LAMBETH ORCHESTRA ANNUAL REPORT FOR FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING 31 AUGUST 2025
Lambeth Orchestra is a registered charity, number 274831.
The charity’s current trustees are: Nina Swann Chair Dean Minot Treasurer Sarah Philips Secretary and Librarian Michael Griffiths Rachael Morris Javier Aguirre-Diaz Gill Bird Jude Lewis
Ex officio members of the management committee: Peter Selwyn Principal Conductor Alan Thorogood Leader Maria Vizitui Orchestra Manager
The charity’s object as set out in its constitution is “ to promote, develop and maintain the education of its members and the public in an appreciation of the art and science of music in all its aspects by the presentation of public orchestral concerts and by such other ways as the Orchestra through its committee shall determine from time to time”. The constitution further provides that the orchestra shall, as far as is consistent with that objective, pursue a policy of (a) providing good orchestral music at affordable prices to an audience in and around Lambeth who might not otherwise attend orchestral concerts, and (b) giving opportunities to amateur players to perform music which they might not otherwise have a chance to play.
To these ends, the orchestra engages the services of a professional principal and guest conductor and leader together with soloists and occasional extra instrumental players according to the requirements of specific programmes. The orchestra further engages the services of an orchestra manager in consideration for a small honorarium, to assist in pursuing the above object and policy.
The orchestra’s primary sources of income are subscriptions from members, gift aid on donations and subscriptions, Orchestral Tax Relief, income raised from ticket sales and fees for engagement by choral societies, other external organisations and individuals.
2024-25 Season Recap
There were five own-promotion concerts this season, shared between our Principal and Guest Conductors, alongside two choral engagements – Dvorak Stabat Mater with our friends at Hackney Festival Chorus in April 2025, and Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius with Croydon Bach Choir, a new relationship.
As the orchestral finances continued to be in a healthy position, and to maintain a high standard of music-making, we continued with a schedule of 7 rehearsals (where dates allow) per own-
promotion concert. We also returned to St John’s Waterloo and bookended the season with concerts at our spiritual home, All Saint’s West Dulwich.
We had planned to open the season with another Study Weekend on Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring in September 2024, but an unforeseen diary clash for our guest conductor led us to postpone plans until Autumn 2025.
We opened the season at All Saint’s West Dulwich on 26[th] October 2024 with a ‘An Evening of Symphonic Slavic Masterpieces’ conducted by Principal Guest Conductor, Michael Cobb. We were joined by soloist Ariana Kashefi for Dvorak’s Cello Concerto, alongside Janecek Adagio and Tchaikovsky Symphony No 2. (112 in the house).
Rehearsals for this concert were held in the hall of St Anne and All Saint’s Church, as nearby Wheatsheaf Hall was unavailable. While this new venue was affordable, well-lit and warm, with good kitchen facilities, we felt the acoustic was too boomy for a permanent move.
Our second own promotion concert (21 Dec 2024) was a return to St Gabriel’s Pimlico, for ‘King Edward Meets the Tsar’; a programme of Coleridge Taylor’s Christmas Overture, RimskyKorsakov Suite from the Golden Cockerel and Elgar’s Symphony No.1. (98 in the house). Choosing a date so close to Christmas had an adverse effect on both player availability and ticket sales, something to bear in mind for future scheduling.
In January 2025 we learned the sad news that our former Music Director Dr Christopher Fifield had died. The Orchestra gave an impromptu performance of Elgar’s Enigma in the following rehearsal, put out the statement below, and planned a fuller tribute later in the season. Many of the members, past and present, attended Chris’ funeral on 25 February and Suzie Palmer (former Chair and principal bassoon) spoke movingly on behalf of the Orchestra.
The Orchestra was saddened to learn of the death of our dear friend Christopher Fifield in January 2025. Chris was the conductor and music director of Lambeth Orchestra for 40 years, from 1982 to 2022. He was integral in establishing our reputation for quality performance, championing forgotten gems in the repertoire, and offering a platform for many young up-and-coming soloists. He was a very fine musician and his concerts always felt memorable, inspiring, spontaneous and emotional - he encouraged us, lifted us to new heights, and gently scooped us up if things went adrift. He regarded us as his family and loved us because we loved music; we will miss him dearly.
