**Eastbourne Choral Society Patrons: Sir Simon Rattle. Howard Goodall** **CBE** 25 Macmillan Drive, Eastbourne, East Sussex. BN21 1SU **www.eastbournechoralsociety.org.uk** Tel: 07759 484855 ## **Chair’s Report Sept 2024 - 2025** Another year of lovely music making has passed by so quickly with so many very enjoyable moments. We were pleased to welcome some new members to the choir, and sorry to see some leave, the latter usually due to work committments or family needs. However, although member numbers flucuate, we have gradually built up the choir again after the devastating effect the Covid pandemic had on so many individuals and organisations. For the first time in six years, last Spring term we were singing with 80 members. Our first concert of the season was given in November and had the title of Advent. We sang several pieces, some of which were new to the choir – Bob Chilcott - On Christmas Night, and Cecilia McDowall - Christus Natus Est, along with more well known music including Bach Sleepers Wake, and Advent carols for the audience to join in singing. The accompaniment by a small group of young brass players was a new departure for ECS and one which singers and audience appreaciated very much. This concert was followed by our usual carol singing events -Palm Court care home for their Christmas party, carol singing in the Beacon Centre which raised well over £500 for the Eastbourne branch of the Samaritans, All Souls‘ church lunch time carol service, and finally, singing carols whilst the newly arrived guests at the Star Hotel in Alfriston drank champagne on Christmas Eve. At all events we were warmly received, indeed some residents at The Star said we had made their Christmas!! The Spring term was rather different for us. Elizabeth Muir Lewis who founded the choir in 1993 and who conducted it for ten years before she handed over to John, asked if she might conduct the choir one last time with a performance of Mozart Requiem. John paired this with Haydn Nelson Mass and we had a wonderful term rehearsing and then performing these two beautiful works with Elizabeth and John respectively. The concert was a memorable evening in many ways! The soloists and orchestra were brilliant and we sang to a packed church. Mozart Requiem can always be sure to attract a large audience! The summer term found us singing something very different with Purcell’s semi opera - King Arthur. Although we started off rather hesitanty with what was totally a new genre for us, we gradualy got to enjoy the piece more and more, and the concert at the end of term was a huge success, The soloists and the small group of instrumentalists were wonderful, our narrator, Charlie, was amazing, and so we were inspired to give of our best. Sadly, an unknown piece does not bring such a large audience as something like the Mozart, but judging from the the very positive and incredibly appreciative comments I have received **Charity Registration No. 1063701** **Eastbourne Choral Society Patrons: Sir Simon Rattle. Howard Goodall** ## **CBE** since the performance, choir members and audience all seemed to have had a wonderful evening! I am aware that we did not have many social/ fundraising events this last year, and we would be grateful for any suggestions for these in the future. We did have a very enjoyable choir meal at Pomodorros in January, and Barbara organised a wonderful cake sale in the Spring term which raised well over £200 one choir evening. Thank you to Barbara and her assistant, Alec!! We held a lovely bring and share food evening in the summer break when we watched a video that Alec had made of our Mozart Concert. Everyone agreed it was a most enoyable event. I believe that Eastbourne Choral Society is a great community, but steering the good ship ECS is no mean task. I am so grateful to my fellow Trustees, Claire our choir secretary, who is such a constant support, especially on concert days, and to Paul, our choir treasurer who handles all things financial so expertly. Thanks also to my committee members - Eleanor our brilliant librarian, and Caroline who joined the committee last year and has been finding out how things happen! I would also like to thank several people who are not committee members - Alison for all her work as our press officer and who helps in so many other ways at rehearsals and concerts, to Lesley who helps at rehearsals each week and on concert days, to Tracy and Hugh who help Eleanor with the music scores, to Ann who sets up the refreshments at rehearsals each week, and to Tina who always steps in to help when I am in need! I am so grateful to all of them. More help is always needed though so please consider coming to work with us on the committee, or offering to do a particular task. My heartfelt thanks to John and Nick for their inspirational leadership, encouraging us to sing such a varirty of beautiful music to the best of our ability. We are so fortunate to have two such experienced, professional musicians to lead us through rehearsals, and to coax the best possible performance from us at concerts. Finally my thanks to you, our members, for the frienship, the singing, and the loyalty you show to ECS. Long may it continue. Liz Barker Chair Eastboure Choral Society **Charity Registration No. 1063701** ## Eastbourne Choral Society Accounts year 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 ## Receipts and Payments 2024-2025 |Payments
Rehearsal expensesMusic Director
Accompanists
Rent of hall
Piano tuning
Administraton
Statonery (incl postage)
Website
Insurance
Other
Concert expenses Artstes & orchestra
Commission on tcket sales
Flowers/gifs
Venue hire
Press adverts
Staging
Printng - posters/fyers/tckets
Concert refreshments
Music hire
Other
Socials, etc.
