Henley Symphony Orchestra
Annual Report and Accounts
2022 / 2023
Henley Symphony Orchestra
Trustees’ Annual Report for the financial year 1 May 2022 – 30 April 2023
Full name of the charity: Henley Symphony Orchestra
Other names the charity is HSO known by:
Number of the charity: 271849
Charity commission contact: Dr Alice Carter, HSO Treasurer, 53 Parkside Road, Reading, Berks, RG30 2BT
Charity's governing The constitution of the Henley Symphony Orchestra dated 9 January document: 1996, amended 1 October 1997 and 17 Nov 2020
How the charity is constituted:
Unincorporated association
How trustees are appointed: All trustees stand down at the AGM each year and new trustees are elected. All former trustees are eligible for re-election.
Trustees of the charity: For the financial year 2022 / 2023 the following members of the orchestra were committee members and trustees:
Judy Whittaker Chairman Maureen Idowu Secretary Alice Carter Treasurer Lissie Cawood Jenny Fleming Julia Goodman Colin MacBean Katie Mole David Sadler Mandy Sadler Clive Sieling Frances Yeowart
Bank: Barclays Bank, Henley-on-Thames.
Objects of the charity
The objectives of the society, as stated in the constitution, are 1) to educate the public in the art and science of music in all its aspects by the presentation of concerts and other activities and 2) such other charitable purposes as the committee may from time to time decide.
Powers of the trustees
The powers of the trustees (the Committee) are defined as follows:
- a) raising funds, selling tickets for concerts and inviting contributions, provided that in raising funds the Committee shall not undertake any substantial permanent trading activities and shall conform to any relevant requirements of the law
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b) buying, taking on lease or in exchange any property necessary for the achievement of the objectives, and maintaining it and equipping it for use
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c) borrowing money and charging all or part of the property of the Society with repayment of the money so borrowed, subject to any consents required by law
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d) hiring and paying professional musicians and employing such staff (who are not members of the Society) as are necessary for the proper pursuit of the objectives
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e) co-operating with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the objectives or of similar charitable purposes, and exchanging information and advice with them
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f) establishing or supporting any charitable trusts, associations or institutions formed for all or any of the objectives
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g) appointing and constituting such advisory committees as the Committee shall think fit
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h) cooperating with and supporting Henley Symphony Orchestra Productions Limited (company number 11957773) (the “Production Company”) in furtherance of all or any of the objectives and in particular but without limiting the generality of the foregoing to enter into agreements with the Production Company for it to produce a concert or series of concerts and to pay the production costs in return for a commission fee payable by the Society
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i) provide loans or other financial assistance to the Production Company (whether interest-free or otherwise and whether by instalments or otherwise) if and when required to enable the Production Company to pay production and other expenses under such agreements
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j) doing all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objectives.
Main activities undertaken
The orchestra aims to bring live music to the local community and to provide musical education to its members. The orchestra rehearses weekly at Henley College with a professional Musical Director and leader. Concert venues include Christ Church in Henley-on-Thames and the Hexagon in Reading. At least four concerts are given annually. The orchestra gives concerts, by invitation, in Henley’s twin towns of Leichlingen (Germany), Falaise (France) and Bled (Slovenia).
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year
This report covers the 2022-23 concert season, from September 2022 to July 2023. In its 54[th] season 2022 – 23 the orchestra gave:
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Five public concerts in the UK, and
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One Open Evening for HSO Friends and Business Friends.
The orchestra played the following works:
Sunday 13[th] November 2022 at 5pm Conducted by Jacques Cohen
St Mary’s Church, Henley
Overture: Coriolan Op. 62 Beethoven Cello Concerto Schumann Lydia Hillerudh Cello Symphony No 5 Sibelius Saturday 17[th] December 2022 at 4.30pm Christ Church, Henley Conducted by Stephen Ellery
A short concert for young children – particularly suitable for children aged 2–6 years (younger siblings welcome).
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Saturday 17[th] December 2022 at 6.30 pm Conducted by Stephen Ellery
Christchurch, Henley
Overture: Merry Widow Blue Danube Waltz Two movements from Christmas Eve Suite Harry Potter Waltz Sleigh Ride
Lehar Strauss Rimsky Korsakov Williams Leroy Anderson
Christmas carols
Sunday 26[th] March, 2023 at 7.00 pm Conducted by Leon Bosch
Hexagon, Reading
Vltava Piano Concerto No 5 in Eb Major Op 73 Martin Roscoe Piano Symphony No 2
Smetana Beethoven
Rachmaninov
Thursday 5[th] May 2022 at 7.30pm Open Evening - Conducted by Leon Bosch
Henley College
Sunday 25[th] June, 2023 at 7.30 pm Conducted by Leon Bosch
St Mary’s Church, Henley
Pulcinella Suite Violin Concerto Kristine Balanas Violin Symphony No 1 in C
Stravinsky Beethoven
Beethoven
2022-23 was the first year for HSO since the twenty-seven years under the musical direction of Ian Brown. The orchestra was conducted by three different conductors, Jacques Cohen, Stephen Ellery and Leon Bosch, which represented a major change for the orchestra.
