2024-07-31-accounts - Exultate Singers

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EXULTATE SINGERS

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

Charity No: 1101751

EXULTATE SINGERS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

INDEX

Contents Trustees annual report Independent examiner's report Receipts & payments account Statement of assets & liabilities	Page No
	1-6 7 8 9

GENERAL INFORMATION

CHARITY ADDRESS

13 Oak Grove Easton In Gordano Bristol BS20 0LN

BANKERS

CAF Bank Ltd PO Box 289 West Malling Kent ME19 4TA

ACCOUNTANTS

Sam Forsey ACA Kelson House Bakers Lane Chilcompton BA3 4EW

EXULTATE SINGERS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

Objectives

Exultate Singers’ objectives are as follows:

To advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in and appreciation of the art and science of choral music in all aspects by the presentation of public concerts and other events.
To give musicians in Bristol and the surrounding counties an opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills for the benefit of the community through performance.
To apply funds to other charitable organisations.

In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance, including the guidance on public benefit and fee charging. Exultate Singers relies on donations and also income from fees and charges to cover its operating costs. In setting the level of fees, charges and concessions, the trustees give careful consideration to the accessibility of concerts for those on low incomes, such as students and children.

Trustees and Governance

Exultate Singers is an association regulated by its constitution which was adopted on 5 November 2003.

The Trustees of Exultate Singers during the year were:

Susan Green Chairman Ian Carpenter Treasurer Christopher Gray Richard Johnson Philippa Ramsay Joanna Wyld

Accountant: Sam Forsey.

Trustees are elected at the charity’s annual general meeting for a period of one year, or until the next annual general meeting, when they may be re-elected.

Activities and achievements 1 August 2023 – 31 July 2024

4-6 August 2023 – Liverpool Cathedral Services

Singing in the UK’s largest Anglican cathedral.

1 October 2023 – Sense of the Divine – Seasons of Life and Leaf

Exultate Singers performs an intriguing programme inspired by the seasons, including the world premiere of a new work by Roxanna Panufnik

15 October 2023, Autumn Serenade

The perfect way to spend an Autumn afternoon; glorious choral music performed in the uplifting acoustic of St John's Glastonbury

21 October 2023 - Concert in Antwerp

A concert in Sint-Pauluskerk, Antwerp of music from across the centuries including works by Belgian renaissance composers.

23 October 2023 - Concert in Bruges

A concert in Sint-Salvatorskatherdraal, Bruges of music from across the centuries including works by Belgian renaissance composers.

Sunday 26 November 2023 - Music on the Quantocks

A welcome return to St James Church in Taunton or an afternoon of magical seasonal choral music from across the centuries. Part of the Music on the Quantocks series.

Saturday 9 and Wednesday 13 December 2023 - Carols by Candlelight

Exultate Singers' annual carol concerts in the beautiful setting of St James Priory in central Bristol.

Monday 18 December 2023 - Christmas Spectacular

Exultate Singers and Bristol Ensemble's annual Christmas Spectacular, a wonderfully entertaining and uplifting evening of Christmas music and readings at St George's Bristol.

Sunday 17 March 2024 – J.S. Bach – St John Passion

Exultate Singers is joined by an outstanding line up of soloists, together with a specialist baroque orchestra from the Bristol Ensemble to perform Bach's St John Passion.

7 April 2024 – Westminster Abbey Services

Singing Eucharist and Evensong in Westminster Abbey.

18 May 2024 – A Sense of the Divine

A programme of beautiful choral music through the ages on the theme of Mary and motherhood.

16 June 2024 – Holst – The Planets

A concert in the newly refurbished Bristol Beacon concert hall, featuring Holst’s Planets Suite, Finzi’s Intimations of Immortality, and Hans Zimmer’s Earth.

27-28 July 2024 – Winchester Cathedral Services

Singing Evensong, Eucharist and Evensong in the UK’s longest Anglican cathedral.

Plans for 2024 – 2025 Season

28 September 2024 – Celestial Concerts

Exultate Singers and the Baldock Choir join world-renowned trumpeter Crispian Steele-Perkins to perform from across the ages exploring the enduring fascination with angels.

24 November 2024 – Music on the Quantocks

An Advent concert in St James’ Church, Taunton, for the Music on the Quantocks series.

