2023-07-31-accounts - City Of Southampton Orchestra

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CSO AGM 2023 Report of the Chair

Introduction

Welcome to this year’s CSO Chair’s report. The last year has been truly ‘back to business’ with some wonderful and challenging music in familiar settings, and we have been able to mix socially in ways that had been impossible for too long.

We are also beginning to catch up on plans that inevitably had to be delayed during the Covid period. As you would expect, much of this report is about recording thanks to everyone, as well as the achievements of the past year.

There are a number of questions embedded in the report below. I hope you will read fire enough to answer some of them!

Money

One of our biggest challenges during the last year has been to stabilise our finances. This is covered in more detail in our Treasurer’s report for the AGM, but I want to talk a bit about the context here.

We are not alone in facing some short-term financial difficulties: many similar organisations are struggling with rising costs, the need to compete for audiences and financial losses during the Covid period. We also wanted to be able to celebrate our 50[th] anniversary. But the cumulative effect has been a need to dip into our reserves to balance the books, and that cannot be allowed to continue. Moreover, not all concerts are breaking even, and some make a significant loss.

The committee have spent much time considering the challenge. We have (reluctantly) agreed to increase subscriptions and ticket prices modestly and in line with other orchestras, but also wanted to avoid relying too heavily on this, without looking at cost-cutting and other ways of generating income. We also do not want to cut costs in ways that could be detrimental to our ambition to play exciting large-scale works.

Under the stewardship of our Treasurer, guided by many of the ideas that you have had, we have made excellent progress, cutting our deficit significantly and moving to breakeven or better for 2024. We have deliberately taken a measured approach to avoid over-compensating and whilst we once again made a loss during the last year (see the financial reports), this was considerably smaller.

We are now confident that with a focus on controlling costs, filling concert halls and keeping subscriptions and prices in line with inflation, by the end of 2024 we will not only be solvent but able to make contributions to our reserves.

Concerts and Rehearsals

We’ve had six concerts over the last year, each contrasting and offering new challenges and exciting music to rehearse and perform. We have had, in general, good, or excellent audience numbers, although there is still more to do in expanding our concert marketing.

This year we have also renewed John Traill’s contract– it’s been three years since the new arrangements were made and we are delighted we are still working with John as our Principal Conductor.

A summary of our concerts are as follows:

Family Concert, January 2023

We opened the year with our any family concerts – ‘Teddy Bears’ Picnic’ theme – at Central Hall. As ever, hugely successful, enjoyable, and popular, with John Traill and Phil Cheesman, and the New Forest School of Dance. We had good audience numbers, lots of interaction and a lot of fun. Bernie was in his element of course!

March, Thornden Hall

Then in March, under the baton of Dominic Grier, we played at Thornden Hall (the roof finally fixed), with an English concert: with Holst Fugal Overture, Butterworth ‘A Shropshire Lad’, Elgar Symphony No. 1, and the lovely Gipps Horn Concerto with the amazing Anne-Marie Federle soloist, able to make the French horn sing in any register.

May Concert, Romsey Abbey

In May, we were back in Romsey Abbey with John Traill conducting. We played Hindemith Symphonic Metamorphoses, Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 and Strauss Oboe Concerto with Ewan Millar, our hugely acclaimed soloist whose playing was as inspirational as it was beautiful and accomplished.

July, Romsey Abbey

Our season ended once again in Romsey Abbey, in collaboration with the Romsey Choral Society, with the Ethel Smyth Mass in D. This was an exciting and unusual programme, and although not financially a success, it was good to re-establish our relationship with Romsey Choral Society.

September, ‘Music in the City’, Art Gallery Southampton

In September we had a brilliant MITC concert under the baton of Ian Partridge – a super programme of chamber music and separate brass set. As usual the Art Gallery was packed, and it showed how well we play chamber music as well as large orchestral works.

November, Thornden Hall

Then just a few days ago, (but after I drafted this!) an exciting and challenging programme of Nielsen’s second symphony, Brahms Tragic Overture and Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2, with Luke Thomas.

I am not going to tempt fate by writing anything here, but from the rehearsals, I am personally looking forward to the concert hugely.

