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← Exeter Philharmonic Choir

2025-06-30-accounts

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Exeter Philharmonic Choir

Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the Year Ended 30 June 2025

Charity registration number: 1043617

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Exeter Philharmonic Choir Annual Report 2025

CONTENTS

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||||| |---|---|---|---| |Legal and Administrative Information|Page|3| |Trustees’|Report|Page 4| |Independent|Examiner’s Report|Page|11| |Receipts and Payments Account|Page|12| |Statement ofAssets|and Liabilities|Page|13| |,|t| |Detailed Income and Expenditure Account*|Page|14|

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*Not part of the formal financial statements — this is enclosed for members’ information only

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Exeter Philharmonic Choir Annual Report 2025

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

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||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Charity Registration Number|1043617| |Principal|Office|39|Bishops Way| |Exeter|,| |Devon|,| |EX2|7PF| |Trustees|Mrs Janet Ainley| |Mr|Roland|Chant| |Mr Andgew Henderson|(Co-opted)| |Mrs|Victoria|Henderson| |Mrs|Charlotte Hodgson| |Ms Adrienne Long| |Mr Geoff Poad|(resigned|15 March|2025)| |Mr|Shaun|Sellings| |Mr Martin|Stubbings| |Mrs Ann Weiler| |Bankers|The Cooperative Bank plc| |PO|Box|250| |Delf House| |Southway| |Skelmersdale| |WN8|6WT| |Insurers|.|Making Music|Commercial|Combined|Policy|(provided|by| |Covea Insurers)| |4|London|Wall|Place| |London| |EC2Y 5AU| |Independent|Examiner|Rowan House Accountants| |5|Earl|Richards|Road North| |Exeter| |.|EX2|6AQ| |Choir Website|www.exeterphilharmonic.org.uk|

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Exeter Philharmonic Choir Annual Report 2025

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TRUSTEES’ REPORT

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on page 13 and comply with the regulations of the Charities Act 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and the provisions of the Choir’s Constitution.

Our Objective

The objective of the Choir is to maintain, develop, and promote public education in, and appreciation of the art and science of music, in all its aspects. 4

To support our objective, the Choir holds a strong ethos of pursuing the highest possible standard of performance, achieved through our rehearsals, our choral direction and training, our members’ commitment, and the engagement of professional soloists and instrumental ensembles for all our concerts.

Our Governance and Administration

Founded in 1846, the Choir is a charity, registered with the Charity Commission (registration number: 1043617) and is governed by the Making Music Model Constitution (developed with the Charity Commission and updated in October 2021). The Choir adopted this Constitution on 25" September _[2023.]

Under the terms of the Making Music Model Constitution (October 2021), the Choir is managed by a committee whose members also constitute the trustees. The committee comprises trustees elected from and by the members (Elected Trustees) and trustees co-opted by existing trustees (Co-opted Trustees). The committee must include 3 Officers (Chair, Secretary and Treasurer) anda minimum of. 3 other trustees.

The Choir at a general meeting elects the trustees for a 3-year fixed term of office. All trustees are eligible for re-election for a fixed number of 3-year terms as determined by the Choir in its rules and regulations.

During 2024/2025 the committee has comprised 10 trustees (9 elected and | coopted) and has held bimonthly meetings. Meetings of the Officers (Co-chairs, Secretary and Treasurer) and its three subcommittees (Programme, Publicity and Choral Pilgrimage) have been held regularly, as required.

Over the reporting year, the committee reviewed the overall organisational structure of the Choir, including the many roles that choir members carry out. A new team structure has been put in place with each team led by a trustee. The structure is designed to ensure that all choir roles are supported and there is more effective two-way communication between team members and the committee and its sub-committees.

The committee also implemented a refresh of the Choir’s visual identity to provide a more modern look for the Choir and allow more effective use on digital media, and developed a new Friends Scheme to offer supporters more enhanced benefits and greater involvement in the Choir’s activities.

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Exeter Philharmonic Choir Annual Report 2025

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TRUSTEES’ REPORT

Our Membership

The Choir ended the season with a membership of 98, having welcomed 9 new members during the year. We also sadly bid farewell to several very long-standing members.

