## **Bath Minerva Choir** ## **Trustee’s report 2023** This time last year, we were about to embark on our Spring concert, Haydn’s The Seasons, which we’d previously sung virtually during lockdown. It’s Haydn’s last big work which includes bounteous blessings to nature and the landscape, alongside romantic pastoral song, a cataclysmic storm punctuated by heartfelt cries for safety (mostly from the sopranos!) and an autumn landscape notable for its highly theatrical hunting scene (‘Halloo now!) which had us all enjoying the grape harvest (‘Cheers now!’) Our soloists and Bath Phil did us proud and it will be wonderful to hear baritone, Johannes Moore, sing with us again for the St. John Passion in 2024. Our summer concert provided a complete contrast when we sang Samuel Coleridge Taylor’s greatest success, his cantata ‘Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast’, a choral setting of Longfellow’s poem. Most of us were not familiar with this work beforehand, but really came to enjoy it and hear how SC-T dramatized the key characters musically: wise Nokomis, the handsome Pau-Puk-Keewis and the idle Yenadizze. We also enjoyed Bob Chilcott’s Aesop’s Fables which were a sheer delight and more musically demanding than many of us expected. It will be great fun to revisit them on the Sweden tour in June 2024. Our ambitious autumn concert included an eclectic programme of 13 choral pieces, 12 songs by our baritone soloist, as well as piano and organ solos from Steve. It proved a wonderful musical exploration from the more familiar works of Elgar and Sibelius to the unjustifiably ignored Valborg Aulin’s ‘Pie Jesu Domine’ and including moving contemporary works from Paul Mealor and the celestial Ola Gjeilo. We also revisited some firm Minerva favourites, Paul Carr’s poignant ‘I Offer You Love’ and ‘Go Lovely Rose’, before finishing with Gavin’s resounding arrangement of ‘Amazing Grace’. We always have terrific soloists but Florian Störtz and Mark Rogers were truly exceptional and our audience particularly warmed to their performances. So here we are about to embark on arguably our greatest and most demanding work to date, Bach’s St. John Passion and it’s been a long time coming. It was originally scheduled Spring 2021 and then we sang it virtually in lockdown. We are so fortunate to have James Gilchrist as our Evangelist, arguably the foremost interpreter of the role. There would be no Bath Minerva Choir without the contributions from many people in so many ways and often largely unseen. Putting on concerts and securing top rate soloists doesn’t come cheap, so fundraising is key. Apart from our annual subs and ticket income, our main sources of income are the Friends scheme, CDWM, the weekly raffle, the 100 Club and external sponsorship. We were also fortunate to receive one last year of sponsorship for £1000 from our sponsors who have generously sponsored Minerva since 2016. So looking ahead, we have our first BMC tour to Stockholm in mid-June when we will be revisiting much of the English and Scandinavian repertoire we sang in the Autumn- which is very exciting. Our July summer workshop will explore some of Eric Whitacre’s works, including the very moving work, When David Heard. BATH MINERVA CHOIR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Charity Number 1098142 BATH MINERVA CHOIR FINANCIAL STATEMEiwrs FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 CONTENTS PAGE Trustees and professional advisers Trustees, annual report Independent examiner s report Statement of financial activities Balance sheet Notes to the financial staternents 6-7 BATH MINERVA CHOIR TRUSTEES AND PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS Trustees F Ansell W Starling S Strang C Smith R Hawkes L Ware J Seeger C McGrail H stanton TTeasureT Secretary Chair Re8iStered Address 4 The Cleeve Cor5harn Wiltshire SN13 9JG Independent Examiner of Financial Accounts M Harley Bankers CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 41Q TSB Mid50Tner Norlon Branch 2 Silver Street Midsomer Norton Bath BA2 2HB BATH MINERVA CHOIR INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT To the Trustees and Members of Bath Minerva Choir. Charity Number 1098142 I hereby report on the accounts of Bath Minerva Choir for the year ended 31 December 2023, which are set out on pa8es 4 to 7. Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner The Iru5tees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts of the Charity- The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 14412) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act), and an independeiit examination is appropriate. It is my responsibility to:_ examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act to follow the procedures laid down in the General DiTeclioDS given by the commission under seclion 145{51(bl of the 2011 Act State whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent examinerfs report My examination was carried out takins in accordance with General Dir￿tionS given by the Charities 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 or disclosures in the accounts, and the seeking of explanations from you as trustees concernin8 suth matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and ¢onsequently I do not express an audit opinion on the account5. Independent examinefs statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements.. To keep accounting records in accordance with re8ulations made under section 130 of the 2011 Act- To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements ot the 20JI Act have not been met or To which, in my opinion attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understandi g of the accounts to be