CHARITY COMMISSION I FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Trustees. Annual Report for the period From I Sep 2023 To 31 Aug 2024 Charlty name: Frlends of Southampton Youth Orchestras Charlty reglstration number. 283789 Objectives and Activities Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its goveming document P¥81.17 The aim of the Society is to advance the musical education of student5 at schools and colleges in the Southampton region, by the provision of facilities and lunds for the Southampton Youth Orchestras which are not nDmally provided by Southafll ton Cit Council. The Society raises lunds through concerts and other means to enhance the activities of Southampton Youth Orchestra5 for example the production of concerts. support to tuition, music and instrumènt costs and support to orchestra tours. Tlie report describes the activities undertaken by the Society during the year, and confimis that t￿SteeS have had regard to the Charlty Commission guidance on public benefiL Summary of Ihe main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefil, in particular, ihe activities. projects or services identified in the accounts. Pwa 1.17 1.19 Statement confinning whether the trustees have had regard to the guidahce issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit Pwa 1.18 Achievements and Perforniance 2023-24 Activities The academic year 202>2024 has been a strong year for all the ensembles of the Southampton Youth Orchestras pyramid. As FSYO it has been our pleasure to support the young people in their musical endeavors and a privilege to hear them perform at the various rAm￿rtS over the year. The highlight of the year for the Friends was the pyramid concert on 3rd Februaru at Central Hall. All ensembles gave a strong perfomiance. As the Friends it was our pleasure to support the ￿mbIned string players from all groups to perform Fiddlers Hill. This was an astounding accomplishment. We managed to make a profit for the concert, showing that there is strong support for our young musicians from friends and family. It was good to have the rna￿ in attendance, and she was impressed with the standard of musicianship. This year the Friends have supported the ensembles with equipment purchases. At the beginning of the academic year we purchased 50 music stands for use at Cantell school and 50 stsnd lights for use during concerts. We joined together with the other Friends groups to purchase So good quliaty music stands to be kept at Richard Taunton. We have paid for instruments to be serviced so that they can continue to be enjoyed by many players in the years to come. In addition to music equiptnent and purthases. the Friends have continued to help provide music eXperien￿S for the y(xJng people in the ensembles. In January we contributed to the SYS trip to Fairthome Manor. In the summer temi we fijnded a trip for SYSISYCS to go to Boumemouth and see the Fuliones play. We also funded a trip for SYO to travel to Devizes to play at a music festival. In addition, the Friends supported the young musicians who receive Pupil premium to attend the Fairthome Manor trip and the SYOISYCS trip to France by paying 113 of the cost for these students. Public Benefrt Our Y￿rk supports Music education. enabling childTen to express themselves and enjoy themselves. Orchestral participation is an ex￿lIent framewo￿ wtthin which children improve their social skills. The concerts, especFally the pyramid concert in which all orchestras participate, inspire Ihe younger thildren to achieve higher levels of performance. Musical Director's Reports Elgar Strlngs Chris Nichols With the closure of Acom Strings. all the chIld￿n left without an ensemble were welcomed into Elgar Strings. giving us a solid 35 members to start the year. This was also my first chance to explore music for an ensemble playing above Grade 1. Using some of the remaining Acom budget, I purchased plenty of new music for the year ahead. Elgar Strings gave their first perfomiance on Monday, 13th November, during our regular rehearsal time. We played a mix of late-Acom pieces and Elgar classics. all selecte(I to develop the students, beginner ensemble skills. Among the highlights were 'Jack in the Box" and a simple arrangement of "Pachelbel's