Open Evening

We held our members’ open evening in July, the second time of doing so. This has proved to be a great opportunity to talk about plans, ideas, and to get member’s feedback in a relaxed and unscripted conversation.

I’ve already summarised the discussions that took place in the TakeNote newsletter, but I do want again to thank so many people for turning up, as well as for the wide variety of ideas. A number of these ideas, we have already considered, such as in the way we are planning on finances and subscriptions, rehearsals, and programming.

Members Web Pages

There has been much achieved during the year, but the launch of members Webpages is a notable and overdue development. These new secure webpages will give our members a new way of keeping in touch, finding out about the orchestra, our plans, rehearsal schedules, archives, expectations of players, and more.

With huge thanks to Debbie Hickson, who has put in so much work, with support from Ian, we are launching the web pages at the AGM.

The password for members access will change at intervals.

Committee and other Roles

The CSO can only function with a lot of help from everyone. The support that members bring is huge and varied – there are just too many people to thank. But you know who you are and the help you bring, often when you have many other commitments, busy lives, families, and work commitments. There is a phrase: “if you want something done, give it to a busy person”.

We always need more help – from the Committee, through the Programming Committee, Friends, Stewards, the Newsletter, social activity, marketing, organising, and enabling events, maintenance of equipment, the website, subscriptions, and membership, organising music, transportation and unloading for concerts – it’s a long list, which has been shared.

I would ask everyone if they can spare a bit of time. We always need help, and there are some roles that still need filling. Just speak to me or a committee member. It does not need to be onerous or a formal committee job (but we do need some understudies there too!).

We also need a new Chair since I have decided to step down at the 2024 AGM. I’m very happy to help someone to prepare to take on the role or to talk about what it entails.

Social and Other Activities

We are beginning to plan social events this coming year. A curry evening perhaps and Christmas event for starters. But I’d welcome your ideas about what more you would like to do. Some players go to the pub for a quick drink at the Belmore after rehearsals – just pop along and join in (but don’t forget to register your numberplate if you park there, or you’ll get a fine!).

Members have also suggested we could do more playing by taking on smaller more informal events, representing the CSO and potentially raising a bit of income. This could include playing in quartets of chamber groups. We did this more in the past and will try to get this moving again in 2024.

We played ‘Yeoman of the Guard’ this year with Paul Spanton. He approached us to ask if we would be willing, for a donation, to allow him to conduct us at a special rehearsal – as a family memory. Small things like this remind us of our community roots.

Doing this on a more organised and frequent basis does depend on a few factors however:

Someone to organise and keep records (more help!)
Agreeing some basic etiquette if there is formal representation of the CSO, and establishing standards needed
Sorting out a list of those who would be willing or keen to play in extra events and what form (quartets, small groups etc)
Marketing ourselves as available and what we do and how to commission us
Prices, costs, any insurance, or music hire issues.

We will start by gathering the level of interests and updating details on the website – so please can I ask for your feedback. And if someone would be willing to work with me to develop this, please let me know.

Marketing, Brand and Communications

A priority for the coming year is to develop our marketing and wider ‘brand awareness’. We have a strong group supporting our marketing in various ways, led ably by Wayne Landon.

But we do need your ideas and support. Everyone needs to do their bit in promoting concerts for example – posters, word of mouth, social media. One challenge is widening our appeal and our visibility; our concerts often have same audience members, and to widen our audiences we need to differentiate ourselves from other orchestras.

What do You think? I’d like to ask everyone for views on this topic in general – what more we can do, and what should be our expectations of members to do ‘their bit’? We have a meeting set up to consider this (you would be welcome to join or just share your thoughts by email).

I’m delighted that Louise has taken up the challenge of wider sponsorship and grants coordination. It is far from easy to secure money from new sources, but there is an opportunity, especially as we raise our profile, and if everyone supports Louise by providing openings, and ideas.

We will continue to reach out to other organisations, including the City Council and related charities, such as the Countess of Munster Musical Trust who support and fund outstanding young soloists.

It would also be good to get more feedback on CSO orchestra communications from you all in general:

Do you hear enough from myself and the rest of the Committee?
What do you want to read in the Newsletter and how can we get more contributors?
How should we use the website and new members pages?