Teaehed. M J Harley MA ACMA CGMA Date.. BATH MINERVA CHOIR STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTtVITtES for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 Total Funds 2023 Total Funds 2022 Note INCOMING RESOURCES Incoming re8our(e$ from charilable attiviles Contributions ffom members (including ta% refunds) a￿d donalions Reieipts from fund-raising and sponsorship Income from conceTti Other income 16,632 17,632 5,320 13,641 438 14,148 371 Activities for generating funds Interest receivable 1,412 286 Total intoming resources 40.118 37,317 RESOURCES EXPENDED Cost of generating voluntary income Cosls in furtlierance of tharitable objtils Management & administration 43.967 1,814 2b 1,371 Total Te50urces expended 45,781 Net incominglloutgoins) re8ource6 and net movement in tundg -5,663 2,265 Funds brought forward 73,393 71,128 Funds carried forward 67,730 73.393 All acti￿ties of the Charity al'e dH%ied as continuing All cunent year income and expenditure is unrestricted. The notes on pages 6 & 7 Eorni part of these financial statements BATH MINERVA CHOIR BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023 Total Total Funds 2022 Note 2023 Current Assets Debtors & Prepayments Cash at bank and in hand 2,773 74,086 76,859 3,396 72,802 76,198 Current LiabllitAes Amount5 falling due thin one year 9,129 2,805 Total assets less liabilitles 67,730 73,393 Represenled by: Surplus on statement of financial activiles 67,73U 73.393 These financial statements were approved and ate signed on on their behalf by: H Stanton Chairman The notes on pages 6 and 7 forrn part of theie financial statements BATH MINERVA CHOIR NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 l ACCOUTrtrING POLICIES al Basis of accountins The financial statements have been prepared in aciordance with Accountins and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in a￿ordanCe with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK IFRS 1021 i>tsued July 2014. and with tlie Chariti¢> Ad 2011. b) Fund a¢¢ounting Unrestricled funds are available for use at the discretion of the truslees in furtlierance of the general objectives of the charity. Re>tricled funds are for use for the purpose for which they where donated. cl Incoming resources tncome comprises amounts received in the form of subsaiptions, donatiorLS and gifts, plus amounts arising from fimd-raising activities and events All incoming resources are iThcluded in Ule staternent of Einancial acti￿tieS when die charity is entitled to the income asld the amotmt can be quantified with reasoiiable acwracy. dl Resourc¢$ expended Expenditure is reiog1115ed on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Expend1tL￿e includes ?￿Y VAT which is reporled as part of the expendittire to whith it relates 2 RESOURCES USED Total Total Funds Funds 2023 2022 Costs in furtherance of charitable objects Rehearsal costs.. Conductor Accompanist Room hire 7.310 3,752 2,670 300 5,568 2,960 2,082 320 Fundraising CO>ts Con￿rE expendI￿re. Previous year Spring Autumn 643 11,709 18.862 7,205 3,868 Sull￿neE 4,802 2b Management & a(Imini8tration NFNIS sub#,1sbrary membership & insurance Postage & stationery Web site and marketing Refres1￿￿entS & sundry expenditure 588 52 204 970 22 180 587 1,814 1371 BATH MINERVA CHOIR NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Total Funds Total Funds 201 2022 DEBTORS Income tax recoverable Prepayments & other debtors 1,629 1,144 2,773 1,767 1,629 3,396 CREDITORS Amounts fallxng due iyithin one year Other ryeditor5 Aicruals and deferred income 800 8,329 9,129 50 2,755 2,805 TRUSTEES REMUNERATION The charity did not remunerate any T￿stee during the year. MOVEMENTS ON FUNDS Openins Balance Income in year Expenditure in year Closing Balance At 31 De< 2023 At l Jan 2023 Unrestrided Fun(ts 40,118 145,781) 67,730 BATH MINERVA CHOIR INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT To the Trustees and Members of Bath Minerva Choir, Charity Number 1098142 I hereby repoTt on the accounts of Bath Minerva Choir for the year ended 31 December 2023, which are set out on pages 4 to 7. Respective responslbxlities of trustees and examiner The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts of the charity. The trustees consider that an audlt is not required for this year under section 144121 of the ChaIities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). and an independent examination is appropriate. It is my responsibility to:_ examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Art to follow the pr(Kedures laid down in the General Directions sÈven by the commission under section J45{5)Ib) of the 2011 Act state whether particular matters have corne to my attention. Basis Ot independent examinerfs report My examination was carried out tskin8 in accordance with General Directions given by the Charities 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 unusu81 Items or dlsclosures Jn the account5, and the 5eeklng of explanation5 from you a5 tru5tee5 concernin such matter5. The Procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audiL and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts. Independent examinerfs statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention.. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material Te$peet the requirements.. To keep atcounting records in accordance with regulations made under section 130 of the 201] Act; To prepare accounts which aecoTd with the accountin8 records and comply with the accounting r4uirements of the 2011 Act have not been met or To whith, in my opinion attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understand. g of the accounts to be reached. M S Harley MA ACMA CGMA Date..