Canon". On 3rd February, Elgar Strings opened the annual Orchestra's PyTamid cOn￿rt with a beaub'ful arrangement of "Greensleeves." We also introduced two new pieces: "Speed Force," which challenged the group to maintain control through fast quaver passages. and .1 Spy.. a cinematic piece Usbng different string techniques to tell a story. Later. we joined the other ensembles for a performance of Jeff Moore's folk-inspired "Fiddler's Hill" This was an amazing experience for the players. and many of them continued humming the themes fr(xn the piece f(x weeks after4var(11 In mid-march. we perfonned a joint concert wilh Booml and AiTplay. Elgar played five pieces. including a freely arranged version of the traditional American tune "Rocky Mountain.. the Canadian tune -Land of the Sifver Birth." and -Robot Factory.. which used speoal effects to create a me(*anical soundscape. We then came together with the other groups for a massed wforrnance of Sarah Watfs "Movie Buste We dosed the year with a joint concert alongside SYS on 24th June. This was a fantsstic opportunity to showcase everything we had worked on throughout the year, both technically and musicalty. Our program induded three newly arranged pieces: a suite from the third Pirates of the Caribbean film, Michael Jackson's "Thriller,. and Bill Withers, "Lean on Me." We also played Brian Balmages. "Mind Game5. an eerie piece that introduced sliding low first fingers into the main hamiony. It was a lot of fun, and it quickly became 8 favorite in orchestra! I would like to say a huge thank you io Zoe Hunting for giving me Ihe opportunity to direct Elgar Strings, and for all of her 5UPPOrt in Tunning the ensernble. Your assistance. as always. makes this a real pleasure. A big thank you also to the Friends for their inuedible support of all the ensembles. From helping us purchase music and equipment to providing financial support for sludents now enjoying Elgar Strings, you've made it possible for many who otherwise would not have access to 1-2-1 or small group le%￿s. Southampton Youth Strlngs Christa Porter 23124 was a vintage year for SYS. As I reported at the last AGM. SYS started the year with 40 members and wi on a very creditable infonnal firsl concert before the October half-temi. The orchestra played 6 pieces that they had leame(l in 6 weeks alongside 10 solo perfonnances by members of the orchestra. We were fortunate in having quite a strong viola seciion this year with Iwo 1st study viola players. 4 violinist volunteers who took tums supporting the virAa section" Charlie from SYCS who was sent to join us by his teacher who wanted him to have some viola experience" and Will Tuffrey was volunteering with us as part of his Gold D of E award. We also had 4 regular cellsts and 3 basses so it was a nicely balanced orchestra. Once the COn￿rt was over and the orchestra had settled down. we were able to get our quartets up and running again under Will's supervision. We were able to give 16 members the Chan￿ to play in 4 quartets and eath quartet prepared a couple of pieces ready to play in our Easter concert. In the mean4irne we had the Fairthome trip and the Pyramid concert to prepare for. I was keen for us to do a complete perfomance of the Toy Syrnphony at our summer concert but wanted to try out the last movement at Fairthome to see if it was feasible. This movement is played through three times, each time faster than the b'me b8ftw8. Fairthome was an ideal opportuntty to work on playing fast so I combined the Mozart with a selection of short fast pieces and we had a lot of fun leaming how to manage the speeds required. Our trip to Fairthome. supported by the Friends, was attended by 16 children and was staffed by Chris and Katie Nichols and msself. As usual, that meant Chris and I could njn two separate thamber groups where pupils had to work wthout a conductor. and we were also able to work on a folk tune under Chris, guidan￿. The Pyramid concert was the week after Fairthome and we played a selection of three English Folk Songs and a couple of numbers from Fiddler on the Roof as well as joining in the massed performance of all the Pyramid strings in Fiddler's Hill which was quite a feat. This year we teamed up T￿￿ng0 and Los Twangoliios. the 2 guitsr groups, for