Thank you, Chris, for all the music and all the memories. Rest in peace, Maestro.
For our first performance of 2025 on 8th February we returned to St John the Divine, Kennington where we’d performed Tosca the previous season, for Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. We worked with the church’s adult and consort choirs, as well as Sheen Gate Choir and Bexley Choir, conducted by Peter. The concert was dedicated to the memory of Ben Thapa – Ben was due to be singing the tenor solo in this concert, and was also the Music Director of Sheen Gate Choir. He passed away after a short illness in September 2024. This was a very well-attended concert with the choir and Ben’s friends bringing the audience to almost 200, and well over 100 performers.
We had a busy time over the Easter period with two choral engagements; a new relationship with the Croydon Bach Choir (Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius with conductor Tim Horton on 22 March) and a return to play with our friends at Hackney Festival Chorus and their French Exchange choir (Dvorak’s Stabat Mater, conducted by John Andrews on 13 April.
Thanks to members who commit to playing in these additional choral concerts – they provide valuable earned income for the Orchestra allowing us to put on concerts with large-scale repertoire, in more expensive venues such as St John’s Waterloo, QEH, etc without needing to increase subs or ticket process.
With Easter being so late in 2025, we chose not to schedule a concert in the school holidays, instead opting for a prolonged rehearsal period to tackle some more challenging repertoire for Concert 4 on 10 May. We performed Mahler’s monumental 6[th] Symphony, alongside Strauss’ Five Orchestral songs, with Charlotte Kennedy (soprano) as soloist, conducted by Peter. This was again at St John’s Waterloo, and sold well with 154 in the audience.
(an action shot of percussionist Mick Doran executing one of the mighty hammer blows in rehearsal!)
Before rehearsals began for our final concert of the season, we scheduled two weeks of repertoire sessions, a chance for members to explore new pieces and for us to work with different conductors. We played through Franck’s Symphony in D minor with Elisabeth Streichart (former mentee of Peter) and in the second session, Britten’s Four Sea Interludes with our guest conductor, Michael Cobb.
Our fifth and final concert of the season - A Summer Concert of Folk Tales and Dances – was held on 19 July, back at All Saint’s West Dulwich. It seemed fitting to return to our spiritual home to close the season, and to dedicate this final concert to Christopher Fifield. We welcomed many of Chris’ family and friends, as well as past members of the orchestra. Alongside our programmed rep we included the Prelude and Angel’s Farewell from Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius, sung by mezzo Harriet Williams. Peter conducted us in a programme comprising Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite, Kodaly Peacock Variations, and Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances. (111 in the house)
Other 2024-25 News
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Bid farewell to Principal Viola Alex Dottridge who stepped down at the end of the season, and was succeeded by Jonathan Welch (former LSO player).
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Welcomed new members across all sections, especially in the strings and lower brass
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New rehearsal venue trialled (St Anne and All Saints’ Church Hall) as Wheatsheaf Hall was unavailable for the autumn term
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Milly Bowen moved away to the US, and Jane Eyles steps back from leading responsibilities so we welcomed back Roland as principal cello
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Javier Aguirre-Diaz and Mia Scott (and friends) breathed new life and humour into the LO Instagram account
Future Plans and other updates
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Snape Maltings concert planned for 16 May 2026 with Geoff Lavery, Beccles Choral Society and Phoenix Singers with Vaughan Williams programme to Elgar Dream of Gerontius . Likely to be our last with Geoff and the Suffolk choirs as he is retiring as Music Director
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plans to perform Mahler 2 in Cadogan Hall in May 2027
Thanks
Thank you to the committee for your support and hard work making everything happen, especially to Maria Vizitiu, Orchestral Manager and to the section principals for fixing and general herding, to Sarah for the library and minute taking, Michael and Rachael for programmes and fliers, Javier and Mia for social media, and to everyone who does the little jobs that make the orchestra run smoothly such as ferrying equipment between venues, taking their turn on the tea rota, concert day Front of House and bar, furniture movers and music sorters. Thank you to our other volunteers and supporters who I may have inadvertently missed out!