Wednesday 11 and Saturday 14 December 2024 - Carols by Candlelight

Exultate Singers' annual carol concerts in the beautiful setting of St James Priory in central Bristol.

Wednesday 18 December 2024 - Christmas Spectacular

An entertaining and uplifting evening of Christmas music and festive readings with the Bristol Ensemble at St George's Bristol.

1 March 2025 – Grand Tour of Italy

Exultate Singers join the internationally renowned instrumentalists of His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts for a captivating musical journey through the rich tapestry of Renaissance Italy.

29 June 2025 – Summer Serenade

An afternoon summer serenade in the historic setting of St Mary's Church in Bitton.

31 July – 3 August 2025 – St David’s Cathedral Services

Singing Evensong and Eucharist for Thursday to Sunday at Wales’ westernmost cathedral.

CHARITABLE OBJECTIVES

To advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in and appreciation of the art and science of choral music in all aspects by the presentation of public concerts and other events.
To give musicians in Bristol and the surrounding counties an opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills for the benefit of the community through performance.
To apply funds to other charitable organisations.

Exultate Singers seeks to attain its objectives as follows:

To advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in and appreciation of the art and science of choral music in all aspects by the presentation of public concerts and other events.

To this end, Exultate Singers provides informative and educational programme notes to every concert, and these are usually given away free of charge to audience members to ensure that they have a full account of the music that is being performed.

The information on our website also provides a good introduction to our concerts, providing an opportunity for prospective audience members to research the content before buying tickets.

In addition to this, especially in the more informal concerts, there is often a verbal introduction to the pieces performed to engage the audience by providing the historical and/or musical context of the piece. The information imparted comes from a variety of sources:

l the Conductor’s own knowledge and experience of the music built up over a life-long career in choral music;
l online research using resources such as Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians; Making Music; choirs.net; Boosey & Hawkes; the BBC website and other specific websites and resources specific to particular periods or events.

The repertoire covered is broad and balanced, including more challenging and lesser-known pieces along with more popular repertoire.

Exultate Singers concerts are frequently based upon a distinct theme, such as the anniversary of important historical events, to engage the interest of the audience and to link pieces together in an educational and informative way. There is also an attempt to contextualise the pieces in ways that are meaningful and relevant to audiences.

Across the 2022-2023 season Exultate Singers introduced several newly composed pieces of music in their concerts which introduced their audiences to a range of new and novel music. These pieces included the following:

l Elegy for Fadima by Roxanna Panufnik (1st performance)
l Lullaby by John Barber (1st performance)
l Joseph’s Lullaby by Ian Carpenter (1st performance)
l Past three a clock, Trad. English arranged by Ian Carpenter (1st performance)

To give musicians in Bristol and the surrounding counties an opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills for the benefit of the community through performance.

l Exultate Singers’ continues to represent musicians from Bristol and the surrounding counties, with current members from City of Bristol, Bath, Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Cornwall. Particular attention is paid to recruiting and training younger singers and they pay reduced choir subscription fees.
l During 2023–2024 Exultate Singers worked with local orchestra the Bristol Ensemble and the actress Rose McPhilemy..
l Members of Exultate singers have been given opportunities to develop as solo performers on numerous occasions.
l Members of Exultate singers have been given opportunities to conduct small groups.
l Musical development opportunities have also been given to our own long-standing and outstanding accompanist and organist Richard Johnson.

To apply funds to other charitable organisations.

Exultate Singers continues to support local churches and other institutions, both in their use as concert venues and also by performing concerts to help with their fund-raising efforts as detailed below. Exultate Singers supports other musical charities such as orchestras by providing choral groups as necessary for their musical repertoire.

Date	Concert	Amount raised	BenefitingCharities
9 and 13 December 2023	Carols by Candlelight	£863.75	St James Priory Registered Charity No. 1104408
9 and 13 December 2023	Carols by Candlelight	£863.75	Changing Tunes Registered Charity No. 1144789
20 December 2023	Street Carol Singing	£558.26	St Peter’s Hospice Registered Charity No. 269177

Support of Local Venues

During the year ending 31 July 2024 Exultate Singers supported local churches and other institutions by hiring rehearsal space and/or holding concerts at the following venues:

l Redland Park United Reformed Church, Bristol (Registered Charity No.1131460)
l St George’s, Bristol (Registered Charity No. 295178)
l St James Priory (Registered Charity No. 1104408)

Support of other local musical charities/groups/individuals

During the year ending 31 July 2024 Exultate Singers collaborated with the following musical groups:

l St George’s Bristol: (Registered Charity No: 295178)

Exultate Singers provides work for professional musicians by giving work to composers and soloists. For example:

l Roxanna Panufnik composer
l John Barber composer
l Richard Johnson accompanist
l Keri Fuge soprano
l Martha McLorinan alto
l Peter Davoren tenor
l Frederick Long bass

Exultate Singers is grateful for the support offered by the Friends of the choir, both financial and in-kind.