In line with the Choir’s policy to conduct vocal assessments every four years, our Director of Music undertook assessments of all members of the Choir (except those’ who had recently auditioned) during the first 6 months of the season. The purpose of the exercise was to confirm whether members were still comfortable singing in their relevant sections and to provide an opportunity for members to discuss any issues with their singing. The assessments particularly highlighted what members value most about the Choir and the desire for more vo¢al coaching. The committee has duly responded to this request and has arranged for a professional vocal coach to run a rehearsal session during our next season.

Fundraising

As well as finalising the concert plans for the 2025/26 season, the Choir’s programme sub-committee has been working hard on developing the arrangements for the performance of Carmina Burana in November 2026 (in the Great Hall, University of Exeter). As this concert will involve groups of young singers and instrumentalists and represents a major outreach project for the choir, the committee has set up a fundraising group to work on raising funds from grant making organisations, sponsorship and general fundraising, to support this element of the performance.

Public Benefit

Mindful of the guidance of the Charity Commission on providing public benefit, the Choir performs concerts. which are open to the public and which offer a range of ticket prices, including discounts for specific groups.

Our annual Choral Workshop enables members of the public to sing with choir members in a full day workshop on a major choral work with the Choir’s Director of Music.

As outlined above, in our programme plans for 2026/2027, we have already put in place a major outreach opportunity for local young singers and instrumentalists to join with us in one of our 180" season concerts.

The Choir values diversity and membership is open to all, but as with many similar organisations, this is subject to an audition to ensure that an applicant’s vocal ability meets the standard set by the Director of Music.

The Choir also supports local charities through retiring collections at our Carol Concerts and Lord Mayor’s Concert in March. (Further details of the charities supported and amounts raised will be found under the Financial Review in this report). .

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TRUSTEE’S REPORT

‘ "Our 2024/2025 Season

The Choir has again had a very full and busy 2024/25 season.

Tour to Spain: 24 — 30 September 2024

At the end of September 2024 a group of 47 Choir members, together with 9 friends and family, | travelledto Salamanca in Northern Spain for a five-day singing tour.

The Choir launched the tour with a concert on.21 September in St Margaret’s Church, Topsham. In Spain, we performed concerts in the Old Cathedralof Salamanca and in the Cathedral of Valladolid, and finished by singing in a service at The Basilica of St Teresa in Avila.

Our programme was carefully chosen to showcase a selection of English sacred music across the ages, from the Renaissance period through to contemporary composers, and was very well received by large and appreciative audiences in all venues. One of the highlights of the programme was ‘Un Salmo Espanol’, a work specially commissioned for the tour from our Associate Director of Music, Stephen Tanner, which references Spanish rhythms and harmonies in its setting of Psalm 21.

The group also had plenty of time for sight-seeing, particularly in the stunning city of Salamanca. Sadly, during the week several members succumbed to Covid, which meant they were unable to participate fully in our visits and concerts, but this did not seem to lessen the overall enjoyment and high levels of satisfaction with the tour.

09 November 2024: Handel’s Messiah in Holy Trinity Church, Exmouth

We then began the full choir year with a performance of Handel’s Messiah with Joanne Greene and ‘The Handel Sinfony’, an ensemble of fellow professionals; Sam Cobb soprano; Luthien Brackett alto; Oscar Golden-Lee tenor; and James Geidt bass. This concert was particularly notable as it was the Choir’s first performance in a ‘semi-scrambled’ formation (small groups of all 4 sections), and was supported by small instrumental forces which allowed for more subtle effects. We were, as always, made very welcome by those at Holy Trinity Church.

17 and 18 December 2024: Carol Concerts in Exeter Cathedral

A selection of well-known festive choral works interspersed with traditional carols for all to sing, in the atmospheric. setting of Exeter Cathedral. The Choir was joined by trumpeters Cameron Todd and Ross Brown. As well as their very moving rendition of Den yndigste rose by Frederik Magle, they also displayed their virtuosic playing in Handel’s Let the bright seraphim with soprano Milly Forrest, and especially in Cecilia McDowall’s A winter 5 night. The programme was interspersed with interludes about Devon Christmases, past and present, by local historian, Dr Todd Gray MBE.

