# **London Oriana Choir Limited (a company limited by guarantee)**
## **Unaudited Financial Statements**
## **for the year ended 31 August 2023**
**Company Number 2848714 Charity Number 1038120**
London Oriana Choir Limited
(a company limited by guarantee)
## CONTENTS
Statement of Financial Activities.............................................................................................................3 Balance Sheet.........................................................................................................................................4 Notes to the Unaudited Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2023................................ 5 1. Accounting Policies...................................................................................................................... 5 2. Sundry Debtors............................................................................................................................ 5 3. Sundry Creditors...........................................................................................................................5 Independent Examiners Report to the Directors of London Oriana Choir Ltd..........................6 Directors and Trustees Report................................................................................................. 7 Introduction.........................................................................................................................8 Legal and administrative information..................................................................................8 Objectives...........................................................................................................................9 Review of the year’s activities............................................................................................ 9 Financial review................................................................................................................13 Future plans..................................................................................................................... 13
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## London Oriana Choir Limited
(a company limited by guarantee)
## **Statement of Financial Activities**
||**2023**|||**2022**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**£**|||**£**|
|**Incoming Resources**|||||
|**Voluntary Income**|||||
|Subscriptions|22,241|||16,487|
|Covenant Income|5,421|||3,204|
|**Activities Generating Funds**|||||
|Concert Income|26,888|||15,721|
|PerformanceFees|3,952|||2,976|
|Sales of Music and CDs|7,728|||7,455|
|Tour Income|20,028|||18,261|
|**Total Incoming Resources**|**86,258**|||**64,104**|
||||||
|**Resources Expended**|||||
|**Costs of generating voluntary income**|||||
|Concert expenditure|26,732|||13,847|
|Cost of music and CDs|6,752|||7,030|
|Tourcosts|19,674|||18,963|
|**Charitable activities**|||||
|Rehearsal fees and hall hire|22,481|||22,656|
|Audition and Scholars|2,610|||726|
|Professionalsubscriptions|440|||434|
|Five 15 Project|-|||10,006|
|**Governance costs**|||||
|Administration|812|||891|
|**Total resources expended**|**79,501**|||**74,553**|
||||||
|**Movement in total funds for the year**|**6,757**|||**(10,449)**|
||||||
|**Reconciliation of funds**|||||
|Funds brought forward|**18,282**|||**28,731**|
|
Funds carriedforward|**25,039**|||**18,282**|
The notes on pages 5 form part of these financial statements
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London Oriana Choir Limited (a company limited by guarantee)
## **Balance Sheet**
|**nce Sheet**||
|---|---|
|Current Assets
Cash at bank
Sundry debtors
**Total Assets**
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
Sundry creditors
**Total Creditors**
Net Current Assets
Unrestricted Reserves|**2023**
**£**
**2022**
**£**
31,157
16.639
6,612
14,954|
||**47,796**
**21,566**
22,758
3,284|
||**22,758**
**3,284**|
||**25,039**
**18,282**|
||**25,039**
**18,282**|
The directors consider that the company is entitled to exemption from the requirement to have an audit under the provisions of section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 (‘The Act’) and members have not required the company to obtain an audit for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Act. The directors acknowledge their responsibility for ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act and for preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of its financial year, and of its income and expenditure for the year in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 of the Act and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements so far as applicable to the company.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008).
These financial statements were approved by the board on 28th February 2024 and signed on its behalf by
Chris Birkle
The notes on page 5 form part of these financial statements.
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London Oriana Choir Limited
(a company limited by guarantee)
## **Notes to the Unaudited Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2023**
## **1. Accounting Policies**
## Basis of preparation of the financial statements
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective 2008). The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities’ published in March 2005, applicable accounting standards and the Companies Act 2006
## Company Status
The company is a company limited by guarantee. In the event of the company being would up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the company.
## Revenue and Expenditure Recognition
Revenue and expenditure is included in the Statement of Financial Activities in the year it becomes receivable or payable.
## Fund Accounting
Funds are unrestricted and comprise accumulated surpluses and deficits on general funds. They are available for use at the discretion of the directors in furtherance of the general charitable objectives.
## **2. Sundry Debtors**
|**dry Debtors**||||
|---|---|---|---|
||**2023**
**£**||**2022**
**£**|
|Covenanted income accrued
Other debtors and prepayments|8,096
8,543||9,704
5,250|
|Total debtors|**16,639**||**14,954**|
## **3. Sundry Creditors**
|**dry Creditors**||||
|---|---|---|---|
||**2023**
**£**||**2022**
**£**|
|Members guarantees
Other creditors and accruals|239
22,519||239
3,045|
|Total creditors|**22,758**||**3,284**|
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## **Independent Examiners Report to the Directors of London Oriana Choir Ltd** Year ended 31 August 2023
I report on the financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2019, which comprise the statement of financial activities (including income and expenditure account), statement of financial position and the related notes.