Programming Committee

The Programming Committee has perhaps the most important function in the orchestra in setting the repertoire for the following season, and it is no mean feat to balance the range of competing interests and constraints.

I do want to record special thanks to our Programming

Committee this year for their patience and hard work. Penny agreed to take on the Chair of the Programming Committee just at the point that we needed to contain costs, and this resulted in more ‘to-ing and fro-ing’ than we’ve had before in finalising the programme. I know that this was frustrating and delayed our planning.

We got there in the end, and the main Committee has now set a budget for the Programming Committee and some guidance to ensure that have as much free-reign as possible, and to avoid the issues and delays we had this year in setting the forward programme – for which I take full responsibility.

I also want to record thanks to Sue, who after more than 10 years as our librarian, has asked to step down next year. Sue has done an amazing job, ensuring we always have the music we need. She is very happy to support someone over the next 12 months, with a formal handover in November 2024. Please do give some thought to whether you would like to take this on.

A Word About Standards

We’ve spent a bit of time over the last couple of years emphasising various aspects of playing and rehearsing etiquette (you’ll have read about this in the Newsletter), and rebuilding playing standards.

After returning to playing after Covid, the Committee felt it was helpful to remind everyone about what is expected – there are articles in TakeNote, and information on the new member webpages.

Some of this is about rehearsal and concert etiquette, some about the need for private practice to embed what is covered at rehearsals, as well as rehearsal attendance (especially later in the season). Our aim is to be the best we can be, with the capability to tackle a wide and varied repertoire of sometimes challenging programmes.

At the same time, we are an amateur orchestra, and our main motivation is enjoying the pleasure of being able to play music together. I hope that we have generally got that balance right but do say if you feel that this needs more consideration (speak to myself or the Orchestra Manager).

Bernie’s Vision

Bernie wanted to add a sizeable section to this report to brighten it up, lighten the tone and generally take over. I’ve allowed him a small space only, whilst recognising that as our designated mascot and dignitary his words of wisdom are hugely venerated. This is wot he rote:

“ Hey there! Don’t hibernate your sense of humour, it’s beary important. Life’s too short to be grizzly all the time. Just bear with it, and don’t forget to paw-ty once in a while. And remember, a bear hug can solve just about anything! ”

Bernie, November 2024

Well, there you go… what can I say (in so few words)?!

Looking Forward to 2024

The last year has been a real success in many ways, following a difficult period. We have truly picked up the reigns and pace of change and set a future agenda.

With the musical programme set, and many plans in progress to take the CSO forward, I hope you feel as enthusiastic as I do about the year ahead.

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Independent Examiner's Report OD the Accounts I report to the Ttllstees of the City of Southampton Orchestra on the accounts for the twelve months ended 31 July 2023 set out on the preceding pages. Respective RespoDsibilitie5 of Tte25 and Examlner's The Trustee5 consider that an audii is noi required for this year (undet section 43(2) of the Charities Acl 1993 (the Aci) and thai an independent ek4m1On is ne&1ed. It is my responsibility (o: Examine (he accounts (under Section 43 of the Act): To follow Ihe procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 43(7)(b) of the Act). and To state whether panicular mallers have come to my attention. Basis of Independent Examiner's Sthteent My examination was carTied oui In accordance with Genera] Directions given by the Chariry Cofflmissioners. An examination includes a review of the accouniing records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presenied with those records. li also includes consideraiion of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the Trjsiees concernin8 any such matters. The proCedUS undenaken do noi provide all the evidence thai would be required in an audit and consequendy I do noi expre&s an audit opinion on the accounts. Independent Examiner's Statement In the COUTse of my examination, no maIr has come to my allenuon: l. which gives me reasonable cause io believe thai in any maierial respeci the Thisiees have not met the requiremens io ensure thai: proper accounting records are kept (in accordance with section 41 of the Act); accounts are prepared which ag* with the accounung records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act: or 2. to which. in my opinion, should be drawn in order to enable a proper underswiding of the accounts to be reached. Peter RE Hanlon FCEB 35 Horseshoe Drive Romsey S0517rp 28. Sepiember 2023

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