15 February 2025: Public Choral Workshop

We hosted a very well attended workshop on Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor. Nearly 200 singers gathered in The Mint Methodist Church Centre for a glorious day of singing. The experience was greatly enhanced by members of the Lyric Ensemble joining us for an informal performance in the afternoon.

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TRUSTEE’S REPORT

15 March 2025: Lord Mayor’s Concert in Exeter Cathedral

This all-Mozart programme gave us a wonderful opportunity to experience some of the composer’s most sublime choral music: Great Mass in C minor; ‘Laudate Dominum’ from Solemn Vespers; and Regina Coeli. We were pleased to welcome back the London Mozart Players, with soloists Lucinda Cox, soprano; Daisy Walford, soprano; Ruairi Bowen, tenor; and Tim Mirfin, bass. We were also delighted to feature rising star violinist Joe] Munday, performing the Violin Concerto No. 1.

14 June 2025: ‘A Feast of English Choral Music’ in Exeter Cathedral

Our singing year ended with an evening featuring some of the greatest English choral and organ music of the late 19th and early 20th centuries including works by the musical giants of their time: Ralph Vaughan Williams, Hubert Parry, Arthur Sullivan and Herbert Howells. We welcomed celebrated baritone Thomas Humphreys who joined us in singing Vaughan Williams’ evocative work, Five Mystical Songs as well as performing Arthur Sullivan’s The Lost Chord.

Stephen Tanner, the Choir’s Associate Director of Music and a renowned keyboard player, performed pieces by Edward Bairstow and Herbert Howells that showcased both the organist and the organ.

Thanks

At our final concert, Exeter Philharmonic Choir thanked Councillor Kevin Mitchell for his enthusiastic support ofthe Choir during the two years of his role as The Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Exeter. In recognition of this, we were delighted that he has accepted our invitation to become an Honorary Vice President of the Choir.

Social Activities

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A group of members enjoyed a day trip to Wells on Wednesday 30 April 2025.

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TRUSTEE’S REPORT

Having reported a very successful 2023/24 series of concerts at last year’s AGM (a £2,800 surplus) the season just past has concluded with a deficit ofjust over £2,000 recorded across all concerts. The loss mainly arises from lower than expected ticket sales for the final concert of the season ‘A Feast of English Choral Music’.

Subscription income at £17,520 continues to be the Choir’s main source of non-concert revenue. Internal fund raising across Singing Mornings amounted to just over £1,000. An increase in the number of members contributing through the Gift Aid scheme generated an additional £800 of valuable income, resulting in a total claim of £3,242.

However, day-to-day running costs also recorded an overall deficit ofjust over £1,600 primarily due to increases across rehearsal and promotional costs. This deficit position was reduced by two significant donations, totalling just over £1,800.

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The Choir continues to facilitate fundraising by. other charities through retiring collections, anda _ grand total of £4,227 was raised during the season. (£3339.09 for Community, Equality, Disability Action in December and £888.86 for Force Cancer Charity in March).

During March 2025 just over half of the Choir’s investment within the COIF Charities Investment —_. Fund was cashed in due to falling share prices and market volatility arising from events in Europe, _ Americaprovided and certainty the Middle that theEast. ChoirAlthough had the markets reserves haveto fundsincefinancialstabilisedcommitments to some degree,that havethis beenaction made across next season and 2026/27, the Choir’s 180 anniversary season.

Reserves

At the start of the season the Choir held more in reserve than would normally be required to cover . losses arising from having to cancel or abandon concerts, or from lower than expected ticket sales. As this position is contrary to Charity Commission guidelines, the committee duly considered ways in which the Choir could reduce its reserves to an appropriate level. The committee agreed to set up a Development Fund into which a portion of the Choir’s overall reserves will be ringfenced (an initial amount of £35,000). This fund will be used towards a programme of activities that support the Choir’s charitable objective and provide additional benefits to members.

For the 2025/26 season the Development Fund will be used to fund a major commission, a rehearsal ‘Away Day’ at Buckfast Abbey Conference Centre to work on the newly commissioned piece with the composer, and a singing weekend with professional vocal coaching. .

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At the end of the 2024/25 season the choir holds just over £90,000 in reserves split across the Emergency and Development funds. This is adequate to mitigate the risk of financial loss during the 2025/26 season and provide the additional benefits to members outlined above. To mitigate this risk further, the Choir holds insurance with Making Music that covers cancellation or abandonment up to £10,000.

