Report of the trustees for the year ending 31[st] December 2023
The trustees are pleased to present their annual report together with the financial statement and independent examiner’s views.
Chairman’s Report for 2023
First of all, as outgoing chair, I have to give my thanks to you for your support over the past two years. It has been an honour to be chair of this wonderful band of brothers and I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity.
That is not to say it has been easy.
The chairman is there to represent the choir at official events, to read notices, chair meetings and that’s about it.
BUT, as chair, you always become deeply involved in everything, you can’t help it!
It is the responsibility of the chair to ensure that that interest of the choir is foremost and equitable in every dealing.
The chair cannot and should not make unilateral decisions – in fact in most cases the chair does not have a vote.
However, he does have the chance to offer balance if needed and, of course, to present his views to the choir and committee – but so does everyone else.
That is why I shall not miss being chair – simply because I know that I will have as much say in the running of the choir, if not more, by not being chair.
We lost some old friends during the last 2 years, Roly & Johnny 5 Choirs, and have others still struggling but we have also welcomed a good number of new choristers into our midst.
Despite Covid and the devastation that brought to the choral world, The Fron has come through relatively strongly.
This past year has had its own highs and lows, and the committee has had to deal with them all, from the loss of choristers to appearing on worldwide television as part of
Welcome to Wrexham, from welcoming new choristers to fighting for our rights at the International Eisteddfod, this job has never been dull.
With my day job, I have not always been here for meetings and to co-ordinate events so I must offer my humble thanks to the Vice Chair, Howard, and my fellow members of the committee who work extremely hard behind the scenes.
Particular thanks go to Smithy, who has been the mainstay or our finances for many years and continues to keep a firm hand on the reins as well as offering a balanced and experienced view when needed.
Being a member of the committee is a responsibility.
A committee is elected to represent the whole of the choir, to take the everyday decisions to keep the choir afloat and alive.
The committee’s decisions can never be universally popular, but they are always considered and discussed, sometimes almost to the point of exhaustion.
Like the choir, the committee is rightly made up of folks with greatly differing experience and outlook, to give the balance needed to represent the body of the choir.
It is definitely not a single unified mind – we rarely see eye to eye at first but always end up agreeing to do what we believe is best for the whole choir.
I have to give my thanks to Steve and Howard for taking control of the Welcome to Wrexham filming organisation in my absence. Typical of me to miss all the excitement.
It looks like a lot of fun was had by all, not to mention the fame and the relative fortune the choir made from the experience.
Prior to that we performed many concerts throughout the year starting with St David’s Day, though charity events for the NSPCC, local church repairs and British Legion to weddings and corporate events; we competed at the prestigious Llangollen International Music Festival and joined with other groups, including the wonderful Wrexham County Youth Choir, to present music to different audiences in different areas of our locale.
On top of that, we recorded the single of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” for Welcome to Wrexham and appeared in the promotional video for the second series of the worldwide hit TV show with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny. We also recorded “Some Enchanted Evening” – for which thanks must go to Jason for his hard work on the arrangements!
Finally, we finished the year in good style with two private intimate concerts for international clients – a little strange, but there you go – and then our usual triumphant run up to Christmas and the New Vic.
My thanks, and yours, should also go out to our Music Team, Jason, Owen and Leigh, of course. She works tirelessly for the Fron with humour and grace and occasionally disgrace
I wish the new chairman all the best and will of course offer support if and when needed. Thank you.
Roger Williams
Outgoing Chair, Fron Male Voice Choir.
Financial Reports
These are attached along with the auditor’s report.
Members
The choir had a membership of 65 at the end of 2023
Music Team
The choir has a professional music team of three – Musical Director, Accompanist and Assistant MD/Accompanist who are each paid retainers and fees accordingly.
Premises
The choir does not own premises but rents rehearsal space at a local school where we hold open rehearsals every Monday and Thursday throughout the year with a short break at Christmas.
Aims and Values
The Fron Male Voice Choir has a constitution since its inception in 1947 and is proud of its Welsh heritage.
The choir strives to bring choral music to everyone and to encourage other music groups and individuals to follow a musical path as well as supporting charitable causes and local organisations.
All monies earned from concerts and other paid events go into running the choir and funding choir projects such as recordings or travel.
All officers are voluntary, and no individual other than the professional music team is paid directly for their work.
Charity # 1069388
FRONCYSYLLTE MALE VOICE CHOIR
Income and Expenditure Statement
- Year ended 31.December 2023
Prepared by: A D Smith - Treasurer Examined by: A Goodchild
Income from:
| Income from: | |
|---|---|
| Subscriptions - 2023 Subscriptions - in advance Concert revenue (inc reimbursement for travel, etc ) Sales of CD's/DVDs/Records Sales of other merchandise Choristers contribution towards uniforms, etc Bank interest (increased to 1.5% during the year) Gift Aid - tax reclaim re subs 2023 Various Donations Receipts from choristers, guests, re Choir Socials Total Income - 2023 |
£4,300.00 £0.00 £52,672.50 £1,999.81 £50.00 £300.00 £1,090.97 £1,140.17 £1,262.05 £390.00 |
| £63,205.50 |
FRONCYSYLLTE MALE VOICE CHOIR
Charity # 1069388
Income and Expenditure Statement
- Year ended 31.December 2023
Expenditure on:
| Concert expenses - 2023 Travel costs to concerts, etc Musical Directors - honorarium and fees Deputy Musical Director - honorarium & fees Accompanist - honorarium, expenses & fees Music purchases Choristers costs, uniforms etc Rehearsal & Committee room hire costs Sundry expenses Purchase of CDs; etc Purchase of equipment Recording costs - Echoes 2 Social Evening costs Administration expenses (inc Website; Insurance; officers honoraria; etc ) Donations/Gifts to various charities (inc Salvation Army, Wxm Youth Choir, etc) Total Expenditure - 2023 Net Income/(Expenditure) for the period |
£4,155.87 £2,910.00 £8,140.00 £2,840.00 £6,570.00 £128.35 £285.50 £2,660.00 £410.91 £1,462.29 £900.00 £13,329.00 £630.00 £950.73 £1,225.00 |
|---|---|
| £46,597.65 | |
| £16,607.85 |
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