Refreshments
Miscellaneous
Total Expenses
Asset purchases
Choir folders
Bow tes, scarves
Other
Total Payments
Shortall|2023-2024
£
5,060
2,030
1,980
150
158
339
35
11,955
130
85
1,895
0
1,400
1,131
264
906
268
83
27,870
0
27,870|2024-2025
£
5,343
2,420
3,390
0
347
25
10,223
12
108
1,400
0
940
1,124
186
1,397
0
61
0
26,976
188
140
78
27,382| |---|---|---| |Accounts 2024-2025||||| |---|---|---|---|---| |Assets at year-end|2024||2025|| |Cash funds|£||£|| |Barclays Bank||7,986||3,241| |Virgin Money deposit||20,699||31,212| |Total||28,684||34,453| |Receipts
Members' subscriptons
Gif Aid
Bank interest
Rehearsal tea monies
Concert refreshments
Ticket sales
Donatons
Music hire (members)
Workshop fees
Socials
Fund raising
Other income|2023-2024
£
12,544
0
197
690
621
7,615
4,475
1,041
60
421
701|2024-2025
£
12,670
4,479
414
888
408
6,085
5,790
1,274
90
457
500| |---|---|---| |Total Income|28,364|33,055| |---|---|---| |Folder sales|17|96| |Total Receipts|28,381|33,151| |Surplus|511|5,769| **----- Start of picture text -----**
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P A Collis Concert Accounts November 2024 - Concert for Advent |November 2024-Concert for Advent
Performers
Orchestra
Meantme Brass
Soloists
Andrew Robinson
Kate Brown
Accompanists
Nick Houghton
Music Director
Hall hire
Staging
Music hire
Ticket printng
Programme print
Press advertsing
Posters, etc. print
Bouquets/Gifs
TOTAL
Ticket sales
Choir
Agency
On Line
Door
Donaton
TOTAL
DEFICIT
Ticket sale
commission|Costs
1,000
200
200
400
650
690
480
137
26
135
332
14
56
4,320
Receipts
420
555
300
1,140
250
2,665
1,655|April 2025-Mozart requiem/Nelson mass
Performers
Orchestra
Soloists
Replacement cost
Danni O'neill (for Clara Orif)
Anna Helena Maclachlan
Owen Lucas
Christopher Dixon
Accompanists
Nick Houghton
Music Director
Hall hire
Staging
Music hire
Ticket printng
Programme print
Press advertsing
Posters, etc. print
Bouquets/Gifs
TOTAL
Ticket sales
Choir
Agency
WeGotTickets
Door
Donaton
TOTAL
SURPLUS
Ticket sale
commission|Costs
5,205
200
)
) Sponsored
)
)
400
663
690
460
50
26
220
355
94
95
8,458
Receipts
1,480
860
760
1,620
5,400
10,120
1,662| |---|---|---|---| _ 18 Ravens Croft _ Eastbourne BN20 7HX _ Phone (01323 )748820 | barker021048@hotmail.co.uk 26" August 2025 Mr P A Collis Eastbourne Choral Society 3 Benenden Close Seaford BN25 3PG Dear Paul Eastbourne Choral Society Review of Accounts 2024/2025 In accordance with instructions I have reviewed the accounts of the Eastbourne Choral Society for the period 2024/2025. - These unaudited accounts have been reviewed from the information and records given to me together with explanations and clarifications provided. I am comfortable that they reflect the financial positions of the charity and can be submitted to those bodies and institutions as may be required. ~ ‘ \ . ~~: ‘ - David P Barker