2025-07-31-accounts

Salomon Orchestra

74 Gibsons Hill, Norbury, London, SW16 3JS

Charity registration number: 256753 President: Martyn Brabbins https://www.salomonorchestra.org

Committee Report for the 2024/25 Season

The objective of the Salomon Orchestra is “to rehearse orchestral music in order to foster public knowledge and appreciation of such music by means of public performance”. To that end, the 2024/25 season included three major self-promoted concerts at Smith Square Hall (formerly known as St. John’s, Smith Square), the provision of the orchestra for Martyn Brabbins’ conducting masterclass for Students of the Royal College of Music and the orchestra was engaged to play for John Landor’s conducting masterclass.

Salomon’s own concerts took place at Smith Square Hall with the following programmes and artists.

19/10/24 Conductor: Johann Stockenbruck Mahler: Symphony No 7 [ Audience 156 ] 09/02/25 Conductor: Christopher Stark [ Audience 72 ] Baritone: Michael Ronan Schuman: American Festival Overture Copland: Old American Songs (Michael Ronan) Beach: Gaelic Symphony 16/06/25 Conductor: Cathal Garvey [ Audience 119 ] Walton: Orb and Sceptre Britten: Violin Concerto (Charlie Lovell-Jones) Vaughan Williams: Symphony No 3

All the programmes provided significant musical challenges, but were rewarding musical experiences for the orchestra and audiences alike. Both our soloists - Charlie Lovell-Jones in Britten’s Violin Concerto, and Michael Ronan in Copland’s American songs – were very well received.

In November 2024, Salomon worked with John Landor by providing an orchestra for his conducting masterclasses. This outside engagement was essential in helping support Salomon’s own productions and keep losses to a minimum.

The rising hire costs of both rehearsal venues and Smith Square Hall (SSH) make it essential for the orchestra to earn outside income. Without outside engagements Salomon could only continue to play its current repertoire by substantially raising subscriptions. While we do need to sell more tickets for each production, the relatively small size of SSH makes it difficult-toimpossible to cover all our costs if we are to continue to perform the large symphonic repertoire. With average production costs of around £12,000 we need to sell about 180 tickets at full price to break even after accounting for subs, GiftAid, and OTR income.

The other option is play less costly “classical” repertoire and/or move our concerts to a less expensive venue.

In 24/25 the average audience was 116 but with a wide variation: from 72 in February, to 152 for Mahler 7 in October. The challenge is to sell at least 150 tickets per concert at SSH. The committee will continue to investigate alternative concert venues where the potential audience may be larger. In addition, everyone must work even harder to get an audience to attend our concerts.

In December 2024 Salomon provided the orchestra for an RCM Conducting Masterclass. Martyn Brabbins directed post graduate conducting students in performing the first movement of Elgar’s Cello concerto and Sibelius’ 5th Symphony.

In addition to the income from the Landor masterclasses, Salomon Orchestra was dependent upon members’ subscriptions, Gift Aid, and Orchestral Tax Relief to make up the difference between the expenses incurred in producing our concerts and ticket income. Smaller sums from refreshments and donations were also welcome.

Salomon Orchestra’s operating model of rehearsing and performing in central London remains a challenge. The cost of hiring both rehearsal and concert venues continues to rise, and small audience sizes have put the orchestra finances under extreme pressure. The committee will continue to work on obtaining outside engagements. It is essential that members of the orchestra support any engagements that we can arrange so that, in time, Salomon can build up a reserve and put the orchestra on a firmer financial footing.

The Committee and Trustees for the year ended 31st July 2025 were:

John Hackett (Chair/Treasurer) Mike Aldren (Orchestral Manager) Simon Astridge (Venues) Libby Summers (Librarian) Philip Austin Tara Persaud (Orchestra Leader) Peter Maniura

Many thanks are due to the members of the Committee and the Fixers for their continuing hard work in running the orchestra. Thanks are also due to everyone else who helped with administration, tea making, setting out the orchestra, etc., during the 2024/25 season.

