## Oxford Symphony Orchestra: Trustees’ Annual Report
## 1[st] September 2024 – 31[st] August 2025
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 2024 – 25**
## **16[th] November 2024, Oxford Town Hall**
- Dukas – The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
- Mendelssohn – Violin Concerto (Maya Broman Crawford-Philips)
- Prokofiev – Highlights from Romeo and Juliet
## **15[th] March 2025, Oxford Town Hall**
- Johann Strauss – Overture to die Fledermaus
- Grieg – Piano Concerto (Petr Limonov)
- Dohnanyi – Symphony no.2
## **14[th] June 2025, Sheldonian Theatre**
- Schumann – Overture to Genoveva
- Bartok – Violin Concerto (Stefan Simonca-Oprita)
- Brahms – Symphony no.4
## **27[th] July 2025, Truck Festival**
The reporting year, 2024-25, was another successful and interesting year for the Oxford Symphony Orchestra. OSO continues to aspire to high standards in many areas – programming, presentation, publicity and its choice of soloists. As a result, it presents performances that go beyond the orchestra’s remit of performing large-scale orchestral repertoire and presents committed performances that express thoughts, feelings and ideas about the music.
The selection of dances from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet encapsulated the dramatic thread of the whole ballet. OSO performed two major Symphonies: well-known Brahms’ 4th Symphony and more un-known Dohnanyi’s epic 2[nd] symphony. OSO performed extraordinary concertos by Mendelssohn, Grieg, and Bartok, handing the spotlight to two up-and-coming musicians and one more seasoned performer. Soloist Stefan Simonca (Bartok Violin Concert, June 25) wrote to the Orchestra after the concert:
_“I'm deeply grateful for this profound experience, I'll never forget it! This concert meant a lot to me... It fills me with true joy and genuine gratitude.”_
The adventurousness of OSO’s programmes attracted over 900 audience members in its usual concert series.
OSO once again performed at Oxfordshire’s Truck Festival, performing a set of popular classical music pieces, film soundtracks and pop song arrangements for Orchestra to a large and extremely enthusiastic audience. OSO also held a conducting masterclass, giving 4 young, local conductors the rare opportunity to conduct a full-size symphony orchestra.
The achievements of the Orchestra in the 2024-25 would not have been possible without expert organisation by the Orchestra’ committee, 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 £43,349 and total expenditure of £36,671 for the 2024-25 reporting year. Funds brought forward were £63,978 and total funds carried forward to the next reporting year were £70,567.
## **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**|
|---|---|---|---|
|David Patrick|Trustee: Chair|26thNovember 2024 –
Present|Oxford Symphony
Orchestra|
|Lorna Softley|Trustee: Secretary|29thNovember 2022 –
Present|Oxford Symphony
Orchestra|
|Andrew Rendell|Trustee: Treasurer|28thNovember 2023 –
Present|Oxford Symphony
Orchestra|
|Danielle McNeil|Trustee: Librarian|26thNovember 2024 –
Present|Oxford Symphony
Orchestra|
|Catherine Hartley|Trustee: Membership
Secretary|28thNovember 2023 –
2ndDecember 2025|Oxford Symphony
Orchestra|
|Jill Bailey|Trustee: Concert
Manager|8thDecember 2020 –
2ndDecember 2025|Oxford Symphony
Orchestra|
|Dominic Knight|Trustee: Rehearsal
Manager|22ndNovember 2016 –
Present|Oxford Symphony
Orchestra|
|Helen Kidd|Trustee: Publicity &
Marketing|12thJanuary 2020 –
Present|Oxford Symphony
Orchestra|
|Matthias Winkel|Trustee: General
member|22ndNovember 2016 –
Present|Oxford Symphony
Orchestra|
|---|---|---|---|
|Sarah Prime|Trustee: General
member|22 November 2016 –
2ndDecember 2025|Oxford Symphony
Orchestra|
## **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**|2ndJune 2026|
## **OXORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Registered Charity No 284339**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **SECTION A STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
|**ED 31 AUGUST 2025**
**A STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|||**31-Aug-25**|**31-Aug-24**|
|||£|£|
|**Incoming resources:**||**F01=F04**|**F01=F04**|
|Donatons|**S01**|17,561.24|17,065.21|
|Charitable actvites|**S02**|25,225.27|23,129.00|
|Investments|**S04**|562.83|585.30|
|**Total**|**S07**|**43,349.34**|**40,779.51**|
|**Resources expended:**||||
|Raising funds|**S08**|5,010.68|4,309.42|
|Charitable actvites|**S09**|31,660.00|31,760.40|
|Other|**S11**|-|-|
|**Total**|**S12**|**36,670.68**|**36,069.82**|