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Exeter Philharmonic Choir Annual Report 2025

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TRUSTEES’ REPORT

Risk Management and Financial Controls

The treasurer and trustees ensure that the major risks to which the Choir is exposed are analysed regularly and that systems and controls are in place to manage those risks.

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The Choir’s financial controls include:

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Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities in Relation to the Financial Statements

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and the Financial Statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.

_ The trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with . reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable it to ensure that financial statements comply with the applicable law. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

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rehearsalsThe trusteesand hopeconcerts,that all members have enjoyed the singing of the past season, both at regular ; ,

TRUSTEES’ REPORT TT

Maintaining a large and busy choir and keeping everything going so that we are fully prepared for our public performances takes time and effort. Many members volunteer to carry out essential tasks and together they create efficient and effective EPC teams which are appreciated by all choir members, by those with whom we work and liaise, and by our audiences,

Maintaining the Choir is just one important element; developing it is another. Trustees are enormously grateful to Howard Ionascu, our Director of Music and to Stephen Tanner, our Associate Director of Music, for encouraging, gently nudging and teaching us to be better singers and performers. Under their leadership we are constantly growing in confidence to perform a wide range of repertoire with high quality soloists and ensembles.

There are many exciting events happening in the upcoming season and we feel that we have a particularly special concert in the making in November, when we give the world premiére of our commissioned work by Cecilia McDowall, The Weather Book. A pre-concert talk is also planned involving Cecilia McDowall, Professor Penny Endersby, CEO of The Met Office, Roger Huckle, Music Director of the Bristol Ensemble and Howard Tonascu. . _ Trustees have also committed resources to an ‘Away Day’ rehearsal at Buckfast Abbey Conference Centre in October to support the Choir and it will be a privilege to have Cecilia McDowall with us for that day. -

In February 2026, there is a weekend rehearsal for our Spring Concert (Handel’s “Solomon’) which includes a half-day session on breathing and vocal techniques delivered by an external tutor.

Together with our Carol Concerts and Jazz for a Summer Evening concert, there is much to look forward to in our next season!

Approval of Report

The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 10 September 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

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Roland Chant and Adrienne Long Trustees

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF EXETER PHILHARMONIC CHOIR

. | report on the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 30 June 2025 which are set out on pages 12 to 13.

‘Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The Charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. The Charity's trustees 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.

It is my responsibility to:

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Basis of independent examiner’s report

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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 financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of ' any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations 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 statement below.

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Independent examiner's statement

Tn connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

(1) which gives me a reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

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(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached. —-.

Belinda Roome BSc ACA : Rowan House Accountants 5 Earl. Richards Road North Exeter. EX2 6AQ

Date: 29 August 2025

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Exeter Philharmonic Choir Annual Report 2025

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RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025

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|||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |ca| |Receipts|Unrestricted.|funds£|Restrictedfunds£|fundsTotal£|©|/|Last-year£| |Donations|and|legacies|2,206|-|2,206|10| |Subscriptions|18,535|-|18,535|17,516| |Gift aid claimed|3.422,|-|3,422|2,546| |Concert|income|51,652|-|51.652|60,372| |Fundraising, sales of goods,| |programmes|and| |advertising|7,947|-|7,947|7,666| |Dividend|and|interest|1,969|-|1,969|1,890| |income| |Tour income|-|27,615|27,615|.|64,846| |)|85.731|27,615|113,346|154,634| |Asset|and|investment|sales|35,000|-|35,000|-| |Total|receipts|120,731|27,615|148,346|154,634| |:| |Payments| |Music|director, orchestra|49,386|-|49,386|45,78]| |and choir|fees| |On-line|sales|commission|©|3,783|©|-|3,783|4,396| |and bank|charges| |Venue|and|other concert|21,943|-|21,943|~|23,007| |expenses|:| |Publicity and|advertising|8,003|-|8,003|4,298| |Fundraising and cost of|6,015|-|6,015|4,230| |goods|sold| |Finance|Officer|2,750|-|2,750|2,550| |Administration|and|2,138|-|2,138|1,703| |insurance|costs| |Gifts|809|-|809|402| |Tour expenditure|-|22,115|22,115|57,651| |Governance|costs|875|-|$75|875| |95,702|,|22,115|117,817.|144,708| |Asset|and|investment| |purchases|-|-|-|“| |Total payments|95,702|22,115|117,817|144,708| |Net|receipts/(payments)|25,029|5,500|30,529|10,138| |Cash|funds|last year|end|40,785|14,277|55,062|-44,924| |Cash|funds|this|year end|65,814|19,777|$5,591|55,062|