Thank you to Alan our leader for his continuing hard work and inspirational playing.
Finally, thanks to both Peter and Michael for their leadership, humour and energy, and to you all for your commitment, practice, audiences and hard work.
Signed:
Nina Swann, Chair, Lambeth Orchestra, April 2026
Lambeth Orchestra Treasurer’s Report 24/25
Lambeth Orchestra finished the 2024/25 season in a healthy financial position with a general reserve of £37,809, having achieved a positive net income of £2,154. This was a little larger than the modest profit budgeted for by the committee.
Member subscriptions comprised a little over a third of the Orchestra’s income, tax relief a little over a quarter, and ticket and drink sales a little under a quarter. The Orchestra was also fortunate to have been hired twice by choirs in the 2024/25 season, further boosting its income. That the Orchestra has ended the year in a healthy financial position doesn’t mean we can be complacent about the Orchestra’s funding. It’s important to continue to do what you can to promote ticket sales and consent to Gift Aid for your subs where you are able.
Prudent financial management and the maintaining of a healthy financial cushion allows the committee to occasionally plan some more ambitious events, such as the Cadogan Hall concert scheduled for 2027. Or to absorb the impact of events beyond its control, such as having to switch to a more costly venue at short notice.
Dean Minot Treasurer
23 April 2026
LAMBETH ORCHESTRA
ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDING 31ST AUGUST 2025
BALANCE SHEET AT 31ST AUGUST 2025
| CURRENT ASSETS Debtors (a) Prepayments Cash in hand Bank CURRENT LIABILITIES (Payable within 1 year) Creditors and accruals Net Assets FUNDS General Fund |
31-Aug-25 £ 15,722 0 0 22,087 37,809 0 37,809 37,809 |
31-Aug-24 £ 11,643 0 0 24,012 35,654 0 |
|---|---|---|
| 35,654 | ||
| 35,654 |
LAMBETH ORCHESTRA
ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDING 31ST AUGUST 2025
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
| INCOME Takings from Concerts Drinks Donations & Fundraising Members' Subscriptions Gift Aid Fees received from Choirs Coffee Sales Advertising Other Bank Interest TOTAL INCOME EXPENDITURE Direct Charitable Expenditure: Commissioning fee Other Expenditure: other TOTAL EXPENDITURE NET INCOME FOR THE PERIOD |
Year to 31.08.2025 £ 8,571 1,415 448 14,946 2,655 5,251 79 0 0 0 33,365 30,691 520 31,211 2,154 |
Year to 31.08.2024 £ 11,381 2,040 1,061 15,243 2,965 6,735 57 0 2,005 0 |
|---|---|---|
| 41,487 | ||
| 38,027 0 |
||
| 38,027 | ||
| 3,460 |
Notes to the accounts:
The charity Lambeth Orchestra Fund (LO) controls a production company Lambeth Orchestra Concerts Limited (LOCL), to facilitate the claiming of Orchestral Tax Relief. Direct concert expenditure is incurred by LTCL. LO funds LTCL via a loan and a commissioning fee. At year end 31 Aug 2025, the loan balance between the two entities was £11794.
(a) Debtors comprise the loan balance, Gift Aid owed LO by HMRC at year end, plus some overdue members subs.
