2023-08-31-accounts - The Burford Singers

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President: Bob Chilcott Director of Music: Brian Kay Chorus Master: Hilary Tadman-Robins

From: The Chairman, Burford Singers

Annual report 2022/23

This report covers the financial year when the choir has been able to perform its usual pattern of concerts in autumn, spring and summer.

The committee met formally on five occasions during the year.

Situation post Covid

Throughout the season the choir continued to hold full-scale rehearsals and concerts. Concerts were well attended and, with an attractive programme of music, generated excellent audience attendance with a return to pre-Covid ticket sales.

Members continued to self-test where appropriate and there were no reports of significant or worse than average Covid issues arising from the choir’s activities.

Events

As indicated above, the committee agreed a programme of three major concerts for the 2022/23 season. Choir, full orchestra and an exceptional group of soloists featured throughout the season.

Our November concert was a celebration of the music of the composer and arranger John Rutter, including his well-known setting of the Gloria and his arrangement of seven spirituals, Feel the Spirit. The concert required substantial orchestral forces and featured the mezzo-soprano Melanie Marshall for whom the arrangement of spirituals was written.

The April concert consisted of two well-known works for choir: the Fauré Requiem and Haydn Nelson Mass . The Requiem was performed using John Rutter’s edited version which restored the composer’s version of the work with instrumental ensemble that remained unpublished and unperformed in his lifetime. The performance featured top-class soloists Sarah Power (soprano), Emily Gray (mezzo-soprano), Peter Martin (tenor) and Jon Stainsby (baritone).

For our June concert we performed an all-Mozart programme, starting with his lively and uplifting setting of Regina Coeli (K276) , followed by a performance of the Horn Concerto No. 3 for which we were extremely fortunate to engage the outstanding horn soloist Ben Goldscheider. The second part of the programme featured the Requiem in D minor ; with excellent soloists Lucy Knight (soprano), Angharad Lyddon (mezzo-soprano), Peter Martin (tenor) and Freddie Long (bass).

All three concerts took place in Burford Parish Church and were accompanied by the Cotswold Chamber Orchestra.

These concerts proved to be very successful and achieved (or exceeded) our target audience numbers.

Registered Charity No. 1096043

www.burfordsingers.org.uk

Membership

By the beginning of September 2022, choir membership had fallen by just over 10% compared to end of financial year 2020/21. Anecdotal evidence is that it seems to be a typical figure for most choirs in our area post Covid-19.

However, we continued to receive applications for membership and numbers slowly recovered through the year. The Associates membership scheme continues to give us flexibility to enable applicants to be assessed as soon as possible after we receive their applications, and we continue to receive interest from potential new joiners in the area.

Preparation for handover of Director of Music

At the beginning of October 2022 Brian Kay announced his decision to step down from the position of Director of Music with effect from December 2023. Brian has been a much loved and respected conductor and music mentor for 21 years. Not only has he continued to attract new singers and build an excellent reputation for the choir, but his work and reputation has brought to us a range of highly respected professional soloists - often who perform for a heavily discounted fee. He will be much missed, although he intends continuing to live in the area and hopefully will maintain links with the choir.

The committee was therefore presented with a significant challenge to find a suitable successor. The task involved setting up a recruitment process, which included opportunities for choir members to experience short listed candidates conducting a rehearsal before taking part in a members’ secret ballot for their preferred candidate.

I am very pleased to report that Will Dawes, Director of Music at Somerville College, Oxford, has accepted our offer to take over as our new Director of Music at the beginning of January 2024.

Finance

The committee increased subscriptions by 4% for FY 2022/23 in anticipation of increased costs and potentially lower revenues. Although this kept our subscriptions at a relatively low level compared to similar choirs in our area, we were also hoping that the concert programme would attract large audience numbers to all three concerts and therefore help to meet our outgoings. Our cash reserves were at a healthy level at the time in accordance with our Reserves Policy.

