ALDEBURGH MUSIC CLUB
Registered charity number: 1000990
Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31 July 2023
President: Sir Humphrey Burton CBE
Vice-Presidents: Robin Leggate and Dame Ann Murray.
Principal address: The Hon Treasurer,
Brick Kiln Farm Westleton Saxmundham Suffolk IP17 3EF
Structure, governance and management
The charity trustees who served during the year were:
Christopher Wheeler — Chair
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Helen Mower — Vice Chair Jane Thomson - Hon Treasurer Wendy Marshall — Hon Secretary David Edwards (appointed 22 November 2022) Caroline Gill (appointed 22 November 2022) Penny Kay (resigned 22 November 2022)
Peter Howard-Dobson
Veronica Posford (resigned 22 November 2022) Helen Tye
Christopher Wheeler, who was formerly Vice Chair, became Chair on the resignation of Veronica Posford on 22 November 2022 and Helen Mower became Vice Chair in his place.
The trustees listed above form the Committee of the Club, but the following persons may be invited to attend meetings of the Committee, in an advisory capacity only and with no right to vote:
Tom Appleton — Director of Music
Maria Chapman-Beer Elizabeth Page - Orchestra Manager
The trustees for the year are elected from the Club's members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). They hold office for one year or until the succeeding season's AGM and are eligible for re-election. The trustees constitute the Committee of the Club, which is responsible to the
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Charity Commission for the proper conduct of the Club's affairs. The Club is an unincorporated charitable organisation governed by its Documents of Constitution, approved by the Charity Commission and dated 20 September 1990, the latest update being 22 November 2022.
Objectives, membership and activities
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The main objective of the Club as defined in its Constitution is to promote, improve, develop and maintain public education in and appreciation of the art and science of music in all its aspects by the presentation of public concerts and recitals, by commissioning new choral works and by such other ways as the Club through its Committee decides. This is principally achieved through the activities of the choir which is open to any active singer in and around Aldeburgh, without audition. An annual subscription is charged for membership of the Club and to cover the costs of weekly rehearsals and to contribute towards the periodic losses incurred in performing public concerts.
The Club arranges and performs concerts each year in Aldeburgh and the surrounding district. The programmes include many of the great classical choral works and a wide variety of less well-known works together with concertos and other orchestral works. Wherever appropriate, the Club will employ local orchestras, young professional soloists and instrumentalists from East Anglia.
Public benefit statement
The trustees have complied with their statutory duty to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when exercising their powers or duties.
Review of the year
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A full programme of activities was undertaken in the year. To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Club in April 1952 by Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears, a Gala Concert with the Prometheus Orchestra was held in November 2022 at Snape Maltings Concert Hall. The concert included the premiere of a choral work by 17 year old local composer Alfred Hopkins. The piece was especially commissioned for the occasion and followed a workshop and competition for young composers organised by the Club.
Two further concerts were performed at St Bartholomew’s Church, Orford. In March 2023, the choir sang Fauré’s Requiem and Duruflé’s Requiem accompanied by the organ and in May, there was a performance Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle accompanied by piano and accordion.
It has been disappointing to note that audiences at concerts generally remain below prepandemic levels.
in addition to the programme of concerts, other activities were undertaken including carol singing on Aldeburgh beach and at Snape Maltings in December. In July 2023, a singing day, open to all, was held in Aldeburgh led by Music Director, Tom Appleton.
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Financial review
The accounts of the club are prepared on a receipts and payments basis.
The Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended 31 July 2023 shows a deficit for the year of £8,925 (2022 — £10,715). Both income and expenditure have increased significantly since the previous year reflecting the Club’s first full season of concerts and activities since the pandemic.
Concert revenues were £20,888 (2022 - £12,949) compared with concert expenditure of £36,297 (2022 - £25,575) resulting in an overall loss on concerts of £15,409 (2022 — £12,626). A major part of concert expenditure relates to the hire of musicians and soloists and the hire of venues, in particular Snape Maltings Concert Hall. The gala concert in November 2022 made a loss of £13,922 which was in line with expectations.