## **Respective responsibilities of directors and examiners**
The directors (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. The directors consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’) and that an independent examination is needed.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
- follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commissioner under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
- state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items of disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanation from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view. And the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
- (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in an material respects the requirements: ● to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, company with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met, or
- (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Jenny Howard FCCA 4, The Maltings, Orpington, Kent, BR6 0DH 28th February 2024
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## **London Oriana Choir Ltd**
**Directors and Trustees Report Year ending 31 August 2023**
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## **LONDON ORIANA CHOIR LIMITED**
## **DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 AUGUST 2023**
## **Introduction**
This report covers the financial year 1 September 2022 - 31 August 2023. London Oriana Choir Ltd was established in 1993 to conduct the affairs of the London Oriana Choir. The company is limited by guarantee and is a registered charity.
The London Oriana Choir was founded in November 1973 by Leon Lovett. In July 2013 the Choir appointed its third Musical Director, Dominic Ellis-Peckham, following seventeen successful years under the leadership of David Drummond.
The Choir is recognised as one of Britain's leading mixed amateur choirs, known for its high standards, broad repertoire, and the vibrant energy of its performances. The Choir promotes concerts at major central London venues such as St James’s Piccadilly, makes regular tours in the UK and abroad, and is often invited to perform at other promoters' events.
## **Legal and administrative information**
London Oriana Choir Limited Registered in England & Wales No. 2848714 Registered Charity No. 1038120
Registered Office: 52 Kingswood Road, London SW19 3NE
Main address:
Postal: Colin Poole, Company Secretary, 52 Kingswood Road, London SW19 3NE Email: cosec@londonoriana.com
Bankers: CAF Bank
Independent Examiner: Jenny Howard FCCA 4 The Maltings, Orpington, Kent, BR6 0DH
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Website: www.londonoriana.com
All members of the Board of Directors are Trustees for the purposes of charity law. Those serving on the Board during 2022/2023 were:
Colin Poole (Company Secretary) Chris Matthews (Subscriptions, Auditions and Membership Secretary) Catherine Hibberd (Treasurer) Lizann Peppard (Marketing and Press) Marie Ortinau (Concerts) Resigned 29.4.23 Melissa Mackey (Auditions and Membership) Appointed 4.1.23; Resigned 24.7.23 Lucy Nixon (Concerts) Appointed 18.5.23
The Directors and Trustees at the date of approval of this report were Colin Poole, Chris Matthews, Lizann Peppard, Lucy Nixon and Chris Birkle.
The Choir engages the services of a Musical Director (Dominic Ellis-Peckham), Associate Conductor (Nicholas Chalmers) and an accompanist (David Smith) for its regular rehearsals.
The Choir’s Patron is composer Cecilia McDowall.
## **Objectives**
The objects of the company, as set out in the Articles of Association, are to promote, maintain, improve and advance education of the public in the fields of choral music, church music, opera and other classical works and musical and vocal compositions of all kinds.
## **Review of the year’s activities**
In planning the Choir’s activities the Directors and Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. The Choir seeks to benefit members of the public through advancing musical education. It delivers such benefits through:
- the opportunity for membership of the choir, with selection based solely on musical ability, discounted subscriptions available for jobseekers and students and a scholarship programme offering a small number of free memberships to young singers;
- promotion of, and participation in, concerts open to the public in accessible venues in London and elsewhere – offering a range of ticket prices including concessions;
- collaborations and workshops with other vocal groups including youth choirs;
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- CDs and on-line distribution of the Choir’s audio and video recordings of a wide range of music including its five _15_ and Christmas concerts; and
- the availability of professional individual singing tuition during rehearsal time.
In its 49th season, under Dominic Ellis-Peckham’s direction, the Choir rehearsed most weeks from September to early July and promoted eight of its own concerts and a ‘Come and Sing’ event. Choir membership increased to around 120 members. As part of its commitment to support aspiring young singers, the Choir continued its scholarship programme for singers aged 18-25, providing for the eight successful candidates funded memberships for one year as well as complimentary singing lessons and workshops with the Musical Director.
Choir members continued to be able to have individual singing tuition from a professional teacher, Aimee Presswood, during rehearsal time. Aimee stood down from her role in May 2023, and a replacement is being recruited. The Choir also held a successful residential weekend at Juniper Hall, Dorking in January with guest tutors including Amy Bebbington, Clare Wheeler and Mark de Lisser.
In addition to the Choir’s own promotions in London and on tour in Porto, we were delighted to be invited to perform again Adrian Snell’s ‘The Cry’ at a charity concert at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in London in November, and again to sing carols at The Dilly hotel, Piccadilly on several nights, and at Waterstones’ flagship Piccadilly store’s Christmas Event.
Full details of the 2022/23 season are as follows:
_10 September St John’s Church Waterloo, London_
COME AND SING VIVALDI AND BACH
The Creation Quartet Piano - David Smith
_28 October St Paul’s Covent Garden, London_
SCHÜTZ 350
Concert featuring Heinrich Schűtz’s _Selig sind die Toten_ , _Die mit Tränen_ and _Die Himmel erzählen_ together with works by Monteverdi, Hassler, Legrenzi, Hagen, Strozzi and de Wert.