As things turned out, despite good audience figures, we were faced during the financial year with a number of substantial increases in costs in common with the performance of the economy generally. The committee reviewed our financial performance in April and were very concerned about the losses we were incurring. In particular, the inflation of concert costs (rather than professional fees) was particularly worrying – and unlikely to come down in the foreseeable future.

After a significant amount of work by the Treasurer and members of the committee, we decided to complete the concert programme as planned, but implement a significant uplift in subscriptions in FY 2023/24. We left any uplift in ticket prices for the time being as they appeared to be roughly in line with similar events in our area. We calculated that we should be able to meet our commitments for the 2022/23 season, any shortfall being met from reserves.

Financial details are available in the Treasurer’s Report, but I am pleased to state that, overall, the results at the end of the financial year are in line with the revised prediction. The Trustees are satisfied that the choir remains financially viable and our reserves are in good shape.

Registered Charity No. 1096043

www.burfordsingers.org.uk

Outlook for 2023/24

The committee held meetings during summer 2023 to decide how to meet the impact of rising inflation. The committee also noted that with a new MD joining, who we assumed would live further away from Burford than Brian Kay, there would be a rise in MD fees and costs.

We therefore decided to raise subscriptions for the new financial year by 40%, to a level which we believe is in line with other choral groups in our area. We undertook to hold a fund-raising activity at the start of September 2023 to help meet our forecast expenditure. We have also agreed with our new Director of Music to take a somewhat cautious approach to implementing the future concert programme, which will include a concert for the Finale of the Burford Festival in June 2024, but will not include orchestral accompaniment.

I am very pleased to report that the majority of existing and new members have accepted the new subscription rates and as at July 2024 we received over 90 membership applications for the coming year.

We now have confidence in planning Handel’s Messiah , which will be Brian Kay’s ‘farewell concert’ and Haydn’s The Creation which will be Will Dawes’ first concert with us at the end of March 2024. Both of these concerts will be accompanied by the Cotswold Chamber Orchestra.

Safeguarding Policy

Our Safeguarding Policy is published on our web site. Sian Snelling (choir member) has taken over from Jo Glyde as our Designated Person. Full Members and Associates should ensure that they take time to update their understanding of the policy – see our members’ web page www.burfordsingers.org.uk/members .

Thanks

I must take this opportunity to thank Brian Kay for devising and delivering such an exciting programme of music this year and to Robin Baggs for all his hard work as our hugely admired and valued accompanist.

I also thank everyone involved in planning and delivering our events. Planning and executing the rearrangements in a busy working church with three Sunday morning services in time for a Sunday evening concert is not a trivial exercise. My thanks to the Vicar and Parochial Church Council for helping to achieve this.

Special thanks also to my fellow committee members, especially those who are standing down from the committee at the forthcoming AGM: Judy Banks (Friends Secretary) and Patricia Hedges (Ticket Manager). I am also stepping down from the committee at the end of my second term as Chairman. This is therefore my last address to the members. It has been a privilege to serve on such an able and supportive committee and in association with a very special Director of Music.

Best wishes to everyone.

Peter Moran Chairman

Registered Charity No. 1096043

www.burfordsingers.org.uk

THE BURFORD SINGERS (Charity No.1096043)

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - Year Ended 31st August 2023

INCOMING RESOURCES Membership Subscriptions Income Tax Recovered (Gift Aid) Ticket Sales - future Ticket Sales Other Sponsorship Grants, Donations & “Friends” Bank Interest Fund Raising Sale of Goods Workshops October Function Members' purchase of scores Misc. receipts Total Incoming Resources OUTGOING RESOURCES Direct Charitable Expenditure Concert Expenditure Subscription (Making Music) Ex Gratia Payments Insurance Capital Purchases Performing Rights Licence/Fees Ticketing Costs Singday October Function Previous financial year concert costs Goods & music purchased for resale Future Concert costs IT Support Administration Postage, printing, stationery, telephone Bank Charges Misc. payments Audit & Accountancy Committee Meeting venue hire Professional Fees Staging Storage Total Outgoing Resources	2023
	£ 16,640 7,218
	950 15,618
	44,298 365 269 86 370 2,040 58 552 11
	55 76 358 148 800

1,467 41,744 43,211 2023 12,247 1,703 2,038 15,988 43,211 43,211 59,199 0 59,199 59,508 1,467 -1,776 59,199		-4,317	-4,317
2023		2022
12,247 1,703 2,038 43,211	13,608 1,892 2,264 41,744
			17,764
			41,744
			59,508
			0
			59,508
			65,799 -4,317 -1,974
			59,508

The financial statements were approved by the Members at meeting held on ...........................2023 and signed on their behalf by :- ……………………………………………………….

