WE IMPLEMENT OUR OBJECTIVES BY SPONSORING THE FOLLOWING PORTFOLIOS:

YOUTH ORCHESTRAL DEVELOPMENT – (18A)

Funds from this portfolio go to the following established educational organisations who provide essential grass roots level music training programmes, including:

  1. Beau Soleil Music Centre
  2. Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre
  3. Bursaries for students from the Western Cape to attend the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival (SICMF )
  4. Bursaries for students from the Western Cape to attend the SA National Youth Orchestra Course (SANYO)
  5. Development projects of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPYO, CPYWE, Masidlale, Academy)
  6. Running costs and bursaries for students of the Western Cape to attend the Franschhoek Chamber Music Workshop

INDIVIDUAL STUDY – (18A)

This portfolio offers, subject to available funds, support for individuals wishing to pursue their studies at university level in South Africa. Support can be in the form of fees for lessons, additional classes including theory, application fees for examinations and competitions and transport costs.

Previously we were able to assist graduates who wished to continue their studies overseas but we are now precluded from continuing with this in terms of our section 18A approval from SARS. We are, however, able to contribute towards return flight travel and visa costs for musicians to attend short term courses and masterclasses overseas provided they return and transfer the skills learned on to others.

View our 2019 Education Report
View our 2020 Education Report
View our 2021 Education Report

INSTRUMENT DONATION AND RESTORATION

FOM also collects old musical instruments, and where possible raises funds to restore the instruments to present to needy students and schools. This has included two pianos, four recorders and a number of violins. A piano restoration can amount to anything from R10 000 to R16 000, and a violin from R2 000 to R5 000 depending on condition. We appeal to our members to donate generously towards our piano and violin restoration projects.

CAPE TOWN PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

While nurturing the development programmes for young musicians, it is also necessary to nurture support and awareness for the professional body of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. FOM maintains a close relationship with the orchestra and helps the CPO to raise funds through an annual benefit concert, hosting the final dress rehearsals of CPO concerts and other events where possible.

Broader Awareness

Further ways to broaden awareness and encourage support of classical music includes funding live broadcasts of classical concerts on the community music radio station Fine Music Radio. Concerts can include youth competitions and specialized festivals which can be presented with an educational slant to further break down barriers and encourage listenership and support.

Where possible, the organisations we support through these portfolios receive annual funding from us to help them continue with the outstanding work they undertake. Each individual organization contributes and provides educational support for young aspiring students of classical music. We endeavor to support students who are not able to finance their studies through the government funding initiatives.

At the end of 2017, The Friends of Orchestral Music received permission from SARS to present South African tax payer donors with a section 18A income tax certificate provided they specify that their donation must be used for education as listed in our Orchestral Development and Individual Study portfolios above. We have raised the qualifying annual threshold for donations tax certificates to donations in excess of R500.

The Friends of Orchestral Music is managed by a committee of volunteers elected by the members of the Friends at the Annual General Meeting. The committee meets monthly. Members of the committee have individual portfolios so that the workload is reasonably spread. The Friends of Orchestral Music is managed by a committee of volunteers elected by the members of the Friends at the Annual General Meeting. The committee meets monthly. Members of the committee have individual portfolios so that the workload is reasonably spread.

We raise our funds through a partnership with Bowmans Law who have offered us their facilities at their head office at 22 Bree Street, Cape Town. The entirely sponsored functions with very generous canapes and wine allows FOM to present three Sunday evening soirees a year to showcase the growing talent that South Africa has to offer. The fourth Sunday evening of the year is a general knowledge quiz. One of our members, Bill van Rensburg, generously sponsored the performance fees of our soiree series in 2018 and 2019.

The general public are encouraged to attend these events.

The combined generosity of Bowmans Law and Bill has enabled us to apply the entire ticket sales proceeds of our 2018/2019 soiree series and our quiz to supporting our objectives. We are extremely grateful to them.

Lastly, we seek donations from individuals, companies, trusts and foundations who are enthused with our objectives and want the FOM to continue with its intended activities.

In order to provide the Friends with benefits for their membership contribution we offer discounted tickets to the Bowmans Law soirees, the quiz evening, talks and other events as well as a monthly newsletter giving information on our projects and music in Cape Town.

Membership is individual with a student option.

FOM is particularly pleased that it can continue with this work and is also happy to announce it has almost quadrupled the amount of sponsorship received through its activities over the last 5 years – a commendable value-add indeed!

Donations to FOM are not diluted through percentages paid to fundraisers and the entire quantum of any donation thus accrues to the cause for which it is intended.

FOM is a registered Section 18A Public Benefit Organisation: 930055453