the Charity Commission. Under the Constitution the Sinfonia is managed by a Committee of Trustees (the “Managing Committee”). The Trustees are elected at each Annual General Meeting as described above. The Committee thanks Douglas Butler for his service as Librarian to the orchestra during a particularly challenging year, and also thanks Nick Brown for agreeing to take on the role.
The Sinfonia also continues to use a production company, Rutland Sinfonia Productions (RSP) Limited, to produce its concerts, and the Directors of that company are Sarah Ayre and Katherine Hammond. This is to enable Rutland Sinfonia to claim Orchestral Tax Relief. For our financial year ended August 2020, we received £1034 in tax relief (as detailed in the accounts for RSP Limited which were circulated last year). As detailed below we will not receive any relief this year because we have not produced any qualifying concerts (the Piano recital and Play Day do not qualify). However next year we should receive a similar amount of tax relief and this money contributes to the charity’s strong financial position.
Paul Hilliam, Music Director and Principal Conductor, and David Calow Associate Conductor, attend the Committee meetings by invitation and it is right as always to record our gratitude to both Paul and David for their continuing significant contributions to the Sinfonia in many ways, both seen and unseen. This report also acknowledges our thanks to Katherine Collison as our appointed leader.
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3. Objects, activities, achievements and the public benefit
The Sinfonia’s objects as set out in the Constitution are:-
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To advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in appreciation of the art and science of orchestral music by any means the Committee sees fit, including the presentation of public orchestral concerts, and recitals
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To encourage, educate and involve young people, wherever possible, in these activities
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To further such charitable purpose or purposes as the Committee may from time to time decide, including through the making of grants and donations
The Sinfonia’s charitable objects and the way they are carried out are for the public benefit. Public benefit is achieved through the 4 public concerts given by the Sinfonia in the year covered by this Report. Unfortunately however this Season has been continually affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Orchestra has been unable to put on any orchestral performances during this time. Instead, the committee hosted a virtual programme of ‘In Conversation With’ interviews with a number of past soloists, our Honorary President and Music Director for the enjoyment of our members and friends. Robert Markham also performed a piano recital / closed concert for members and friends towards the end of 2020 during a break in the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions and we were able to hold a play day (behind closed doors) in July 2021 for our members to come together.
4. Finances and Accounts.
Our finances heading into the pandemic were, and remain at this time, in a solid position and as always, the support of our Friends, and those who advertise in our programmes is vital and contributes significantly to the Sinfonia’s financial survival, along with the recovery of “Gift Aid”.
The financial statement from the Treasurer circulated separately shows the position at the end of the financial year (31[st] August 2021), and shows a small loss of £309.18. Aside from the usual incidental expenses associated with running the orchestra, even when unable to play, this primarily represents expenses for our recital for members in October 2020 and the Play Day in July 2021, although much of this was kindly offset by such Friends subscriptions as were received and donations from members to attend the Play Day.
We are very grateful to Katherine Hammond our Treasurer for all her work for the Sinfonia. In accordance with the Constitution, the accounts have been independently audited, and the Treasurer reports to the AGM.
The accounts for RSP Limited are also attached. These show that we will not receive any Orchestral Tax Relief this year as we have not produced any qualifying concerts, however next year we should receive a similar amount of tax relief and this money contributes to the charity’s strong financial position.
In Conclusion.
This past season has been a challenge to us all for many different reasons.
I must first recognise the sad passing of founder of the Sinfonia Barry Collett, without whom there would be no orchestra. It is from those foundations that we find our strength and will continue to grow, and members past and present owe him much.
In the same season, and for the first time in the orchestra’s history, we have not been able to perform together as an orchestra for an audience, but once again I must give my personal thanks, as I conclude my seventh season as chair, to every member of the committee for their support, dedication and hard work. There have been difficult times over the last 12 months, but the camaraderie shared by the committee, Paul and David, has seen me, and us, through and we now look forward to whatever comes next. Our resilience will always be part of what makes us Rutland Sinfonia, and,
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even through the last year we have continued to attract (and welcome) new players.
Thank you to each and every member of the orchestra for ‘sticking with us’ and I look forward to the new 2021/2022 season along with the return to performing for an audience.
Signed: Rachel Rayner Chair on behalf of the Managing Committee Dated: November 2020
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Rutland Sinfonia Recei ts& ments Accounts for the Year Ended 31st Au 2021 ust 2021 2020 Concert Receipts Oakham Sept Oundle Nov Oakham Mar Oundle May 0.00 1,081.75 2,754.28 2,607.75 176.25 0.00 0.00 1,574.11 6,620.03 8,482.49 Less Concert Commissioning Fees Deficit on Concerts -(1574.11) -{1862.46) Subscriptions Received Friends Donations Play Day Donations Sundry Receipts Waitrose collection Easy Fundraising HMRC Gift Aid Interest Received Others 2,170.00 2,125.00 675.00 290.CK) 0.00 220.00 15.81 688.41 0.13 135.00 77.12 0.00 101.47 839.35 408.19 Total Income Less Expenditure Website Costs Making Music Subscription Bank Charges Sundry Expenses 230.24 2,840.73 0.00 301.94 54.00 17.48 476.59 231.00 42.17 373.42 749.76 Surplus (Deficit) for the Year Opening Balance -(143.18) 17,253.66 2,090.97 15.162.69 Closing Balance £ 17,110.48 £ 17,253.66 Represented by: HSBC Current Account HSBC Savings Account Unity Trust Current Account Rutland Sinfonia Productions Ltd Loan Cash in Hand to be banked 9,956.09 6,190.59 15,967.58 1,032.87 110.03 1,106.98 £ 17,110.48 £ 17,253.66 I have checked these accounts, without carrying out an audit, to the books, records arHJ information provided to me, and have found them to be in agreement thereto. David ebb Chartered Accountant Date 14th February 2022