John Hackett (Chairman)

The Salomon Orchestra

Registered Charity No. 256753 President : Martyn Brabbins

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

for the

YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025

74 Gibsons Hill, Norbury, London, SW16 3JS

THE SALOMON ORCHESTRA

Pro%t and Loss Account

for the year to 31 July 2025

		2024/25	2023/24
Income Ticket income Engagement fees Refreshment sales Player subscrip'ons Other dona'ons Total dona'ons Gi, Aid on dona'ons	Notes	£ £ 8,251 2,838 37 12,582 5 12,587 2,535	£ £ 5,563 5,000 165 10,767 901 11,668 2,488
	4
	5
Total income		26,248	24,884
Expenses Produc'on fees payable to SPL Adver'sing Ar'sts’ fees Music hire Instrument hire Rehearsal room hire Total engagement expenses Bank charges Insurance Other Total administra'on costs		26,368 80 400 0 300 0 780 33 394 152 579	22,688 80 550 287 0 325 1,242 68 268 178 514
	6
Total expenses		27,727	24,444
Net pro5t/(loss)		(1,479)	440

THE SALOMON ORCHESTRA

Balance Sheet

as at 31 July 2025

		31/07/25	31/07/24
Fixed assets Net book value Current assets Debtors – Gi, Aid expected from HMRC Prepayments – advance fees paid to SPL Cash at bank Total current assets Total net assets Capital and reserves Retained earnings brought forward Net pro5t/(loss) for the year Retained earnings carried forward	Notes	£ 0	£ 0
	7
		0 13,049 2,592	2,420 11,603 3,097
	8, 9
		15,641	17,120
		15,641	17,120
		17,120 (1,479)	16,680 440
		15,641	17,120

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John Hackett (Chairman)

Approved by Trustees on 15/02/2026

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025

1. These 5nancial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accoun'ng principles as described in FRS 102. All income and expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis.

2. The Salomon Orchestra (“the Orchestra”) exists to rehearse and perform orchestral music. Its funds are applied for that purpose.

3. The Orchestra has a related en'ty called Salomon Produc'ons Limited ("SPL") which exists to produce the Orchestra's concerts.

4. Ticket income represents income from the concerts produced by SPL (see note 3).

5. Engagement fees represent fees received from engagements with other organisa'ons.

6. Produc'on fees payable to SPL (see note 3) for 2023/24 were reported as £22,944 in the Orchestra's last 5nancial statements. The compara've 5gure has been re-stated to correct for an overstatement of £256 in the costs reported in SPL’s 5nancial statements for that year.

7. The Orchestra owns music stands which cost £1,137 pre 2018. The cost of that equipment was depreciated in the accounts at an annual rate of 15% on a reducing balance basis and is now fully wriFen oG.

8. Advance produc'on fees paid to SPL (see note 3) comprise:

Funding for SPL’s loss while SPL claims Orchestra Tax Relief Other working capital	31/07/25 31/07/24 £ £ 8,601 8,340 4,448 3,263
	13,049 11,603

1. Prepayments at 31 July 2024 were reported as £5,746 in the Orchestra's last 5nancial statements. The compara've 5gure has been re-stated in accordance with a new policy of trea'ng all working capital in SPL as advance fees.