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
| Section A Independent Examiner’s Report |
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report |
|---|---|
| Report to the trustees/ members of On accounts for the year ended Set out on pages Responsibilities and basis of report Independent examiner's statement |
Charity Name Lambeth Orchestra Fund 31 August 2025 Charity no (if any) 274831 6 to 8 (Statement Of Financial Activities and Balance Sheet) ) I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 August 2025. As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: |
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Date: 23 March 2026 Signed: Name: Gillian R Barrett, B Mus (Hons), FCA Relevant professional Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 34 Greenfield Avenue, Surbiton, Surrey. KT5 9HR
Annual General Meeting Thursday 30 April 2026, 8.45pm- 9.05pm (in rehearsal break)
1. WELCOME and APOLOGIES
Nina Swann, Chair, welcomed the fifty or so members at the rehearsal to the AGM, explaining the date had been changed by a week to ensure the fullest turnout. Apologies had been received from Javier Aguirre-Díaz.
2. MINUTES of previous AGM
The Minutes of the previous AGM held on Thursday 1 May 2025 had been previously circulated by email to all members of the orchestra, and were approved.
3. CHAIR’S REPORT
The Chair, Nina Swann, had previously circulated her report on the 2024-25 year, with five concerts with seven rehearsals each; and two choral concerts, with one rehearsal before the day, with Hackney Festival Chorus and Croydon Bach Choir; and two repertoire sessions, with Michael Cobb and Elisabeth Streichart. Audiences were above 100 except for December which proved to be too close to Christmas for some players and audience. The February concert of Beethoven 9 secured an audience of 200. In December, Chris Fifield died, the orchestra's previous conductor of 40 years. Many players attended his funeral, which included a past recording of the orchestra playing part of Elgar 1. The final concert of the season in West Dulwich was dedicated to his memory with many of his family and friends present to hear Elgar’s Prelude and Angel's Farewell from the Dream of Gerontius as a tribute. Looking forwards, in May 2026 the orchestra would return to Snape for the fifth time under Geoff Lavery who will then be retiring from the choirs. The proposed programme for 2026-27 had been emailed to members including Mahler 2 at the Cadogan Hall.
The Chair thanked the committee for their support and leading on finance, the website, music hire, programmes, fliers, social media, concert day activities, and Maria Vizitiu, Orchestral Manager for sorting venues and logistics and all the section leaders for fixing players, and all those who have been on the rota for rehearsal teas, or concert day front of house and bar, and players for practising and all who have moved furniture. Finally she thanked Alan Thorogood, the Leader and the two conductors, Peter Sewyn and Michael Cobb for their expert shepherding of players into impressive orchestral performances. A vote of thanks was made to the Chair for all her hard work pulling everything together throughout the year.
4. TREASURER’S REPORT
Dean Minot, the Treasurer, noted that a copy of the accounts and his report had been circulated. He highlighted key points and answered questions. Since Covid the orchestra had two sets of accounts, one for concerts which can claim orchestral tax relief; and these were consolidated in the presentation. Financially, the Orchestra had had a good year, with some high audiences and bar takings and income from two choral concerts though with a slight reduction from members’ subscriptions, and tax relief, ending the financial year with positive net income of £2,154, increasing the health fund of savings for future major events.
5. ELECTIONS OF COMMITTEE FOR 2026-7
All the existing committee was willing to stand again except for the resignation of Javier Aguirre-Diaz due to other commitments. All were separately and properly proposed and seconded and voted for by the members present: Nina Swann (Chair), Dean Minot (Treasurer), Sarah Phillips (Secretary & Librarian), Michael Griffiths, Rachael Morris, Gill Bird, Judith Lewis. One new member was voted onto the Committee, Mia Scott. The committee play across all the sections of the orchestra.
6. MATTERS ARISING/AOB
- Setting up and leaving rehearsals - Rachael Morris
The committee does need more help to ensure successful rehearsals and concerts by taking out and putting away chairs. It should not be the same few people each week but a shared activity across the c60 players not an individual burden. For each rehearsal help is needed to take out and return to the container outside the Wheatsheaf the music crate, tea urn, conductor's stand, podium and baffles.
- Additional income through merchandise - Nigel Campbell
Nigel recalled the successful 40th birthday pencils with small magnets on and suggested scope to raise income though sale of others such as collapsible mugs etc. The Committee would investigate.