Oxford Symphony Orchestra: Trustees’ Annual Report
1[st] September 2022 – 31[st] August 2023
Charity registration number: 284339
Objectives and Activities
The purpose of the Oxford Symphony Orchestra (OSO) is to educate the public in the Arts and Sciences and in particular the Art and Science of Music by presentation of concerts and other activities. The concerts are available to all members of the public. The Oxford Symphony Orchestra can confirm its trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on Public benefit and take it into account whenever a decision is taken to which the guidance is relevant.
Achievements and Performance for the year 2022 – 23
19[th] November 2022 Oxford Town Hall Bernstein Symphonic Dances from West Side Story Bruch Violin Concerto (Leo Appel) Sibelius Swan of Tuonela Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Suite 18[th] March 2023 Oxford Town Hall Berlioz Corsair Overture Rachmaninov Piano Concerto no.2 (Thomas Kelly) Bartok Concerto for Orchestra 17[th] June 2023 Oxford Town Hall Schoenberg 5 Orchestral Pieces, op.16 Bruckner Symphony no. 8 (1890 version) Truck Festival 2023 July 2023 Rossini William Tell Overture (part) Strauss Express, schnell-polka op.311 Coates Music Everywhere: Rediffusion March Tchaikovsky Dance of Mirlitons (Nutcracker) Grieg Hall of the Mountain King John Williams Indiana Jones - Raider's March Queen Bohemian Rhapsody Guns ‘n’ Roses Sweet Child O’ Mine Abba Honey Honey Eric Clapton Layla Clean Bandit Rather Be Clean Bandit Symphony Beegees How Deep is your Love
Our first two programmes carefully balanced music that was challenging for orchestra and audience alike – contrasting Bernstein with Tchaikovsky and then Rachmaninov with Bartok. Our two soloists helped draw in large audiences on both occasions. November featured the fine young local violinist Leo Appel, who brought calm and poised assurance to Bruch’s evergreen G minor violin concerto. He said:
“Thank you for this and for the wonderful opportunity. It was a real pleasure to play with you and your fantastic orchestra. Wonderful to have such a good audience too. It really did all work out well and I thoroughly enjoyed the performance… I think we made a great team!”
March marked a return visit for Thomas Kelly, who performed in our final pre-pandemic concert in March 2020 and had since won 5[th] prize in the Leeds International Piano Competition. Tom played Rachmaninov’s brooding 2[nd] Piano Concerto and certainly made the best of the wonderful Steinway the orchestra hires from Joseph Taylor Pianos. The orchestra will enjoy watching the careers of these two fine young musicians blossom in their distinctive ways. The music also gave opportunities for some of our principal players to take the spotlight and the Orchestra thanks especially Mariette and Matthias for their significant solos in Tchaikovsky and Sibelius.
Our third concert featured some of the most demanding music we have explored together – Schoenberg’s 5 Pieces for Orchestra and Bruckner’s gargantuan 8[th] Symphony. Demanding in terms of their complexity, demanding in terms of player’s stamina and demanding in terms of the quality of audience listening that both works require. Hats off to OSO for presenting such a deeply musical programme that few orchestras, professional or otherwise, would have the courage to promote. Several people who came to the concert reported afterwards that it was one of our best. Many more people chose not to be challenged and stayed away, which was as we had anticipated. However, it is important that OSO continues to explore a wide range of music, not only pieces that satisfy established tastes.
TRUCK festival seems to have been another roaring success. The Orchestra thanks Grace L, Joel, Sally P and many others for organising all that needed sorting so effectively. The extra rehearsal made a great difference. What a treat to be joined by superstars Clean Bandit.
Last season also featured a new initiative for OSO – a conducing masterclass. This event attracted 8 entrants of whom we accepted 4. Three were studying at University and one was a 6[th] former. Each worked on a movement of music the orchestra had recently played by Dvorak or Brahms and the event proved interesting and useful for participants and orchestra alike. It was fascinating and challenging in equal measure and we are pleased that we plan to repeat the event in December 2024. One participant wrote afterwards:
"Thank you so much for tonight - it was really insightful and useful, and perhaps most importantly, enjoyable! Thank you so much to the orchestra for organising such an event and giving up time to play for us - please pass on my thanks to all. It really is the best experience we can get as young conductors and I was so grateful of hearing the things that orchestra members are sometimes so afraid of saying."
We are currently working on a plan to perform Mahler’s colossal 8[th] Symphony, the Symphony of a Thousand, in March 2026. We have identified a local venue that can host the event and are trying to agree the participation of the foremost local choral societies.
Financial Review
The financial report submitted alongside this trustees’ report presents a gross income of £40,056 and total expenditure of £27,028 for the 2022-23 reporting year. Funds brought forward were £46,241 and total funds carried forward to the next reporting year were £59,268. The amount of reserves current held is £48,092.
Structure, Governance and Management
The Oxford Symphony Orchestra is a charitable trust, and its governing document is a trust deed. Trustees are elected annually to the management committee at the annual general meeting. Nominations for all members of the Committee are made in writing to the Chairman by any two members of the Orchestra at least seven days before the Annual General Meeting. In the event of more nominations than required being received, a ballot shall be taken.