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees The Sak>mon Orchestra On accounts for tho year ended 31 July 2025 Charity no (Sf any 256753 Set out on pays 3to6 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity {Ihe Trusf) for the year en¢Jed 31107 12025. Responslblllllos and basis of roport As the chartys trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of th8 accounts in accordance %*ryth the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {"the Acr). I report in ￿SpeCt of my examinats'on of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed all the ap￿ICable Directs'ons given by the Chanty Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have examlnerfs statement come to my attention in connection wtlh the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any materi81 respect.. the accounting records were not kerrt in accordance with section 130 of the Chartties Act. or the accounts did not accord WFth the accounting records,. or the accounts dKI not comply wrth the applicable requirements Concerning the fomi and content of accounts set out in the Charities {Ac¢ounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requir8ment that the accounts give a Irue and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an irKlependent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a rxoper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: 1810312028 Name: Jeannie Okikiolu Relevant professional qualificatlonls) or body (if any): None at wesent Member of The Institute of Chartered Accourrtants in EnglarKI and Wales between De￿rnber 1988 and August 2024. Address: 104 Ramillies Road, London. W4 1JA IER Oct 2018

Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight material matters of con￿rn (see CC32, IrKlependent examination of charty accounts.. diredions and guidance for examiners} Glve here brlef detslls of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018

The Salomon Orchestra Registered Charity No. 256753 President . Matyn Brabbins FINANCIAL STATEMENrs for the YEAR ENDED 31 WLY 2025 74 Gibsons Hill, Norbury, London. SW16 3JS

THE SALOMON ORCHESTR Profit and Loss Account h)r the year to 31 July 2025 2023A4 Income ricket income En888ement fees Refreshment sales 8.251 2,838 37 5,563 165 Player subscrlption5 Other donatlons 12,582 10,767 901 Total donations 12.587 11.668 Gift Ald on donations 2,535 2.488 Totsl Income 26,248 Production fees payable to SPL Advertising ArtItt￿ fee5 Music hire Instrument hire Rehearsal room hlre Total engagement expense5 Bank charges Insurance Other 26,368 22.688 80 550 287 32S 1,242 33 394 152 68 268 178 Total administratlon costs 579 514 Totsl expenses 27,n7 Net prth/l1055) {1,479)

THE SALOMON ORCHESTRA Balance Sheet as at 31 July 2025 31107A5 3V07124 Flxed assets Net book value Current a￿ets Debtors- Gift expected from HMRC 2,420 Prepayments- advance fees paid to SPL Cash at bank 13,049 11,603 2,592 3,097 Total current a55ets 15,641 17,120 Totsl net assets ,641 17,120 Capttal and reserves Retained eamings brought forward 17.120 16,680 Net profft/{lossl for the year 11,4791 440 Retained earnings carried forward 15,641 17,120 john Hackett (Chairman) Approved by Trnstees on 1510212026

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENrs FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025 l. These financial statements have been prepared In accordance with general￿ accepted accounting principles as described in FRS 102. All income and expenditure is recognised on an accruals basls. 2. The Salomon Orchestra 1.the Orchestra"l exSsts to rehearse and perform orchestral muslc. Its funds are applied for that purpose. 3. The Orchestra has a related entity called Salomon Productions Limlted I'SPL'I which exists to produce the Orchestra's concerts. Tlcket Income represents Income from the Co￿ertS prodU￿d by SPL Isee note 31. 5. Engagement fees represent fees received from enga8ernents with other or8anisations. Produrtion fee5 payable to SPL (see note 31 for 2023124 were reported as £22,944 in the Orchestra's last fSnan¢lal statements. The comparadve figure has been re-stated to correct for an overstatement of £256 in the costs reported in SPL'S financial statements for that year. 7. The Orchestra owns music stands whlch cost £1.137 pre 2018. The cost of that equipment wa5 depreciated In the a¢¢ounts at an annual rdte of 15% on a reducin8 balance basls and Is now fully wrltten off. 8. Advance produthon fees paid to SPL (see note 31 comprise: 31107125 31107124 Fundlng for SPL'S loss while SPL claims Orchestra Tax Rellef Other worklng capital 8,601 4,448 13,049 8,340 3,263 11,603 Prepayments at 31 July 2024 were reported a5 £5.746 In the Orchestra's last financial statements. The comparative figure has been rtrstated in accordance with a new policy of treatlng all working capital in SPL as advance fees.