Chairman’s report 2019-20
I started last year’s report by saying that the season had been a bit of a roller coaster. Little did we know what was coming!
It is challenging to summarise this season, which has taken more unexpected turns than we could have imagined. The autumn term proceeded as normal, Chris knocked us back into shape after the summer break, and with the help of some excellent soloists we performed a baroque ensemble, headlined by Bach’s glorious Magnificat, in November (see Chris’ own report for a more critical summary). Then, in early January, a few days before we were due to resume rehearsals we received the devastating news of Chris’ stroke. Mercifully, thanks to excellent medical care, an intensive rehabilitation programme and a great deal of hard work by Chris, he continues to make good progress.
In these circumstances we were very fortunate that Anita was working at the time with Richard Laing, who was free, amazingly, on the date of our March concert and readily agreed to step into the breach, despite a round trip to Wallingford of about 150 miles. We are enormously grateful to him for helping us out at a difficult time. I think those of us that took part in the magnificent performance of A Sea Symphony on 14 March, along with Anita’s wonderful performance of Grieg’s Piano Concerto will remember it for a long time to come; not least how lucky we were to be able to go ahead in the nick of time before such events were rendered impossible. We also managed to hold a Saturday workshop for the Sea Symphony in early February at the Oratory School. Our thanks to Sarah Latto for directing that, and for the several other rehearsals she took when Richard was not available.
And so to lockdown, and a whole new vocabulary to go with it. The March concert turned out to be the last time we were together as rehearsals had to be discontinued and the June concert cancelled. I know we have all missed our weekly rehearsals and I hope that it will not be too long before we may be able to resume in some format. The committee is working hard on possible plans and considering options that would allow us to do so in a covid-secure way.
Regrettably, but understandably, Chris decided to retire after 45 years with BCS. The circumstances that lead to this would not be how any of us wanted his long and dedicated tenure to end, but I am sure I speak for us all in wishing him and Gloria a long and happy retirement. On a personal level, I will miss him enormously for his tremendous support, his humour and his straightforwardness. He is a hard act to follow for sure. We tried our best to convince Richard that he needed another choir to add to the three he directs already (amongst many other commitments!) but unsurprisingly he felt he could not take us on permanently. We advertised for a new Director of Music in March and received applications from some excellent candidates. A selection panel comprising Kevin, Roger, Richard, Anita, Simon Salisbury from the Elgar Orchestra and me interviewed a number of applicants via zoom in July and we have four very experienced, eager candidates waiting in the wings to audition with us when that is possible.
The much anticipated garden party, which this year was also to be a celebration and farewell to Chris, has not been possible either, and we await circumstances when we can get together for this. Unfortunately it does not seem as if it will be anytime soon.
The committee has convened rather more frequently than in a normal year, the only upside being that finding a date was easy as everyone’s diaries were empty! I would like to thank my fellow Officers, Kevin Lawson, Secretary and Martin Mellor, Treasurer for all their hard work and support during these unprecedented times. Grateful thanks also to all of the Committee – Bea Earland, Adrian Smyly, Stephanie Martin, Celia Barnshaw, Mary Braithwaite, Tony Winters, Anita D’Attellis and Roger Morgan for their active and committed participation and help. And to the many others who contribute and help to make BCS such a thriving society.
I hope we can look forward to a more certain future before too long.
Charlotte Kerr, Chairman September 2020
Treasurer’s Report for the year ended 31 August 2020
OVERVIEW
Although we mounted two highly successful concerts this year, it has been rather disappointing being overshadowed by the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced us to cancel the rehearsals for the Summer concert and of course the concert itself. Paradoxically, however, this has resulted in a very good year for the Society’s finances – a projected deficit has been turned into a surplus of £978 even after taking into account exceptional expenditure of £480 for advertising for a new Musical Director. Not only have we saved the loss, which we normally incur on staging a concert, but also the substantial expenditure we would have incurred relating to rehearsals.
Therefore, although in disappointing circumstances, the finances of the Society have improved over the year and remain in a healthy position.
