tasmanian symphony orchestra 2020 annual report Contents Chair 2 TSO Board 3 Chief Executive Officer 4 The Year In Review 6 Recordings 16 Releases 17 Learning & Engagement 18 Facts & Figures 20 Orchestra 22 Administration 23 TSO Chorus, Friends & Foundation 24 TSO Patrons 25 Chair Patrons 28 TSO Partners 30 Annual Financial Report 33 Page 2 | The TSO Annual Report 2020 The TSO Annual Report 2020 | Page 1 Chair ll of us will look back on The TSO’s relationships with our The Board has carefully considered Strange and challenging though 2020 TS0 Board 2020 with mixed emotions government funding bodies, our how the surplus from 2020 activities was, it was also a remarkable year for A – uppermost in our minds will be patrons and donors strengthened in can best be used and has decided to the TSO. It was a year that gave rise to Donald Challen AM memories of forced separation from 2020. The return on their financial invest it in the future of the orchestra. all kinds of innovation. We members of (Chair since 24 March 2020) family and friends, cancelled holidays commitment to the TSO was In addition to consolidating reserves the TSO family have a lot to be thankful and lifestyle changes. But 2020 has tangible, and the orchestra worked to buffer against further Covid-19 for, and plenty to be proud of, and we Timothy Bugg AM (Deputy Chair also been a year of wonders. The hard to be present and of service to disruption, some capital expenditures are in good shape for the year ahead. since 24 March 2020) Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra the Tasmanian community in very are in mind. We will invest in the My thanks to all those who supported Marilyn Canterford team has done truly remarkable things difficult times. JobKeeper was the sound and reputation of Tasmania’s the orchestra in 2020. in unprecedented circumstances, underpinning of our financial viability orchestra by acquiring a series of Janet Carding and in the face of uncertainty and in 2020 but our team ramped up high-quality string instruments and adversity. For that, all of us should be its communication with donors obtaining the equipment we need Anna Cerneaz truly proud. and subscribers, overseeing a 60% to offer the highest quality digital Lynette Hayward (Director increase in philanthropic giving. We experience to our online audience. I had a tough act to follow with the since 17 May 2020) are extremely grateful to our patrons, departure of my predecessor, David The musicians and staff of the TSO subscribers and other supporters for Don Challen AM Rich, who stepped down as TSO put in a mighty effort in 2020 and, Christopher Lawrence their incredibly generous support of Chair Chair in March. It has been a privilege on behalf of the Board, I thank them the orchestra in a year when, for the Harvey Lennon to work alongside David as Deputy warmly for their commitment to most part, we were unable to perform Chair these past few years and I the company and for their amazing David Rich (Chair until before live audiences. am honoured to take up the role of achievements. I would particularly 24 March 2020 and Director Chair. I am fortunate to lead a high I am pleased to say that the TSO ended like to thank Caroline Sharpen, our until 17 May 2020) performing Board. I am indebted 2020 in a healthy financial position and CEO, for her stewardship of the to TSO Board members for their I would like to thank and acknowledge company during the strange and commitment, hard work and support. the support of the Australia Council for challenging year behind us. Without We were delighted in May to welcome the Arts – the Australian Government’s her excellent leadership, energy and to our ranks Lynn Hayward who was arts funding body – and the Tasmanian capacity to innovate, 2020 would elected to the Board at the AGM. Lynn State Government through the not have been the success it was for brings a wealth of HR and governance Tasmanian Minister for the Arts. the TSO. Caroline was supported by experience, a long-standing passion a hard-working and capable senior for music and a greatly valued leadership team and I thank them perspective as a resident of North- too for facilitating so many great West Tasmania. outcomes for the TSO in 2020. Page 2 | The TSO Annual Report 2020 The TSO Annual Report 2020 | Page 3 Chief Executive Officer ooking back at 2020, our Covid-19 clips. A special thank you to Mitchell Artistry, agility and resilience were development for Australian composers year, we are very proud of Nissen, Principal Bass Trombone, the hallmarks of the TSO Chorus and musicians, as well as promoting Leverything the Tasmanian Symphony who went above and beyond as our throughout 2020. To keep singing gender equity through opportunities Orchestra achieved. When our 2020 fantastic host and anchor. through Covid, no stone