Isca Ensemble Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 March 2022
The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the Isca Ensemble for the year 2021 – 2022.
Charity Registration Number 1195253
Principal contact
Isca Ensemble, 32 Woodman’s Orchard, Talaton, Devon, EX5 2SE
Trustees and committee Dr. A Clements Mr. R. Hendy Mrs. S. Sutton Ms. T. Linnemann
Coopted member Mrs. R. James (membership sec.) not a trustee.
Objectives and Activities
The objectives of the Society are
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to advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of music in all its aspects by any means the trustees see fit, including through the presentation of public concerts and recitals;
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To provide facilities which promote the practice or enjoyment of the art of music for recreation or other leisure time occupation and to make them available in the interests of social welfare to individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large with the object of improving conditions of life.
Governance and Administration
The management committee comprising of the trustees and a coopted membership secretary, meets prior to each concert cycle to deal with all aspects of concert management, membership, sponsorship, publicity and forward planning. The MD charged to report on future programming, choice of soloists and liaison of concert venues. The MD must consult the committee on all aspects of concert planning.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provisions of the constitution. The trustees 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.
2 021/2022 Concert Season
The season was a very productive one for the orchestra which included the engagement of young up and coming professional artists which made a big impression with the audiences. The MD and trustees were very keen to welcome such excellent musicians and give them a concert platform to demonstrate their exceptional musicianship. The orchestra very enterprisingly staged another concert in front of a large audience in Exeter Cathedral in honour of the late Joanna Leach. It is pleasing to report that the audience base for the orchestra is sound. A great deal of work has been done in promoting the orchestra and its concerts generally through improved publicity and more articles in the press.
Saturday 17th. July 2021 at 7.30 p.m. Sidmouth Parish Church Isca
Ensemble with Joel Munday – violin.
The orchestra was delighted to feature this exceptional young violinist from Devon. A wonderful programme was presented to the delight of a very large audience. Tchaikovsky : Sérénadé Mélancolique Op.26 Beethoven : Violin Concerto in D major Op.61
Beethoven : Symphony No 2 in D major Op. 36
Saturday 6th. November 2021 at 7.30 p.m. Exeter Cathedral Isca
Ensemble with Luka Okros – piano.
This was a most memorable concert containing a wonderfully imaginative programme. It was the premiere in the South West for a wonderful piece for stings by Takashi Yoshimatsu. Georgian pianist Luka Okros presented a magnificent performance of the Beethoven Concerto which was rapturously received by a very good audience. Equally well received was the orchestra’s playing of Mahler which for the Isca Ensemble was a new adventure and triumph.
Takashi Yoshimatsu: And birds are still ...Op. 72 Beethoven : Piano Concerto No 1
Mahler : Symphony No 1 'Titan'
Saturday 18th. December 2021 at 7.30 p.m. Sidmouth Parish Church
A very good audience welcomed the Isca Ensemble as a chamber orchestra with the gifted Polish pianist Lucas Krupinski who presented a most memorable performance of Chopin No.2. The concert received high critical acclaim in the press.
Wagner : 'Siegfried Idyll'
Chopin : Piano Concerto No 2 in F minor Mozart : Symphony No. 40
A fourth major concert initially calendared for March 2021 featuring the Korean violinist Joo Yeon Sir was rescheduled for April 2021.
Concerts continue to receive high critical acclaim as documented on the orchestra’s website and the post-concert responses/comments from many regular audience members have been
most encouraging. This is an indication that the developing policies of the orchestra have been successfully implemented.
Social Activities
Players and supporters of the orchestra enjoyed attended social occasions organised by some leading players throughout the year.
Financial Review
The orchestra has enjoyed a very successful season financially.
For the financial year ending 30 March 2022, all concerts recorded moderate surpluses, reflecting an increase in the support of the orchestra by the wide community it serves (Exeter and East Devon). It has not been necessary to increase concert ticket prices.
Generous retiring collections for cancer charities have been organised at concerts.
Some very welcome sponsorship from individuals has been received which looks like it will continue.
Forward planning of concert sequencing.
This task has in the main been the responsibility of the MD supported by the trustees (committee) and leading players. The chosen sequencing of concerts in East Devon and Exeter Cathedral has been successful and this format will be maintained. The MD has been successful in attracting young up and coming professional soloists to perform with the orchestra.
Approval of Report
The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity in April 2022 and signed on its behalf by:
Dr. A Clements Trustee and Chairman.
4.4.22
ISCA ENSEMBLE
Detailed Income and Expenditure account for the year 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022
| Income | 2021/22 |
|---|---|
| Donations and sponsorship | £17,000.00 |
| Advertising | £250.00 |
| Gift Aid Tax reclaimed | £4,000.00 |
| Fundraising events and appeals | £0.00 |
| Tickets Sales after bank and online charges | £9,920.07 |
| Programme sales | £546.00 |
| Royalties | £496.02 |
| Sale of orchestral items | £237.76 |
| Total Income | £32,449.85 |
| Expenditure | |
| Soloists | £1,942.00 |
| Instrument hire, tuning and transport | £1,140.00 |
| Music hire | £858.50 |
| Rehearsal Venues | £1,100.00 |
| Concert venues | £4,490.00 |
| Performing Rights Society | £0.00 |
| Rehearsal refreshments | £85.00 |
| Concert refreshments | £65.00 |
| Orchestral equipment | £0.00 |
| Donations & Grants | £0.00 |
| Education & Training | £0.00 |
| Gifts | £0.00 |
| Instrument repair | £0.00 |
| Entertainment | £0.00 |
| Programme and other concert costs | |
| Programme costs | £454.00 |
| Publicity and advertising | £326.00 |
| Administration costs | |
| Insurance and subscriptions | £0.00 |
| Printing, postage and stationery | £160.25 |
| Telephone & office admin | £160.00 |
| Total Expenditure | £10,780.75 |
| Net Income | £21,669.10 |