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| Name | Office and Position | Dates acted | Body entitled to appoint trustee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Maitlis | Trustee: Chair | 16 November 2021 – Present |
Oxford Symphony Orchestra |
| Lorna Softley | Trustee: Secretary | 29 November 2022 – Present |
Oxford Symphony Orchestra |
| Matthias Winkel | Trustee: Treasurer | 22 November 2016 – Present |
Oxford Symphony Orchestra |
| Sarah Prime | Trustee: Librarian | 22 November 2016 – Present |
Oxford Symphony Orchestra |
| Jill Bailey | Trustee: Concert Manager |
8 December 2020 – Present |
Oxford Symphony Orchestra |
| Dominic Knight | Trustee: Rehearsal Manager |
22 November 2016 – Present |
Oxford Symphony Orchestra |
| Helen Kidd | Trustee: Publicity & Marketing |
12 January 2020 – Present |
Oxford Symphony Orchestra |
All key personnel details have been disclosed
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
| Signature | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Lorna Softley |
| Position | Secretary |
| Date | 21stJune 2024 |
OXORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Registered Charity No 284339 YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023
SECTION A STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
| 31-Aug-23 | 31-Aug-22 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |||
| Incoming resources: | F01=F04 | F05 | ||
| Donations | S01 | 17,284.81 | 15,821.44 | |
| Charitable activities | S02 | 22,652.90 | 15,354.29 | |
| Investments | S04 | 118.21 | 3.86 | |
| Total | S07 | 40,055.92 | 31,179.59 | |
| Resources expended: | ||||
| Raising funds | S08 | 3,970.66 | 3,143.39 | |
| Charitable activities | S09 | 23,057.64 | 19,879.45 | |
| Other | S11 | - | - | |
| Total | S12 | 27,028.30 | 23,022.84 | |
| Net income/(expenditure) | S15 | 13,027.62 | 8,156.75 | |
| Total funds brought forward | S21 | 46,240.63 | 38,083.88 | |
| Total funds carried forward | S22 | 59,268.25 | 46,240.63 | |
| SECTION B BALANCE SHEET | ||||
| Fixed assets | B05 | - | - | |
| Current assets | ||||
| Debtors | B07 | 28,000.00 | 25,000.00 | |
| Cash at bank and in hand | B09 | 48,500.87 | 36,977.85 | |
| Total current assets | B10 | 76,500.87 | 61,977.85 | |
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | B11 | 17,232.62 | 15,737.22 | |
| Total net assets or liabilities | B16 | 59,268.25 | 46,240.63 | |
| Funds of the Charity | ||||
| Unrestricted funds | B19 | 59,268.25 | 46,240.63 | |
| Total funds | B21 | 59,268.25 | 46,240.63 | |
| SECTION C Notes to the Accounts | ||||
| Note 3 | Analysis of income | |||
| Donations and legacies | ||||
| Donations and gifts | - | - | ||
| Gift Aid | 2,845.81 | 2,136.44 | ||
| General grants | 1,500.00 | - | ||
| Membership subs and sponsorship | 12,939.00 | 13,685.00 | ||
| Total | 17,284.81 | 15,821.44 | ||
| Charitable activities | ||||
| Ticket sales | 14,010.00 | 9,875.00 | ||
| Programme sales | 622.90 | 439.29 | ||
| Music hire | 20.00 | 40.00 | ||
| Engagement Receipts | 8,000.00 | 5,000.00 | ||
| Total | 22,652.90 | 15,354.29 | ||
| Income from investments | ||||
| Interest income | 118.21 | 3.86 | ||
| Total | 118.21 | 3.86 | ||
| TOTAL INCOME | 40,055.92 | 31,179.59 |
OXORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Registered Charity No 284339 YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023
SECTION C Notes to the Accounts (cont)
Note 6 Analysis of expenditure
Expenditure on raising funds
| Expenditure on raising funds | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating a trading company | - | - | ||
| Marketing and publicity | 3,193.41 | 2,605.92 | ||
| Administration cost | 777.25 | 537.47 | ||
| Total | 3,970.66 | 3,143.39 | ||
| Expenditure on charitable activities | ||||
| OSOP Ltd commission fee (after OTR) | 16,824.19 | 15,534.98 | ||
| Rehearsal payments | - | - | ||
| Concert payments | 1,326.21 | 821.14 | ||
| Engagement payments | 4,701.05 | 3,321.09 | ||
| Total | 22,851.45 | 19,677.21 | ||
| Other expenditure | - | - | ||
| TOTAL EXPENDITURE | 26,822.11 | 22,820.60 | ||
| Note | 19 | Debtors and prepayments | ||
| Analysis of debtors | ||||
| Trade debtors | 28,000.00 | 25,000.00 | ||
| Prepayment and accrued income | - | - | ||
| Other debtors | - | - | ||
| Total | 28,000.00 | 25,000.00 | ||
| Analysis of debtors recoverable in more than one year | ||||
| Trade debtors | 3,000.00 | 2,000.00 | ||
| Note | 20 | Creditors and accruals | ||
| Analysis of creditors | ||||
| Trade creditors | 17,024.19 | 15,737.22 | ||
| Other creditors | 208.43 | - | ||
| Total | 17,232.62 | 15,737.22 | ||
| Note | 22 | Other disclosures for debtors and creditors | ||
| Information about debtors and creditors | ||||
| Trade Debtor: Trading subsiduary OSOP Ltd | 28,000.00 | 25,000.00 | ||
| Total debtors | 28,000.00 | 25,000.00 | ||
| Trade creditor: Trading subsiduary OSOP Ltd | 16,824.19 | 15,534.98 | ||
| Trade creditor: outstanding PRS payments | - | 202.24 | ||
| Trade creditor: engagement photographer | 200.00 | - | ||
| Other creditor: music hire reimbursement | 208.43 | - | ||
| Total creditors | 17,232.62 | 15,737.22 |
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