our Easter ConcerL SYS played the complete medley from the Fiddler on the Roof arrangement as well as anarrangement of Haydn's Surprise movement from his symphony and the Hallelujah tune from Shrek. Our quartets played splendidly and we said thank you and good bye to Will who had finished his year with us. The year ended with our joint Summer concert with EhJar Strings. I wanted our harp player to experience some chamber music so Adrian ran a trio of violin. harp and bass through the summer lerm arKI they were able to perfomi a (x)uple of pieces at the concert by O'carolan. We did indeay manage a complete perfomance of Leopold Mozart's Toy Symphony with 6 guest sol¢ists: Chris and Katie, Will. Nancy and her son Simon and Aarya playing the toys., and played Libertango and MyGrandfather's Clock. We said farewell to 15 membets of the orchestra who were ready to move upto SYCS and the two orchestras finished the year with a spirited joint perfornian￿ of Hoe Down byGeorgia Vale. 202412025 has started with a smaller (Kchestra of 27 players with only one 1 st study viola but we are progressing nicety with a suc{￿$fvl fir* concert already under our belts and are now preparing for the Pyramid concert and our annual trip to Fairthome. I would like to thank the Friends for their support through the last year. We are very grateful for their attendance at our concerts. for their help with additional Fairthome expenditure and for covering the cost of any new music that we buy. Almost everything that we play has been funded by the Friends over the last few years and we are very grateful. sycs Anna Robinson In September 2023. we once again had a strong intake into SYCS with record numbers pushing towards g) on the register. In the Autumn temi, we began preparing for our Christrnas con(￿rt. A so silent NighLI Taking place at Thomden Hall and being supporte(I by Maynower Youth T*￿tre. The cOn￿rt got both the orchestra and audience into the true Clyistmas Spiril ￿th the progrdmme including favorites such as The Polar Express, HI￿ Alcme arKI Shakin Stevens dassic Merry Christmas Everyone! Wrth a funky light skni to Ixxnpliment Ihe music, the evening was enjoyed by all! The spring term is always the I￿SIest t￿ SYCS. (Jjr first performance was at thepyramid concer( an evening that fmided a musical highlight the younger string orchestras. SYCS perf(xmed ￿ ac¢zssible programme of The Great Locomotbve Chase, Juba Dance. Doctor Who and Celebration complete with party hats! The perfortnance was enjoyed by al! SYCS launched an extremely spe(ial and important project in Spring 2024. Make Some Noise. The aim of this project was to promote inclusivty in music and a celebration of people and c(xnmunty. The induded a range of communty groups and also students frryn Cedar S(*KxA. Participants were interviewed by myself ahead of the event asking what music to them and these were showed between rtems, handing over the music to the people. The programme was fulty indusfve keeplng Items short and accessible. The concert was a huge success dosing wilh 2 massed songs of This is Me, featuri Makaton signing and Heather Small's PrCrt￿. In ts Summer temi, we embarked ( a joint tour project with Syck Franglais. ahead of I￿r t￿r to Norniandy in July. We perfomed a fully joint programme of Frenth and English music at Central hall vthith included Crown Imperial and Phantom of the Opera. The (x)ncert was extrem well attended and received and a good prerequiwts to our t￿r. This year orchestra went lo Orangerie Bourg- Saint Leonard, N(xrnandy. We were delighted to take 71 students on the tr5p. We had some extremely wcmluctive rehearsals, a trip to a theese factory. a fantastic perforrnance of Carmen and a scavenger hunL We performed a total of 4 fantasb'c concerts - at Wthiam the conquerrfs castle, a music festival. Lisieux and a chateau at night as it was gettirKJ darf(. Unf(wtunately we lost 2 concerts due to ￿aGh breakdowns tArt both the twr team and thdents stsyed in good spirits. This year, SYCS has 80 members on fts register and are prepaiing for our Christmas Concert: Christrnas at the Movies on Wednesday 6 th De￿mber at Thomden Hall. Not to be missed! For summer. we will be treatirMJ aUdIen￿S to A Night at the Musicals and have exciting plans in the ￿peline ts summer 2025. 