Milton Keynes City Orchestra seeks to nurture and enable high quality music making.  It is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.  As such the Charity’s objects are to advance the education of the public in music by the presentation of concerts and other activities that will promote such education.  The Orchestra’s principal aims are to:

  • Enrich the cultural life of Milton Keynes and its surrounding communities.
  • Promote and advance the performance and appreciation of live music for and by the community, through a policy of social inclusion.
  • Present work of the highest professional standards.

– for example performing “Song and Dance” in venues in Luton, Bedford and Northamptonshire; performing at The Grove Theatre, Dunstable; and as part of the English Music Festival at Dorchester Abbey, Oxford.  The Orchestra has also undertaken tours to the USA and France.  It has released six recordings on the Unicorn-Kanchana and Hyperion labels.  Also, under the baton of Hilary Davan Wetton, the Orchestra broadcasted the Classic FM Masterclass series of introduced works.

The Orchestra’s financial resources are essentially drawn from four core sources:  grant income including support from Arts Council England, South East and Milton Keynes Council; box office income on own promotion activity; sponsorship and business support; and individual donations. 

The Orchestra’s continued development facilitates delivery of activities that enable it to continue to further embed itself within the Milton Keynes Community.  This process is vital both for the Orchestra and for the long term cultural development of the city of Milton Keynes.  Funds continue to be sought from trusts, foundations and other similar bodies for project-based activity – particularly in support of education and outreach initiatives.  To continue to extend this delivery, as discussed, the Orchestra is committed to raising significant project funds.  Recent success has been achieved from the Rotary Club of Milton Keynes, Woughton Parish Council, Shenley Brook End and Tattenhoe Parish Council, Milton Keynes Community Foundation, Arts Gateway MK, Northampton Community Foundation (Comic Relief Fund), Luton Community Foundation (London Luton Airport Community Fund). Such support in grant income demonstrates the Orchestra’s capacity to further unlock project support.  All such funding support relates to the specific direct operating costs associated with related project delivery, and depends upon the Orchestra having a core resource to underpin such delivery.

The Orchestra is audited annually – the most recent Report and Financial Statements to year ending 31 July 2011 have been signed off by the Board and auditors and went forward to the Orchestra’s AGM in February 2012. 

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