EXAMINER'S UNQUALIFIED REPORT INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORTTO THETRUSTEESOF THE BURFORO SINGERS I report to the charity trustees on my examination ol the accounts ol the charity for the year ended 31 August 2023. which are set out on pages 2 and 3 01 this report. Responslbllltles and basls of report As the charitV'5 trustees you are responsible tor the preparation ol the account5 in accordance wlth the requirements ol the Charlties Act 20111.the Act'l. I report in respect of my examination of the charitrfs accounts carried out under section 14S ol the Act and In £Jrryin8 Out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions glven by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. Independent Examlne¢s Statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have Come to my attention In connection with the examination glving me cause to believe that in any rnaterial respect.. accounting records were not kept In respect of the charlty as requlred by section 130 of the Act,. or the a¢¢ount5 do not match the accounting records.. I have no concerns and have come across no other matter5 in connection with the examinatlon to which attention should be drawn in thls report in order to enable a proper understanding ol the accounts to be reached. Joanne Tuffill BSC IHonsl ACA Chartered Accountant 6 Wheelwrigh15 Court Buckland F3vingdon Wilts SN7 8QA |ofilL8

THE BLIRFORO SIER5 F FINAP4CIAIArnThES- Y arfnded 31st 2012 MING R LIRC MembEf5hip SubKripti(In5 Income Tax Recovered IGift A#ll 16.610 7.218 11.735 3.398 23.858 15,133 Ticket Sales- luture TKker S•les 950 15.61B 425 12.481 1&568 12.6 59) 4,823 23 Other 5s>onsorship Granis. Donarions &-Frlends" Bank Interest Fund Na151n8 Sale ol Good5 WoFkshop5 October Functlon Member5, purchase 01sCOf Misc receipts Tot•l tnc0ftth R•¥oyrc•s 5,478 Ay i(KJ 310 JJ,913 Dliect Ch•wlt4blt E Concert Expenditure subscript (Makin8 Musi¢ Ex Glatia Pa¥ments Insuiance Capital Purchases Pertormin8 Ri8ht5 Lkenc•lFees Tickeiini Cos¢5 Singdav October Function Previou5 financ•al ye•r concert Costs Good5 & music pUhaSed reIe Future ConcertC0515 IT SuppDrt 44.198 365 34.933 257 45 370 552 1.293 mlTrl P05ta8e. priniing. Statnery. le+ Bank Char8es Misc. payments Audit & Accountancy Commitiee Meetin8venue hkTe Professional Fees Swin8 Stor42 55 76 358 61 122 159 148 1.437 49.416 1.026 38.230 Tot•1 (hj l Rele$ Pl•t Irfflow l olFunds 1.467 4,317 Cash Fund Bro¥thi Forw• 41.744 a6.(1 Cash Fund cared FoFw•rd 43,211 41.744

THE BURFORD SINGERS Charit No.1096043 BALANCE SHEET As at 31st Au ust 2023 2023 2022 ASSETS Non Current Assets Concert Staging Rehearsal Piano Trailer 12,247 1,703 2,038 13,608 1,892 2,264 15.988 17.764 Current Assets Bank 43,211 41,744 43.211 41,744 Total A889ts 59,199 59,508 LIABILITIES NET ASSETS 59,199 59.508 FUNDS Opening Balance Movement in Cash Fund Movement in Asset Fund CLOSING Balance 59.508 1,467 -1,776 59,199 65,799 4,317 -1,974 59.508 The financial statements were approved by the Member5 at meeting held on . 023 and signed on their behalf by