1 am excited to announce wlth have furiher plans for Make Some Noise ￿ld) WIN eventually featlrfe the open orchestra being led by myself at the Cedar but also we would like to continue the Make Some Noise message in everything we do, keeping the focus on inclusivty and community. I W￿ld like to thank the friend5 COMItt￿ their ongoing support and enc¢)uragemenL syo Kevin Withell Southampton Youth Orchestra has had another successful year. the biggest membership and audien￿ we've seen for many years. l am suThounded by an excellent staff team - Charlie brings suth a wealth of experience. organization and enthusiasm to the orchestra and has really flourished in her role as assistant conductor over the last couple of years. Christa has ￿rna1ned as our unofficial head of strings and repertoire advisor. and plays a vital role in choosing programmes that continue to challenge, ex¢ite and develop the orthestra. Last year was a busy one. (￿r inaugural 'Children's Concert. in November was a sell-QUt, and a fantastic wogramme to start off our new year with. It was also only the second time SYO has played music by a female composer, and this started some conversats'ons about how we could begin lo explore some more repertoire NOT written by dead, white, straight men. In January, we returned to Tumer Sims for a performance of Scheherezade. Our guest leader. Steve, did a phenomenal job both of playing the solos and of inspiring the string section around him. A special mention to our wind and brass principals for leaming sorne very hard solos. C(￿cert season finished in April in Romsey Abbey. Two members of the ￿heStra played movements of concertos, and an alumni soloist joined us for an absolutely staggering perfomance of Saint- Saens, Organ Symphony. Charts'e worked extensively with our brass and woodwind, taking on two feature ple￿s. F￿ the second time in a year, we had a sell-out audience. In the summer terni. we joined forces with SYCS and went on our first tour Sin 2018. Despite some drama with our coach and some stressful changes of plan, the tour was a roaring success. The students bonded fantastically, worked hard and perfomed extraordinarily. Our concert in Basilica Saint Therese was one of the most incredible concerts I've ever been a part of - l think the final chord of Mars might still be bouncing around the ceiling... This year, we have seen a small drop in membership after a record number of leavers. birt rehearsals for our first concert are very promising indeed. We have built up a large base of volunteers who are happy to come and play for concerts, which enables us to keep on pushing our standard and ambition.The highlights of this year include one of our students performing Symphonie Espagnole on violin in December, Sibelius 5th S￿nph0nY and Tchaikovsky 1st Piano Concerto in Thomden Hall in April, and the a retum to Southampton Guildhall in Juty for a performance of Cannina Burana lo mark SYO'S 601h Birthday. My thanks to eVerybC￿ involved in making SYO what it is - to the staff that help us out, the staff from SMS and. by no means leas( members of FSYO without whom rny job would be impossible. Southampton and Isle of Wight Music Report 2024 Zoe Hunting It's been a year of thange. Southampton Music se￿ices has thanged its name to Southamplon and Isle of Wight Music to refiect the th they do in both areas. In addFtion, the new hubs are set up. Southampton and Isle of Wight Music are the lead partner for the new South Coast Music Pathership consisting of the old Southampton Music Hub, Isle of Wight Music Hub. Portsrnouth Music Hub and Boumemouth. Christchurch and Poole. As the new hub develops. we plan for joint working which will be beneficial to all. Instrumentalty SIOW Music laught 1541 students either individually or in small groups. This is an increase of around a hundred from the previous year. In order for the service to survive financialty in the future significant changes to its pricing structure. For the academic year 23-24 lesson fees were £115 foT a 20 minute lesson regardless whether this was an individual or a group lesson. From September 2024 this changed to a dearer pricing system of £60 a term for a 20 minute lesson for a group of 4. £110 fcK a 20 minute paired