We continued to be able to attract soloists of a high calibre. In November 2022 we welcomed Lydia Hillerudh to play Schumann’s Cello Concerto in St Mary’s Church in Henley. In March 2023, Martin Roscoe joined us in the Hexagon in Reading to play Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 5 in Eb Major Op 73. In June 2023, Kristine Balanas delighted an audience in St Mary’s Church in Henley with her performance of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto.
The orchestra advertised for a Principal Conductor and Music Director in May 2022, for which it received 21 complete applications. A selection panel of the Committee interviewed 9 candidates in July, selecting 6 of them to audition when it returned to rehearsing in September 2022. Leon Bosch was overwhelmingly selected by members of HSO as their preferred candidate, and took up his role with HSO in January 2023. After two very successful concerts in addition to the Open Evening, however, Leon resigned in October 2023, citing the pressure of his other musical commitments. The HSO is therefore working with several conductors during 2023-24, while seeking to appoint a Principal Conductor and Music Director.
Despite the changes in conductor, the orchestra has continued to develop and to expand its repertoire and tackle more demanding works. The standard of the playing of the orchestra continues
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at a high level. The orchestra has travelled several times to Henley’s twin towns in France, Germany and Slovenia.
Financial Review
Reserves policy: To maintain reserves equivalent to one year’s running costs. Further financial details: The accounts of the society for the financial year 2022 / 2023 are appended to this report.
The fixed assets owned by the society include a full set of timpani, staging, lighting, music stands, and a collection of sheet music. While there are no plans for significant expenditure to replace these in the near future, it is recognised that these assets have not recently been revalued, and the figure for fixed assets stated in the accounts is unlikely to represent the current value. This will be addressed by the trustees during the next financial year.
Treasurer’s Report
The gradual return to pre-pandemic audience levels, along with the extension of the enhanced rate of Orchestra Tax Relief, has meant that the 2022-23 financial year has been a great improvement on the previous year.
Henley Symphony Orchestra Productions Ltd (HSOP), registered company number 11957773, was set up in 2019 with two members of the orchestra committee (trustees) as directors of the company, to take advance of HMRC’s Orchestra Tax Relief scheme. The orchestra pays an annual commissioning fee to this subsidiary company covering the costs of putting on concerts, while concert income is retained by the orchestra. This allows the company to claim a rebate of corporation tax on the loss it makes, which is then returned to the orchestra. The rate of tax relief on eligible costs was temporarily increased from 25% to 50% during the covid pandemic, and the 50% rate has now been extended to 1[st] April 2025, with a 35% level for 2025-26 and returning to 25% from spring 2026. We were able to reclaim over £12000 in tax relief for the 2022-23 financial year and overall the orchestra has made a surplus of £2915.
The orchestra remains very grateful to members and friends for their generous support. The orchestra now has the ability to take card payments both in person and online, and it is noted that increasingly people are preferring to pay by card. This has an associated cost in terms of card payment fees, but has a number of administrative advantages as it is easier to keep track of income. As the charity’s income returned to pre-pandemic levels, the accounts have been independently examined and a number of positive changes have been made to the presentation of the accounts as a result.
Signed on behalf of the trustees:
Judy Whittaker, Chairman
Maureen Idowu, Secretary
Date: November 2023
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Statement of Financial Activities
Henley Symphony Orchestra For the year ended 30 April 2023
| Statement of Financial Activities Henley Symphony Orchestra For the year ended 30 April 2023 |
Statement of Financial Activities Henley Symphony Orchestra For the year ended 30 April 2023 |
Statement of Financial Activities Henley Symphony Orchestra For the year ended 30 April 2023 |
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| 2023 2022 |
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| Statement of Financial Activities | ||
| Incoming Resources | ||
| Member Subscriptions 5,635.00 1 6,925.00 |
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| Coffee Sales 144.94 14.00 |
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| Friends Donations 3,945.00 3,690.00 |
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| Business Friends Donations 100.00 500.00 |
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| Donations - Other 704.28 2,630.58 |
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| Donations - Former Friends 440.00 585.00 |
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| Ticket Sales 2356525 897500 2 |
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,. ,. |
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| Programme Sales 679.80 448.30 |
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| Refreshment Sales/Donations 1,039.22 - |
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| Advertising Sales 260.00 - |
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| Other Sales 201.40 3 139.00 3 |
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| Interest Income 225.91 12.39 |
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| Gift Aid 1,802.80 - |
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| Other Revenue 71.09 4 121.23 4 |
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| Total Incoming Resources 38,814.69 24,040.50 Resources expended |
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| HSOP Commissionin Fee 3524426 |
2975387 5 |
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| g ,. ,. |
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| General Expenses 320.03 153.88 |
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| Advertising & Marketing 50.00 6 - |
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| Transport Costs 203.00 - |
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| Card Payment Fees 62.27 13.39 |
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| Subscriptions 20.00 20.00 |
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| Total Resources expended 35,899.56 29,941.14 |
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| Net movement in funds 2,915.13 (5,900.64) |
Notes to the accounts
1. Membership Subscriptions
Historically the accounts have reported Member Subscriptions as being the amounts received in the financial year. HSO Membership year runs from 1 September to 31 August and so some subscriptions received in the financial year overlap two membership years. In order to correct the position, the accounts at 30 April 2023 reflect the fact that £2,255 of Member Subscriptions received in the year to 30 April 2023 relate to a future period (ie after 1 May 2023).
