## Oxford Symphony Orchestra: Trustees’ Annual Report
## 1[st] September 2023 – 31[st] August 2024
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 2023 – 24**
## **19[th] November 2023, Oxford Town Hall**
- Prokofiev – Piano Concerto no.2 (Alim Beisembayev)
- Mahler – Symphony no.1
## **16[th] March 2024, Oxford Town Hall**
- Verdi – Force of Destiny Overture
- Bloch – Violin Concerto (Hana Mizuta Spencer)
- Rachmaninov – Symphonic Dances
## **22[nd] June 2024, Sheldonian Theatre**
- Sarah Frances Jenkins – The Holloway (first performance)
- Elgar – Cello Concerto (Finn Anderson-Hendra)
- Vaughan Williams – Symphony no.2, A London Symphony
## **28[th] July 2024, Truck Festival**
The reporting year, 2023-24, was a successful and interesting year for the Oxford Symphony Orchestra’s players and audiences. OSO continues to expand its musical horizons while, at the same time, improving its financial position.
The Orchestra enjoys the thrill of performing with top soloists who are in the public eye, and the reporting year was no exception with its return invitation to Alim to play Prokofiev’s 2nd Piano Concerto. The solo piano part is renowned for its fearsome difficulty, but Alim didn’t seem to notice this, and it was a pleasure for OSO to work and play with him once again. Alim said: “ _I enjoyed it very much and it was incredibly useful for me! Thank you for having me_ .”
Up and coming violinist Hana Mizuta Spencer joined OSO’s exploration of Bloch’s splendid yet genuinely neglected Violin Concerto; the performance was a remarkable event of great significance for OSO. Hana wrote “ _I had such a great time discovering the piece with you…I am so grateful that you asked me to play it and it’s been so wonderful to learn such a wonderful piece_ .”
In the Summer, OSO was joined by young cello soloist Finn Henderson Andra who gave a stylish and committed performance of Elgar’s Cello Concerto. Rehearsing with Finn was an important reminder of the crucial work the Orchestra does, not only encouraging young soloists but giving them a taste of the orchestral rehearsal experience as well as the final performance. Finn had to adapt quickly to the speed of rehearsing and to balancing the amount of sound a real live orchestra makes, both of which
she achieved very well. Finn said “ _thank you so much again for giving me the opportunity to play the Elgar with such a lovely orchestra to a really appreciative audience in an amazing place. It was one of my favourite ever concerts and I've learnt a lot from the experience_ .” OSO was pleased to see her in the BBC YMY this autumn and proud of our connection with her before a little TV fame shone upon her.
The theme of youth and opportunity also shone in the Orchestra’s commission of local young composer Sarah Francis Jenkins, who wrote a 9-minute opener for the same concert. Again, Sarah found the experience of working in depth and with the luxury of time really useful and the piece grew in clarity and stature as a result. The final performance was certainly enjoyed by the whole audience and by the orchestra too.
Beyond that, OSO performed well known and loved symphonic works by Mahler, Rachmaninov and Vaughan Williams. OSO also performed another set at Truck Festival with the super Eleanor Grant as guest soloist.
The achievements of the Orchestra in the 2023-24 would not have been possible without expert organisation by the Trustees of the Orchestra, the Musical Director (Robert Max), orchestra leader (Mariette Richter) and the open-minded, engaged and enthusiastic players of OSO.
## **Financial Review**
The financial report submitted alongside this trustees’ report presents a gross income of £40,780 and total expenditure of £36,070 for the 2023-24 reporting year. Funds brought forward were £59,268 and total funds carried forward to the next reporting year were £63,978.
## **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 –
26 November 2024|Oxford Symphony Orchestra|
|Lorna Softley|Trustee: Secretary|29 November 2022 –
Present|Oxford Symphony Orchestra|
|Andrew Rendell|Trustee: Treasurer|28 November 2023 –
Present|Oxford Symphony Orchestra|
|Sarah Prime|Trustee: Librarian|22 November 2016 – 1
September 2024|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**|3rdMay 2025|
## Oxford Symphony Orchestra: Trustees’ Annual Report
## 1[st] September 2023 – 31[st] August 2024
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 2023 – 24**
## **19[th] November 2023, Oxford Town Hall**
- Prokofiev – Piano Concerto no.2 (Alim Beisembayev)
- Mahler – Symphony no.1
## **16[th] March 2024, Oxford Town Hall**
- Verdi – Force of Destiny Overture
- Bloch – Violin Concerto (Hana Mizuta Spencer)
- Rachmaninov – Symphonic Dances
## **22[nd] June 2024, Sheldonian Theatre**
- Sarah Frances Jenkins – The Holloway (first performance)
- Elgar – Cello Concerto (Finn Anderson-Hendra)
- Vaughan Williams – Symphony no.2, A London Symphony
## **28[th] July 2024, Truck Festival**
The reporting year, 2023-24, was a successful and interesting year for the Oxford Symphony Orchestra’s players and audiences. OSO continues to expand its musical horizons while, at the same time, improving its financial position.