les%)n and £165 IFor a 20 minute individual lesson. For rnany this has meant a reduction in lesson costs whilst ensuring those who have an individual less￿ are not being subsidis8d by those have a group lesson. This reduction in fees for group lessons will enable more families to buy lessons. To date the new fee stnjcture has pretty mud) done ff(s job with a predicted £200 deficFt by the end of the year. Whole class teaching has continued in 12 schools. The main instruments being taught are now ukulele, trumpet. violin and darineL As mentioned last year the ensembles need to become self funding. Last year we revised the offer which brought in a £17.000 saving. We couldn't do any more to our offer without losing our progression routes so this year we also have Icy)ked at the pricing structure for ensemble membership. We have moved to a two tier system. The membership fee for ensembles that rehearse for less than 2 hours is now £60 a term and groups rehearsing for 2 ￿ mcwe hours a week the fee is £70 a temi. Previously the membership for all groups Was £40 a term. Membership to a second or third or MO￿ ensemble is £20 at terrn. The change to the pricing structure has clearly had an impacL At the end of 202&2024 we had 246 individuals in our ensembles. However because so many of them played in multiply groups our overall membership number was 426. Some young musicians were playing in up to 5 groups. So far to 2024-2025 we have 277 individuals in our groups but with far fewer students playing in multiple groups giving an overall total of 338. We viill need to do some further work into the reasons ￿Y fewer students are playing in multiple groups. Is it purely down to the COS￿ Was it the cohort of young people going through the system who have now I Overall our ensemble gave 35 con￿rtS across the academic year although many of these induded perfomiance frcmn more than 1 group. What was particularly exciting was to see a greater variety of perfomiances. For example the Youth 8rass Band performed outdoors in a couple of local bandstands. the jazz group Studio Band performing at The Concorde Club in Chandlers Ford. Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia launching their Make Some Noise project *Y)tking with other local music groups. In addition to the SIOW Music ensembles we also ran 6 groups within schools as well as continue to support Folk Actives Ywth Ensemble. With the changes to the hub the decision was made not to audition any new students for a music award. We have continued with the awards for those who already had them but this has resulted in a drop from 25 holders down to 15. We are Cu￿en1￿ discu&sing how an award scheme may look in the future. As ahvays we would like to say a massive thank you to Friends of Southampton Youth Orchestras. Wrthout your support we certainty would not have the means to provide such amazing musi131 oppcyiunib'es for the young people of Southampton. Thank you so much. Treasurer's Report 2023-2 Concert receipts for the year were £22227 with costs of £15565. SYO has done well this year making a profft of £2667, SYCS £1987 and the Pyramid concert £1425 Donations total £1557 induding a donation from the famity of Martin Bowyer from his fvneral and on4ine donations of £997. Grft-aid was £263 from concert collections. Memberships are collected on4ine and dire(1 Payments of £6083 for SUpp￿t in sthoob I music days and talent developmenl Costs of £2176 were paid music hire SYO and SYCS using their funds to hire a wider repertoire for the studenis lo play. Insurance costs were £215 Admin fees of £4248 inthde Fasthosts l Music stand lights l additional music stands for Cantelll purchasing of dothing etx for SYCS I coach travel for trip to Devizes Overall this means that across all areas a loss of £2128 was made. Inroads have been made to use our funds to advan￿ the ensemtAes. Our working fund at the end of the year held £23K with a savings reserve of £10K. As we took in more than £25,000 last year we need to prowde the Charity Commission with an independent examiner's ￿port on the accA)unt, whith has been provided. Our examiner found no c￿cernS wth the accounts. Structure. Governance and Management Description of tharivs trusts: Type of goveming document Pwa125 CLMsbtution