Reserves Policy

Exultate Singers maintains general reserves of at least £4,000 to support the choir’s ongoing activities and provide a contingency fund in case of poor ticket sales or unexpected costs. This reserves policy was reviewed prior to the AGM held on 4 June 2014, and subsequently increased to the aforesaid amount. The Treasurer continues to keep this under review.

Transactions with the Trustees

During the year, no expenses were incurred by any of the trustees.

Review of Risk

The trustees have reviewed the risks to Exultate Singers and are satisfied that, by exercising constant vigilance by means of close scrutiny of the accounts appertaining to each concert, take steps to minimise them.

I declare, in my capacity of charity trustee, that the trustees have approved the report above; and have authorised me to sign it on their behalf.

Susan Green Chairman

Date: 31 May 2025

EXULTATE SINGERS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 CHARITY NUMBER 1101751 INDEPENDENT EXAMINERE REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS R•8POCtlve re8ponslbllltle8 of tru8te•8 and examlner The charity's trustees are responsib for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit Is not required for this year under S8Gtlon 144 of the Ch81ities Act 2011 (the Charitl8s Act) and that an independent examniation 18 needed. It is my responsibility to: examine the accounts under s8Ction 145 of the Act; follow the procedures lald down in th8 General Dlrectlons given by the Charity Commlssion8ts (under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act); and 8t8t8 whether partilar matters have coma to my attention. Ba818 of Indendent examlnerfs 8tatem•nt My 8xamination was canled out In 8ccordanc8 wlth General Dlrectlons glven by th8 Charfty commission8. An examlnation includes a revlew of the accounting records k8Pt by th8 charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes conslderdtion of any unusual Items or dlsclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concernlng any such ffAtters. The procedures undertaken do not pmvlde all the evidence that %Uld be requlred In an audlt, and consaquently no oplnlon Is glven as to whether the accounts present a 'tru8 and fall vl8w and the Ind•pend•nt examlnarfs 8tat•m•nt In connection wlth my examlnatlon, no matter has come to my attention (1) whlch gives m8 reasonable cause to believe that In, any material respect, the requlr8m8nts: to keep accountlng records in acLordance with section 130 of the Charltl8s Act: to pr8par8 accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accountlng requlrements of the Charitl8s Act have not been met; or (2) to lCh, h my opinion, attention should be drawn In ortler to 8n8ble 8 prop8rund8rst8ndlng of th8 accounts to be reached. Rlchard Bacon FCA Dats: 31 May 2025 17 Westfield Road Westbury4)n-Trym BRISTOL Bsg 3HG

EXULTATE SINGERS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

RECEIPTS Donations, legacies & other similar receipts Operating activities to further charity's objects Investment income receipts TOTAL RECEIPTS PAYMENTS Charitable activities Support costs TOTAL PAYMENTS NET OF RECEIPTS CASH FUNDS Cash funds b/f Cash funds c/f	2024 £ 17,796 47,657 439 65,892 57,159 7,919 65,078 814 14,054 14,868	2023 £ 16,434 34,002 160
		50,596
		40,748 6,609
		47,357

		3,239
		10,815
		14,054

All the receipts and payments relate to unrestricted funds as the charity has no restricted or designated funds.

EXULTATE SINGERS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES

ASSETS Cash funds Other monetary assets Assets retained for charity's own use TOTAL ASSETS LIABILITIES Sundry creditors Deposits held TOTAL LIABILITIES NET ASSETS/(LIABILITIES)	2024 £ 14,868 140 3,583 18,591 2,641 255 2,896 15,695	2023 £ 14,054 - 3,254
		17,308
		1,450 250
		1,700

		15,608

All the assets and liabilities relate to unrestricted funds as the charity has no restricted or designated funds.

Ian Carpenter Treasurer

Date: 31 May 2025