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Exeter Philharmonic Choir Annual Report 2025

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STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 30 JUNE 2025

Unrestricted Restricted * Total Lastyear
funds funds
Cash funds £ £ £ £
Cash floats 215 - 215 215
Currentaccounts 13,249 19,777 33,026 49,797
Deposit accounts $2,350 - 52,350 5,050
Total cash funds 65,844 19,777 85,591 55,062
Othermonetary assets
No othermonetary assets held - - - -
Fundto Current Market
Investment assets which asset Cost Market Value
belongs Value Last year
COIF Charities Investment
Fund-IncomeUnits(Current
value is the bidmarketvalue		 Unrestricted £19,179
a		 £25,541 £62,790
atthe period end)
; Assets retainedforthe
wg
charity’sownuse		 Fundto
which asset
b
elongs		 Cost Market
Value
Musicalequipment
—new
podium		 Unrestricted £3,450 £3,450
Liabilities Fund to
which asset
belongs		 Amount
due		 When
due
Venue costsoutstanding
relatingtoJune2025event		 Unrestricted £3,650 On
receiptof
invoice

Notes to the accounts

1) Restricted funds represent amounts raised by the Choir members for future tours and social events.

2) The financial statements are prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis.

The financial statements on pages 12 to 13 were approved by the Trustees and authorised for issue on 10 September 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

Roland Chant Andrew Henderson

Trustee

Trustee ,

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Exeter Philharmonic Choir Annual Report 2025

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DETAILED INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR

2025 2024
" Income _
£		 £
Donationsand sponsorship 4,706 2,510
GiftAidTaxreclaimed 3,422 2,546
Membership (incl. friends subscriptions) 18,535 17,515
Fundraising events and appeals "2,347
Tickets sales (beforebankand on-line charges) 51,652 60,372
Programme sales and miscellaneous income 862 1,216
Advertising 725 475
Sale ofmiscellaneous Choirproducts products 60 705
Music hireand sales 1,453 1,250
Friends and family event income (inc. tourincome) 27,615 64,847
Interestand dividends on investments 1,969 1,890
Total income 113,346 154,846
Expenditure
Conductors, othermusicians, music andvenues
DirectorofMusic (inc.travel costs) 15,485 11,871
Assistant Director ofMusic 720 1,070
Accompanist 2,707 3,248
Soloists 10,781
Orchestras and organists , . 19,069 20,735
Music hire and orchestral scores 7,197 1,962
Music purchase 145 223
Rehearsalrooms 4,088 4,668
Concert venues 9,630 17.052
Concertrefreshments 1,175 1,095
Ticket sales andon-line paymentcommissions commissions 3,783 4,396
PerformingRights Society 230 53
Other concert costs 1,029 140
76,039 75,369
Programmes, tickets and otherconcert
Ticketandprogrammeproduction costs		 costs . 1,430 1,964
Publicityand advertising , 8,003 4,114
Purchase ofmiscellaneous Choirproducts products (inc. newpodium) 3,658 79
, 13,091 ; 6,157
Administrations costs
Insuranceand-subscriptions
‘Finance officer		 . : 1,430,
2750		 .
7		 ,
* *		 >
Website costs 149 185
Printing, postage and stationery 230 143
Independent examiner's fee 875 875
5,763 5,128
Other costs ,
Tours and’social events 22,115 57,651
Gifts ; 809 402
22,924 58,053
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Exeter Philharmonic Choir Annual Report 2025

Total exfenditure 117.817 144,708
Net(expenditure)/income(excl.investmentsales) (4,471) 10,138

Pages 14 and 15 do not form part of the formal financial statements and is for information only.

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