The Orchestra enjoys the thrill of performing with top soloists who are in the public eye, and the reporting year was no exception with its return invitation to Alim to play Prokofiev’s 2nd Piano Concerto. The solo piano part is renowned for its fearsome difficulty, but Alim didn’t seem to notice this, and it was a pleasure for OSO to work and play with him once again. Alim said: “ _I enjoyed it very much and it was incredibly useful for me! Thank you for having me_ .”
Up and coming violinist Hana Mizuta Spencer joined OSO’s exploration of Bloch’s splendid yet genuinely neglected Violin Concerto; the performance was a remarkable event of great significance for OSO. Hana wrote “ _I had such a great time discovering the piece with you…I am so grateful that you asked me to play it and it’s been so wonderful to learn such a wonderful piece_ .”
In the Summer, OSO was joined by young cello soloist Finn Henderson Andra who gave a stylish and committed performance of Elgar’s Cello Concerto. Rehearsing with Finn was an important reminder of the crucial work the Orchestra does, not only encouraging young soloists but giving them a taste of the orchestral rehearsal experience as well as the final performance. Finn had to adapt quickly to the speed of rehearsing and to balancing the amount of sound a real live orchestra makes, both of which
she achieved very well. Finn said “ _thank you so much again for giving me the opportunity to play the Elgar with such a lovely orchestra to a really appreciative audience in an amazing place. It was one of my favourite ever concerts and I've learnt a lot from the experience_ .” OSO was pleased to see her in the BBC YMY this autumn and proud of our connection with her before a little TV fame shone upon her.
The theme of youth and opportunity also shone in the Orchestra’s commission of local young composer Sarah Francis Jenkins, who wrote a 9-minute opener for the same concert. Again, Sarah found the experience of working in depth and with the luxury of time really useful and the piece grew in clarity and stature as a result. The final performance was certainly enjoyed by the whole audience and by the orchestra too.
Beyond that, OSO performed well known and loved symphonic works by Mahler, Rachmaninov and Vaughan Williams. OSO also performed another set at Truck Festival with the super Eleanor Grant as guest soloist.
The achievements of the Orchestra in the 2023-24 would not have been possible without expert organisation by the Trustees of the Orchestra, the Musical Director (Robert Max), orchestra leader (Mariette Richter) and the open-minded, engaged and enthusiastic players of OSO.
## **Financial Review**
The financial report submitted alongside this trustees’ report presents a gross income of £40,780 and total expenditure of £36,070 for the 2023-24 reporting year. Funds brought forward were £59,268 and total funds carried forward to the next reporting year were £63,978.
## **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 –
26 November 2024|Oxford Symphony Orchestra|
|Lorna Softley|Trustee: Secretary|29 November 2022 –
Present|Oxford Symphony Orchestra|
|Andrew Rendell|Trustee: Treasurer|28 November 2023 –
Present|Oxford Symphony Orchestra|
|Sarah Prime|Trustee: Librarian|22 November 2016 – 1
September 2024|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**|3rdMay 2025|
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's report on the
accounts
Sectlon A
Independent Examlnw's Report
Report to the trustees
Orrk
On accounts for the year
ended
Charlty no
(If any)
2&+
Set out on pages
I report lo the Iruslees on my examination of the accounts of ihe above
charty ("Ihe Trusfi for the year ended
Responslbllltles and
ba$ls of report
As the charity's trustees, you are responble for the preparation of th&
accounts in accord8nce wrth the requirements of the Charities Act 2011
1.the Acr).
I report in respect of my eXaminatn of the Trust's accounts carried out
under sectK>n 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I
have followed all the applicable Direcb'ons given by the Charity Commission
under section 14515llbl of the Act.
Independent trhe
examlnerfs statement und
to
rt name of
if not appliGable.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have
come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that
disclosgj below "} which giv&s me cause to believe that in, any material
respect..
the accounting records were not kept in a¢cordan¢e with section 130
of the Charities Act.. or
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records., or
the actounls did not compty with the applicable requirements
concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities
(Accounts and RerM)rts) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement
Ihal the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter
consKiered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no olh8r matters in connection
with the examination to which attention should drawn in this repm in
order lo enale a proper understanding of the accounts to bo reached.
. Please delete the words in the brackets rfthey do not apply.
Slgnod:
Date..
Name:
Re10vant professlonal
qualificationls) or body
{rf anyl-
ALA
QIEAE
IER
Oct 2018
Address..
Section B
Disclosure
Only complete If thg examiner needs lo nighiighi material matters of C(cern
(see CC32, Independent E)xaminalion of charity aCCnts.. directions and
guidance for examiners).
Glve here brlef detslls of
any Items that the
examiner wishes to
dlsclose.
IER
Oct 2018