Membership subscriptions totalled £13,235 (2022 - £12,860). Patrons contributed £8,313 (2022 - £6,975). No gift aid was claimed during the year but gift aid in respect of subscriptions and donations received in the year is expected to be claimed. These subscriptions and gifts cover the cost of the choir's rehearsals and overheads and also help to underwrite any concert losses. Cash at the year end was £50,200 (2022 - £59,125).
All the expenses relate to charitable activities.
The Club has sufficient reserves to enable it to continue its activities although the trustees have planned to reduce the costs of future concerts and other activities while the fall in audience numbers and consequently ticket revenues is sustained.
Statement of policy on reserves
Concert revenues are subject to many factors outside the control of the trustees. The Club plans the concert schedule up to three years in advance and may enter into financial commitments in relation to those concerts. To enable the Club to do this with confidence, the trustees have a policy to maintain sufficient reserves to be able to cover the anticipated costs of these activities after taking into account expected revenues from other sources. Reserves at the year end were £50,200 (2022 - £59,125). All the reserves were unrestricted.
Independent Examiner
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The Club’s financial affairs for the year have been examined for no fee by Paul Shore.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees: ele. >.
Christopher Wheeler (Chair)
Date:tf pe
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ALDEBURGH MUSIC CLUB (Registered charity number 1000990)
Receipts and Payments Account for the year ending 31 July 2023
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|Unrestricted|Restricted|_|Total|Total|
|funds|funds|2023|2022|
|£|£|£|£|
|Receipts|
|Concert|revenues|18,308|2,580|20,888|12,949|
|Members’|subscriptions|13,235|:|13,235|12,860|
|Patrons’|donations|8,313|-|8,313|6,975|
|Other|donations|& sponsorship|153|50|203|213|
|Interest|354|-|354|114|
|Other|income|4,062|-|4,062|1,156|
|Total|receipts|44,425|2,630|47,055|34,267|
|Payments|
|Orchestra|and|soloist|hire|15,750|2,330|18,080|10,975|
|Concert venue|hire|5,524|-|5,524|4,821|
|Other concert|expenses|12,443|250|12,693|9,779|
|Total|concert|expenditure|33,717|2,580|36,297|25,575|
|Music|director's|fees|for|rehearsals|9,965|50|10,015|6,930|
|Other|rehearsal|and|educational|6,605|-|6,605|5,968|
|Administration|2,014|-|2,014|2,880|
|Other|1,049|-|1,049|3,629|
|Total|Payments|53,350|2,630|55,980|44,982|
|Deficit|for the year|(8,925)|-|(8,925)|(10,715)|
|Cash|balances|at|previous|year end|59,125|-|59,125|69,840|
|Cash|balances as at 31 July 2022|“50,200...#&+-|50,200|59,125|
|Statement|of Assets and|Liabilities|as at 31 July 2023|
|HSBC|current|account|9,008|-|9,008|7,006|
|CAF|Bank|current|account|4,075|-|4,075|2,248|
|CAF|Bank|deposit|account|11,199|-|11,199|14,167|
|Shawbrook|Bank|25,688|-|25,688|35,484|
|Cash|230|-|230|220|
|Total|assets|(all|unrestricted)|7)|Od|ae||). SOOO|))”~=«SS|tes|
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
Report to the trustees of Aldeburgh Music Club on the accounts for the year ended 31 July 2023 (Charity no. 1000990)
| report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Aldeburgh Music Club (the Charity) for the year ending 31 July 2023.
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Responsibilities and basis of report
As the Charity’s trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act).
| report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination, | have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b} of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
| have completed my examination. | confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that, in any material respect:
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e accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or
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e the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
| have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
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Paul Shore 3 Clematis Close, Westleton, Saxmundham, Suffolk IP17 3BN
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