remained for female conductors. Specifically, the plans were upended, the musicians, unturned. The southern Tasmanian TSO was recognised for the Australian The disruption to our regular routine choristers and staff of the TSO stepped landscape became our rehearsal Composers’ School, Australian was certainly challenging at times, but forward and into all sorts of new studio for safe, socially distanced Conducting Academy, and tertiary it gave us some latitude to think big terrain to be present and of service singing and by the middle of the year, partnerships that provide professional and towards the future. We created to our community. For me, the three Chorusmaster June Tyzack’s Sunrise experience for Australian classical cross-company teams that were tasked words that best describe the team’s Project was up and running. Thank musicians. with finding new ways to connect with response to this year are artistry, you to every chorister who braved our audiences (and each other), to My sincere thanks to our outgoing Chair, agility and resilience. the winter mornings to be on location participate and join in with the TSO, to David Rich, for 12 years of outstanding and singing as the sun rose. We are On Friday 13 March, we learned that generate income by commercialising service as a Director and Chair of the so proud of the stunningly beautiful the concert planned for the following our vast array of intellectual property, TSO. Also to Don Challen AM who Sunrise Project video. evening – Brahms’ German Requiem and to work on rainy day projects – assumed the role of Chair just as the with Chief Conductor Eivind Aadland the ones that are important but never As in any year, there were comings pandemic was unfolding. From the – could not go ahead. Or, at least, not quite urgent enough. Many seeds were and goings in the orchestra and outset, Don and members of the TSO before a live audience. Undaunted, sown, and several, including Friday administration team. We celebrated the Board linked arms with us to navigate the musicians and choristers gave an Night Live, TSO House and TSO Join 37 years of service and outstanding the difficult terrain of 2020. We are incredibly poignant performance of In, germinated very quickly. contribution of John Panckridge enormously grateful for their passionate the Requiem to an empty Federation (Tutti Bassoon/Contrabassoon). We oversight, rigour and support. Finally, to Friday Night Live, a series of 12 Concert Hall while forces were also farewelled Stefanie Farrands the musicians, choristers and staff of the weekly live-streamed concerts, mobilised to ensure the concert was (Principal Viola), Jonathon Ramsay orchestra – thank you for your artistry, began in September, expanding our captured on film. (Principal Trombone) and Ian Wollstein your agility and your resilience. On online connection with audiences. (Technical Coordinator). At the same balance, 2020 was a win for the TSO. With this recording as a cornerstone, With musician-led programming, time, we were delighted to welcome the team launched an entirely new it enabled us to develop models of Eloise Fisher (Tutti Clarinet/Bass program – TSO Daily Dose – within music production and distribution Clarinet). the week. Every morning at 8am we to sit alongside live concerts. Friday released a dose of positivity, beauty Night Live was made possible by our We were honoured to receive the and hope expressed through music on audience who supported the orchestra inaugural National Luminary Award our YouTube channel. By year’s end, with the conversion of unused concert within the APRA AMCOS Art Music Caroline Sharpen TSO musicians and our Daily Dose tickets to cash donations. Our sincere Awards 2020. The award recognised CEO Content Team of Robert Gibson and thanks to all of you for your generosity, the TSO’s long-term commitment Caleb Miller had created close to 200 loyalty and good wishes. and its contribution to professional Page 4 | The TSO Annual Report 2020 The TSO Annual Report 2020 | Page 5 The Year In Review Dewayne Everettsmith and TSO musicians record a TSO Daily Dose clip for NAIDOC Week. Videographer Caleb Miller with Ivan James and Lynette Smith. Mitch Nissen, Principal Bass Trombone, was the face of TSO Daily Dose. TSO Daily Dose 197 ‘We have been very impressed bespoke videos with the Daily Dose and are With concert activities suspended on Friday 13 March in the wake of the aware of the work that these Covid-19 pandemic, the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra launched TSO Daily recitals have involved. Thank Dose, a brand-new initiative, the following week, on Friday 20 March. TSO More than you so much to all the musicians Daily Dose was the key means of bringing music to audiences, patrons and and staff of the TSO for this supporters during a socially distanced 2020.