|**Net income/(expenditure)**|**S15**|**6,678.66**|**4,709.69**|
|**Total funds brought forward**|**S21**|63,977.94|59,268.25|
|**Total funds carried forward**|**S22**|**70,656.60**|**63,977.94**|
|**B BALANCE SHEET**||||
|**Fixed assets**|**B05**|-|-|
|**Current assets**||||
|Debtors|**B07**|44,000.00|44,000.00|
|Cash at bank and in hand|**B09**|49,761.72|45,245.79|
|**Total current assets**|**B10**|**93,761.72**|**89,245.79**|
|**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**|**B11**|**23,105.12**|**25,267.85**|
|**Total net assets or liabilites**|**B16**|**70,656.60**|**63,977.94**|
|**Funds of the Charity**||||
|Unrestricted funds|**B19**|70,656.60|63,977.94|
|**Total funds**|**B21**|**70,656.60**|**63,977.94**|
## **SECTION B BALANCE SHEET**
## **SECTION C Notes to the Accounts**
## **Note 3 Analysis of income**
## **Donations and legacies**
|Donatons and gifs|-|-|
|---|---|---|
|Gif Aid|2,783.22|2,573.21|
|General grants|1,500.00|1,500.00|
|Membership subs and sponsorship|13,278.02|12,992.00|
|**Total**|**17,561.24**|**17,065.21**|
|**Charitable actvites**|||
|Ticket sales|13,496.00|14,026.00|
|Programme sales|592.00|603.00|
|Music hire|-|-|
|Engagement Receipts|11,137.27|8,500.00|
|**Total**|**25,225.27**|**23,129.00**|
|**Income from investments**|||
|Interest income|562.83|585.30|
|**Total**|**562.83**|**585.30**|
|**TOTAL INCOME**|**43,349.34**|**40,779.51**|
## **OXORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Registered Charity No 284339**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **SECTION C Notes to the Accounts (cont)**
## **Note 6 Analysis of expenditure**
|||**Expenditure on raising funds**|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Operatng a trading company|-|-|
|||Marketng and publicity|4,201.71|3,710.42|
|||Administraton cost|808.97|599.00|
|||**Total**|**5,010.68**|**4,309.42**|
|||**Expenditure on charitable actvites**|||
|||OSOP Ltd commission fee (afer OTR)|23,105.12|25,047.32|
|||Rehearsal payments|-|-|
|||Concert payments|826.56|1,380.83|
|||Engagement payments|7,728.32|5,332.25|
|||**Total**|**31,660.00**|**31,760.40**|
|||**Other expenditure**|-|-|
|||**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**|**36,670.68**|**36,069.82**|
|**Note**|**19**|**Debtors and prepayments**|||
|||**Analysis of debtors**|||
|||Trade debtors|44,000.00|44,000.00|
|||Prepayment and accrued income|-|-|
|||Other debtors|-|-|
|||**Total**|**44,000.00**|**44,000.00**|
|||**Analysis of debtors recoverable in more than one year**|||
|||Trade debtors|10,000.00|8,000.00|
|**Note**|**20**|**Creditors and accruals**|||
|||**Analysis of creditors**|||
|||Trade creditors|23,105.12|25,047.32|
|||Other creditors|-|220.53|
|||**Total**|**23,105.12**|**25,267.85**|
|**Note**|**22**|**Other disclosures for debtors and creditors**|||
|||**Informaton about debtors and creditors**|||
|||Trade Debtor: Trading subsiduary OSOP Ltd|44,000.00|44,000.00|
|||**Total debtors**|**44,000.00**|**44,000.00**|
|||Trade creditor: Trading subsiduary OSOP Ltd|23,105.12|25,047.32|
|||Trade creditor: outstanding PRS payments|-|-|
|||Trade creditor: engagement musicians|-|-|
|||Other creditor: Truck music hire|-|190.53|
|||Other creditor: Flowers for summer concert|**-**|30.00|
|||**Total creditors**|**23,105.12**|**25,267.85**|
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's
report on the accounts
Report to the trustees1
members of
On accounts for the year
ended
Charity no
(if any)
S39
Set out on pages
I report to the trustees on my examination ot the accounts of the above
charity {'Ihe Trust") for the year ended
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 1.the Acl'l.
I report in respect of rny 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 14515){bl of the Act.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material malters 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..
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 13Q of
the Act or
the accounts do nol accord with the accounting records
Independent
examiner's statement
I have no concerns and have come across no other malters in connection
with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a
proper understanding ofthe accounts to be reached.
Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Signed:
Date:
36
1026
Name:
Relevant profossional
qualificationlsl or body
{if any):
Address:
Ig
IER
October 2018
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32.
Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for
examiners).
Give here brief details of
any items that the
examiner wi5hgS to
disclose.
IER
October 2018