The Rosewood Consort
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Collection in aid of School Ground Sounds
_11 November Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family, Duke St, London_ THE CRY: A REQUIEM FOR THE LOST CHILDREN OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE
The Cry Adrian Snell
With Alleyn’s School Choir and soloist Katy Treharne Conducted by Nicholas Chalmers
By invitation of Beyond Conflict and the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral
- _December The Dilly Hotel, Piccadilly, London (12 evenings)_ Carol singing in the hotel lobby. By invitation of The Dilly hotel
_8 December Waterstones, Piccadilly, London_ Carol singing at Waterstones’ Christmas Event. By invitation of Waterstones Piccadilly
- _10 December St James’ Church, Piccadilly, London 20 December_ STARS
A Christmas carol concert featuring _O Oriens_ by the Choir’s patron Cecilia McDowall and works by Ledger, Tchaikovsky, Matthias, Whitacre, McGlade, Pettmann, Britten, Vaughan Williams, Ord, Gardner, Wallen, Todd, Biebl, Chilcott, Wilberg and Warlock. Organist - Andrew Tait Harpist - Cecily Beer Collections in aid of Attitude is Everything and St Mungo’s
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|_25_|_March_|_2023_|_St Giles Church, Cripplegate, London_|
|---|---|---|---|
||||JS BACH - ST JOHN’S PASSION|
||||Soprano - Sîan Dicker|
||||Mezzo-Soprano - Lotte Betts-Dean|
||||Tenor Evangelist - Peter Kirk|
||||Tenor - Will Wright|
||||Baritone - Kieran Rayner|
||||Bass - Colin Campbell|
||||Meridian Sinfonia|
|_12_|_May_||_St Clement Danes Church, London_|
||||IMMORTAL FIRE|
||||Concert featuring works by Benjamin Britten, including_Hymn to St_|
||||_Cecilia_, Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland, Dobrinka Tabakova, and|
||||premieres of two works by Choir members:_Bella Ciao_by Bernard|
||||Ovink and_Four Haikus_by Ginny Strawson.|
||||Organist - Richard Hills|
|_26_|_May_||_Porto Cricket and Tennis Club, Porto, Portugal_|
||||Informal concert including works by Monterdi, Vaughan Williams,|
||||Tallis, Britten and McGlynn.|
|_27_|_May_||_Igreja do Carmo, Porto_|
|_28_|_May_||_Porto Cathedral, Porto_|
||||IMMORTAL FIRE|
||||Concerts featuring works from the 12 May concert and Imogen Holst’s|
||||Mass in A Minor|
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_8 July St George’s Church, Bloomsbury_
## THE MASTERS OF POLYPHONY: BYRD 400
Concert commemorating the father of polyphony and the madrigal style with works by William Byrd, including his _Mass for Five Voices,_ Lobo, de Monte and contemporary reflections by Roderick Williams and Charlotte Bray.
## **Financial review**
Independently examined accounts for the year are attached. These comply with current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charity’s governing document and the requirements of the Charities Commission SORP. In summary, in the year ended 31.8.23 the company made a profit of £6,757 (2021/22 loss of £10,449), and had a balance at the end of the year of £25,039. This overall result comprises a profit of £155 (2021/22 profit of £1,874) on Choir-promoted concert activities and a profit of £6,602 (2021/22 loss of £12,323) on other activities.
The Directors and Trustees’ policy on reserves is to maintain a level of funds sufficient to finance future planned activities with a prudent allowance for unexpected expenses and income shortfalls. The Choir’s activities are normally planned for one academic year in advance.
The Directors and Trustees have identified and reviewed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular income shortfalls from promoted concerts, and systems have been established to manage those risks.
## **Future plans**
The Choir’s exciting plans for its 50th Anniversary season in 2023/24 include a Gala concert and reception at St John’s Smith Square in March 2024 with special guests American singer-songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman and former Musical Director David Drummond, a collaboration with award-winning a capella group The Gesualdo Six for a workshop and a concert at the Union Chapel, a Come and Sing and other events with Choir Alumni, as well as the commissioning of a documentary film ‘50 Years of Song’ and release of an album of recordings of works commissioned as part of the Choir’s five _15_ women composers initiative.
In addition the Choir will promote four other concerts in London including two Christmas concerts at St James’ Church Piccadilly, tour to Liverpool and Paris, and launch a third round of its Young Singers Choral Scholarship Programme.
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The Choir is also delighted to have been invited again by Wild Faery to perform in a videogame concert ‘Final Fantasy XIV’ with the BBC Concert Orchestra at the Eventim Apollo Hammersmith in October, and to sing carols at Waterstones Piccadilly’s Christmas Event.
Approved by the Trustees and Board on 28th February 2024 and signed on their behalf
Chris Birkle Director
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