2. Ticket sales
2022 figure does not include ticket sales of £2688.53 paid to HSOP in respect of the Hexagon concert in March 2022. Total ticket sales including this amount were £11,663.53.
3. Other sales
Includes greetings card sales, payment for vocal score hire (Hexagon concert 2022) and payment for audience transport (Hexagon concert 2023).
Henley Symphony Orchestra
HSO SOFA at 30/4/23
Statement of Financial Activities
4. Other revenue
Relating to orchestra party in 2022, surplus held as a restricted fund for the benefit of HSO members.
5. HSOP Commissioning Fee
This includes the costs of producing the year's concerts including rehearsal costs, less the orchestral tax relief claimed, and for 2022, less the income from ticket sales of £2688.53 paid to HSOP as in note 2. Total costs of production for 2023: £48,071, broken down as: commissioning fee £35,244, OTR £12,827. (2022 figures: £41,479, broken down as commissioning fee £29,754, other income £2689, OTR £9036.)
6. Marketing Costs
From March 2023, following advice from Making Music, marketing costs including concert advertising and website are paid by the parent charity HSO rather than the production company, so that they can be zero-rated for VAT, as this VAT relief is not available to the production company.
Henley Symphony Orchestra
HSO SOFA at 30/4/23
Balance Sheet
Henley Symphony Orchestra For the year ended 30 April 2023
| Balance Sheet Henley Symphony Orchestra For the year ended 30 April 2023 |
Balance Sheet Henley Symphony Orchestra For the year ended 30 April 2023 |
Balance Sheet Henley Symphony Orchestra For the year ended 30 April 2023 |
Balance Sheet Henley Symphony Orchestra For the year ended 30 April 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 2022 |
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| Balance Sheet | |||
| Current Assets | |||
| Cash at bank and at hand | |||
| HSO Barclas Business Current 1001794 |
242696 | ||
| y ,. ,. |
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| Barclays Business Deposit 3,327.41 5,819.93 |
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| COIF Charities Deposit Fund 10,469.68 15,251.25 |
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| Petty Cash 77.60 271.00 |
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| Total Cash at bank and at hand 23,892.63 23,769.14 |
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| HSO Loan to HSOP 12,198.05 8,442.31 |
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| Accounts Receivable 2000 18410 2 |
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. . |
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| Total Current Assets 36,110.68 32,395.55 Fixed Assets |
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| Fixed Assets 316200 |
316200 3 |
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,. ,. |
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| Total Fixed Assets 3,162.00 3,162.00 |
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| Total Assets 39,272.68 35,557.55 Creditors: amounts falling due within oneyear |
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| Accounts Payable 50.00 - |
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| Income in Advance 2,300.00 4 1,550.00 4 |
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| Total Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 2,350.00 1,550.00 |
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| Total Net Assets or Liabilities 36,922.68 34,007.55 |
Reconciliation of Funds
Total funds brought forward at 1st May 34,007.55 Net movement in funds 2,915.13 Total funds carried forward at 30th April 36,922.68
Notes
1. Restricted Fund
Current account balance at 30.4.23 includes £192.32 held as a restricted fund for the benefit of HSO members.
2. Accounts Receivable
The 2022 accounts receivable figure is broken down as Accounts Receivable £392.50, less credit notes of £208.40 held by audience members relating to a cancelled concert in 2021. Any remaining credit notes at 30.4.23 are now shown under income in advance.
3. Fixed Assets
The orchestra owns various fixed assets, including a set of timpani, sheet music and a rostrum. The figure shown here is historical and the trustees are aware that a more recent valuation is required; this will be addressed in the coming year.
4. Income in Advance
Balance sheet and rec of funds 30/4/2023 Henley Symphony Orchestra 30 Oct 2023 Page 1 of 2
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