How is the charity constituted? P*a125 Charitable Inc0￿￿0ted Organisation Truslee seleciion methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to aptKJint one or m trustees P•a 125 Trustees are elected eath year al the Annual General Meeting. Ex Offiuo appointments are automalic21ty made to the committee for the leaders of the ensembles supported by Reference and Administrative details Chari name Other name the cha uses islered chari number Charity's Principal address Friends of Southam 283789 63 Highr￿k1 Lane S017 1RL Names of the charlty tn￿$ who manage the charity1202344) N•m• ol p•r50n (of body) (hllce or appolftt tru•t•• Ilf Nancy Lewis Clare McK6nzi8 Chair Treasurer Jods Gowans Pete Gosney Max Davies Amanda Mitchell Richard Pugh Chris Nichols Christs Porter Anna Robinson Ex-officio Ex4)fficio Ex4)fficio 10 11 Kevin WtheS1 Ex-officio 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Declarations Th• truste￿ d•clarn that th•y hav• approv•d tho truste•s' r•port abov•. Slgnod on behall of tho charws trustees Full namels) RFchard Pu Clare McKen2ie Position (eg Secretary• Chair Chalr, etc) Treasurer Date 20 June 2025 ## **Friends of Southampton Youth Orchestras** **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024** |**Receipts:**
**Total Receipts**
**Payments**
**Total Payments**
**Net Receipts**
**Transfers between funds**
**Cash funds at 1 September 2023**
**Cash funds at 31 August 2024**
Concerts
Donatons and sponsorship
Gif Aid
Membership
Fundraising
Music Hire
Tour
Interest
Administraton
Talent Development
Cost of Concerts
Visits, tours and training week-ends
Talent Development
New Music
Music Hire
Music instruments & equipment
Administraton
Costs of Fundraising
Subscriptons & Insurance
Gif Aid|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
22227
22227
1557
1557
263
263
195
195
36
36
0
0
0
0
171
171
666
666
20
20
0|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
Notes
13356
1457
373
185
488
136
0
69
96
16160
8134
346
2696
188
572
545
746
416
226
0
13869
2291
0
34454
36745| |---|---|---| ||25135
0
25135
14344
14344
27
27
5349
734
6083
50
50
2176
2176
119
119
4248
4248
0
0
215
215
0
0
26528
734
27262
-1393
-734
-2127
0
0
0
35091
1654
36745
33698
920
34618|16160| |||8134
346
2696
188
572
545
746
416
226
0| |||13869| |||| |||2291| |||| |||0| |||| |||34454| |||| |||36745| ## **Friends of Southampton Youth Orchestras** |**STATEMENT OF ASETS AND LIABILITIES AT 31 AUGUST 2023**
**Cash funds**
**Other monetary assets**
**Assets retained for the**
**charlty's own use**
Current Account
Savings Account
Cash
Outstanding Debts and Credits:
TOTAL
FINAL BALANCE:
Violin
(insurance value £1500)
Base Clarinet Insurance value £8500)
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
_Total cash funds_|**asset belongs**
**Fund to which**
Unrestricted
funds
£
23354.00
10243.00
100
33697.00
0
33697.00
Unrestricted
funds
£
unrestricted
unrestricted|Restricted
funds
£
920
920
920
Restricted
funds
£|Total
£| |---|---|---|---| ||||34617.00| ||||| ||||34617.00| ||||| Signature Print Name Date of approval N.Lewis C.McKenzie **Independent examiner's report on the accounts** **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report** |**Report to the trustees/**
**members of**
**on the accounts for the**
**year ended**
**Set out on pages**|Friends of Southampton Youth Orchestras|Friends of Southampton Youth Orchestras|Friends of Southampton Youth Orchestras| |---|---|---|---| ||||| ||31 August 2024|**Charity no**
**(if any)**|283789| ||||| ||2 & 3||| ||I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended**31/08/2024**.||| - **Responsibilities and** As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation **basis of report** 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. **Independent** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have **examiner's statement** come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: - accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or - 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. |**Signed:**
**Name:**
**Relevant professional**
**qualification(s) or body**
**(if any):**
**Address:**

|**Date:**|| |---|---|---| |||13 November 2024| |||| ||M R Cooper|| |||| ||FCA|| |||| ||29 Welbeck Avenue|| ||Southampton|| ||SO17 1ST|| 1