Because of the uncertainties that confront us the Committee have elected to defer a decision on Members’ Subscriptions for 2020/21 until the way forward can be determined.
REVIEWER
A big thank you is due to Eileen Watts who reviewed the 2018/19 Accounts and has agreed to continue in her role and review these accounts.
ACCOUNTS
Please see the Notes on Page 4 of the Accounts for supporting information.
In summary general points are as follows:
Income and Expenditure Account
Income
Total income decreased by £965 compared with 2018/2019. Income from Subscriptions , Gift Aid and Friends decreased by £655 to £16,861 compared with 2018/19 reflecting a small reduction in paying members offset by an increase in Gift Aid of £158 which is based the larger membership in the previous year.
Expenditure
Total expenditure decreased by £2,542 to £16,783, including the exceptional cost of advertising amounting to £480, which apart from the latter reflects the fact that we staged two concerts instead of three
Concerts
Page 3 of the Accounts shows an analysis of Income and Expenditure for each Concert.
Balance Sheet
The Surplus of £978 for the year shown on the Income and Expenditure Account served to increase the Accumulated Fund to £18,863 that represents the net Assets of the Society as at 31 August 2020.
Martin Mellor, Treasurer
22 September 2020
BENSON CHORAL SOCIETY
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2020
Registered Charity No: 1001958
BENSON CHORAL SOCIETY
INDEX TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2020
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Income & Expenditure Account | 1 |
| Balance Sheet | 2 |
| Concert Accounts | 3 |
| Notes | 4 |
Page 1
BENSON CHORAL SOCIETY
INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2020
| £ £ 14,193 2,623 17,516 700 449 360 5 396 18,726 3,096 2,852 1,604 7,736 184 1,262 568 90 16 353 63 113 1,001 4,689 9,124 3,434 19,325 (599) 2019 |
INCOME Subscriptions Gift Aid Friends Rehearsal Refreshments Staging & Score Hire Profit on Sale of Scores Garden Party Profit on Woirkshop EXPENDITURE General Conductor's Fees Accompanist's Fees Guest Conductor Guest Accompanist Note 1 Hire of Rehearsal Venues Note 1 Subscriptions & Insurance Membership Guides Printing, Stationery & Postage Website Gifts Advertising Note 2 Sundry Expenses Concerts Note 3 Loss on Winter Concert Loss on Spring Concert Loss on Summer Concert Surplus / (Deficit) for the year |
£ £ 13,380.00 2,780.81 700.20 16,861.01 352.77 289.00 92.25 - 165.69 17,760.72 1,716.00 2,162.00 2,415.02 - 6,293.02 1,017.25 642.44 30.00 9.42 243.00 - 480.00 102.16 2,566.52 5,323.90 75.00 7,965.42 16,782.71 978.01 2020 |
|---|---|---|
Page 2
BENSON CHORAL SOCIETY
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 AUGUST 2020
| 2019 £ ASSETS 15 Cash in hand Note 4 17,451 Balance at Bank 591 Debtors and Payments in Advance Note5 Stock of Scores 18,057 172 Less Creditors Note 6 17,885 REPRESENTED BY: Accumulated Fund 18,484 Balance at 1 September 2019 (599) Surplus / (Deficit) for the year 17,885 |
2020 £ 36.77 20,218.88 380.50 19.62 20,655.77 1,792.54 18,863.23 17,885.22 978.01 18,863.23 |
|---|---|
I have reviewed the Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet for the Year Ended 31st August 2020 and can confirm that they accurately reflect the financial records for the period under review and the assets and liabilities at the Balance Sheet date.
