The Bushey Symphony Orchestra has been actively involved in community music-making since 1975 and is considered by many to be among the finest ensembles of its kind in the UK. High musical standards are maintained with the help of our experienced music team – conductor, George Vass and leader, Martin Smith – together with a nucleus of talented professional players who augment the ensemble at concerts.
Each concert promoted by the BSO costs somewhere in the region of £5,000 to deliver – hire of hall, soloist fees, printing, rehearsal costs, professional fees and music hire all add up, and it is becoming more complex than ever to balance the budget.
We’re fortunate to be able to rely on membership subscriptions and orchestral tax relief (a Government initiative that allows instrumental groups to claim a percentage of production costs). We also receive generous financial support from a growing number of Friends and Benefactors in addition to ticket sales, but our budgets continue to show a deficit.
In order to maximise our future income stream, we recently changed the way our Benefactor and Friends schemes work; so that, as a Registered Charity (No 292080), we can claim GiftAid from those supporters who pay income tax in the UK.
We very much hope that you will want to support the Bushey Symphony Orchestra, ensuring that it remains an important cultural resource in our corner of Hertfordshire, performing live orchestral music to appreciative audiences.
BSO Benefactors
Become a member of our exclusive group of Benefactors. Attractive packages are offered at particularly generous rates to supportive individuals:
Gold Benefactor (£500 – membership of £200 plus a minimum £300 donation)
– One pair of complimentary tickets for each concert in our 2024/25 Season
– Priority booking
– Free copy of concert programme
– Invite to a special Launch Party on Sunday 6 October 2024
– Listing in concert programme
– Complimentary interval drinks
Silver Benefactor (£275 – membership of £150 plus a minimum £125 donation)
– One pair of complimentary tickets for three concerts in the 2024/25 Season
– Priority booking
– Free copy of concert programme
– Invite to a special Launch Party on Sunday 6 October 2024
– Listing in concert programme
– Complimentary interval drinks
Bronze Benefactor (£175 – membership of £75 plus a minimum £100 donation)
– One pair of free tickets for one concert in the 2024/25 Season
– Priority booking
– Free copy of concert programme
– Invite to a special Launch Party on Sunday 6 October 2024
– Listing in concert programme
Sponsor a player
Many audience members feel a special affinity with individual players in the orchestra – the musicians may be personal friends, or they might simply love the flute, violin or horn. For whatever reason, it is now possible to sponsor a specific player for the 2024/25 Season:
Sponsoring a player (£200 – membership of £75 plus a minimum £125 donation)
– Listing in concert programme
– Priority booking
– Free copy of concert programme
– Invite to a special Launch Party on Sunday 6 October 2024
BSO Friends
We are enormously grateful to the Friends of the BSO who provide crucial support for the orchestra. For a minimum donation of £60 (double) or £40 (single), BSO Friends are afforded the following:
– Priority booking
– Listing in concert programme
– Free copy of convert programme
– Invite to a special Launch Party on Sunday 6 October 2024
Corporate Sponsorship
There are various levels of Corporate Sponsorship available; these include:
– Sponsoring a soloist for a BSO Concert (£750)
– Sponsoring a new commission for the BSO (£1,750)
– Sponsoring an entire BSO Concert (£3,000)
There are many other levels than these and Sponsorship can be tailored to your individual requirements – it is even possible to arrange ensembles from the BSO for your special event.
Making a Legacy
Whether writing your Will for the first time or amending it with a Codicil, leaving a bequest to the BSO is straightforward, although you may wish to take legal advice.
BSO is a charity registered with the Inland Revenue. Consequently, all bequests to BSO are exempt from inheritance tax.
If you would like further details on how to make a Legacy to the orchestra or about any of the ways you may be able to support the orchestra, please contact:
Joanna Buxton, BSO Treasurer
joannabuxton@busheysymphony.org.uk