Eileen Watts Independent Reviewer Date
M H Mellor Hon Treasurer Date
Page 3
BENSON CHORAL SOCIETY
CONCERT ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 AUGUST 2020
----- Start of picture text -----
RECEIPTS PAYMENTS
2019 2020 2019 2020
£ £p £ £p
Autumn (Bach Magnificat , Handel Chandos Anthem No 9, Vivaldi Beatus Vir RV598, Concerto for Strings RV157)
5,099 Ticket Receipts 4,265.46 3,230 Orchestra 2,890.00
111 Profit on Music Hire 112.50 674 Conductor's Fee 646.00
130 Profit on Programmes 125.57 700 Soloists 2,000.00
236 Profit on Interval Drinks 249.25 306 Orchestral Scores 351.99
950 Venue & Facilities Hire 1,050.00
480 Organ Hire 51.50
110 Printing & Advertising 135.82
47 Gifts 133.99
80 Staging Dismantlement 60.00
5,576 Total Receipts 4,752.78 6,577 Total Payments 7,319.30
1,001 Loss on Concert 2,566.52
6,577 7,319.30 6,577 7,319.30
Spring (Vaughan Williams Sea Symphony, Grieg Piano Concerto in A Minor )
4,053 Ticket Receipts 4,130.49 4,900 Orchestra 5,355.00
133 Profit on Music Hire 23.00 635 Conductor's Fee 718.00
127 Profit on Programmes 40.90 2,060 Soloists 1,650.00
282 Profit on Bar and Catering 170.45 395 Orchestral Scores 707.41
370 Venue & Facilities Hire 950.50
688 Staging 60.00
138 Printing & Advertising 135.83
98 Gifts 112.00
4,595 Total Receipts 4,364.84 9,284 Total Payments 9,688.74
4,689 Loss on Concert 5,323.90
9,284 9,688.74 9,284 9,688.74
Summer (CANCELLED)
3,192 Ticket Receipts - 4,130 Orchestra -
236 Profit on Music Hire - 635 Conductor's Fee -
82 Profit on Programmes - 400 Soloists -
156 Profit on Interval Drinks - 605 Orchestral Scores -
1,050 Venue & Facilities Hire 75.00
-
Hire of Piano and Tuning
162 Printing & Advertising -
58 Gifts -
60 Staging Dismantlement -
3,666 Total Receipts - 7,100 Total Payments 75.00
3,434 Loss on Concert 75.00
7,100 75.00 7,100 75.00
----- End of picture text -----
Page 4
BENSON CHORAL SOCIETY
NOTES ON THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2020
1 Conductor's and Accompanist Fees
Fees for rehearsals amount to £6,293 compared with £7,736 in 2018/19 reflecting the cancellation of the Summer Concert because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hire of Rehearsal Venues
For the same reason the cost of Hire of Rehearsal Venues is less than 2018/19
2 Advertising
This is the cost of advertising for a new Musical Director
3 Concerts
The overall loss on Concerts fell by £1,159 to £7,965 because the Summer Concert was cancelled. The loss of £75 recorded for the Summer Concert is the non-refundable deposit for hire of the concert venue, Dorchester Abbey (See Page 4 of these Accounts for details of each concert)
4 Cash in Hand
This is the float for rehearsal coffee and refreshments
5 Debtors and Payments in Advance
Credit with Oxfordshire County Library 155.50 Dorchester Abbey - Deposits for venue for 2020/21 Concerts 225.00 380.50 6 Creditors Balance the retirement fund donated by the members, due to our Musical Director, Chris Walker 1,292.54 Ex gratia payment to Guest Conductor 500.00 1,792.54
| BALANCESHEETAS AT31AUGUST | 2A2O | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 f |
2A2A | ||
| € | |||
| ASSETS | |||
| 15 | Cashin hand | Note4 | 96.77 |
| 17,451 | Balanceat Bank | 20,219.99 | |
| 591 | DebtorsandPaymentsinAdvance | NoteS | 380.50 |
| Stock of Scores | 19.62 | ||
| 19,057 | EM | ||
| 172 _TzE6r- |
Less Creditors | Note6 | 1,792.54 |
| 19,963.23 | |||
| REPRESENTED BY: | |||
| AccumulatedFund | |||
| 19,494 (5ee) |
Balanceat1September2019 Surplus/(Deficit)for the year |
17,995.22 978.01 |
|
| T665_ | 18,863.23 | ||
| - |