2025-07-31-accounts - Exultate Singers

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EXULTATE SINGERS

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025

Charity No: 1101751

EXULTATE SINGERS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025

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 2025

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 2024 – 31 July 2025

28 September 2024 – Celestial Concerts

Exultate Singers and the Baldock Singers joined 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 and 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.

Plans for 2025 – 2026 Season

12 October 2025 – Brilliant Baroque

A feast of fabulously flamboyant Baroque music at St George’s Bristol including works by J.S. Bach, Marianna Martines and Alessandro Scarlatti.

25 – 29 October 2025 – Tour to Salamanca, Spain

With mass in the Catedral Nueva, Salamanca and concerts in the Catedral Vieja, Salamanca, and the Basilica Santa Teresa, Avila.

23 November 2025 – Music on the Quantocks

A change in venue for our regular concert in the Music on the Quantocks series, this time in Taunton United Reform Church.

Saturday 6 and Wednesday 10 December 2025 - Carols by Candlelight

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

Friday 19 December 2025 - Christmas Spectacular

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

Saturday 28 February 2026 – St Matthew 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 monumental masterpiece, the St Matthew Passion.

Tuesday 7 April 2026 – Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral

Exultate Singers sings Evensong at St Paul's Cathedral with music by Edward Bairstow, Herbert Murrill and Bernard Rose.

Saturday 16 May 2026 – A World of Light

70 minutes of exquisite choral music on the theme of light in the beautiful setting of St James Priory.

Saturday 20 June 2026 – Verdi’s Requiem

Experience the overwhelming dramatic power and sublime beauty of Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem performed by City of Bristol Choir, Exultate Singers and the Bristol Metropolitan Orchestra.

Thursday 23 – Sunday 26 July 2026 – Sing the services in Truro Cathedral Three evensongs and one eucharistic in sunny Cornwall.

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 2024-2025 season Exultate Singers introduced one newly composed piece of music:

l Ring Out by John Barber (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 2024–2025 Exultate Singers worked with local orchestra the Bristol Ensemble.
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 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
11 and 14 December 2024	Carols by Candlelight	£1061.69	St James Priory Registered Charity No. 1104408
11 and 14 December 2024	Carols by Candlelight	£750	Bristol Drugs Project Registered Charity No. 291714
11 and 14 December 2024	Carols by Candlelight	£750	North Bristol NHS Trust for Southmead Hospital Urology Registered CharityNo. 1055900

Support of Local Venues

During the year ending 31 July 2025 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)
l Clifton Cathedral (Registered Charity No. 1170168)

Support of other local musical charities/groups/individuals

During the year ending 31 July 2025 Exultate Singers collaborated with the following musical groups:

l St George’s Bristol (Registered Charity No: 295178)
l Bristol Ensemble (Registered Charity No: 295178)
l His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts
l Baldock Singers

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

l Crispian Steele-Perkins trumpeter
l Richard Johnson accompanist

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: 27 May 2026

EXULTATE SINGERS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025 CHARITY NUMBER 1101751 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS Respectlve responsibilltles of trustees and examlner The charity's trustees are responslble for the preparation of the accounts. The charills trustees consider that an audit is not required lor this year under section 144 of the Charfiies Act 2011 Ilhe Charities Acll and that an inclependent examnlalion is neecled. 11 is my responsibility lo.. examine the accounts under section 145 of the Act., follow the procedures lald dtswn in the General Direcllons given by the Charity Commlssioners (under Section 14515llbl of the Act)., and slate whether particular matters have Come lo my attenllon, Ba818 of Indèpendent examlner's stBtemont My examination was carried tsul in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examlnation Include5 a review ol the accounting records kept by the charlty and comparison ol the ac¢ounls presented wlh those records.11 also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the Iru51ee5 concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no oynion is given as lo whether the accounts present a Irue and lair, vlew and the report 18 limrted lo Iho8e matters sel out in the statement below. Indepgndenl examlner's statsment In conne¢lion wlh my examination, no matter has come lo my attention 111 which gives me reasonable cause lo believe that in, any material respect, the requirements.. lo keep accounting records in accordance Mqlh section 130 of the Charities Act,. to preFMfe accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements ol the Charities Act have not been mel,. or 121 lo whi¢h, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding ol the accounts lo be reached. Rlchard 8acon FCA Date: 26 May 2026 17 Wesffield Roa Bristol BS9 3HG

EXULTATE SINGERS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025

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	2025 £ 22,214 61,176 415 83,805 54,592 6,610 61,202 22,603 14,868 37,471	2024 £ 17,796 47,657 439
		65,892
		57,159 7,919
		65,078

		814
		14,054
		14,868

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 2025

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)	2025 £ 37,471 230 3,045 40,746 25,324 255 25,579 15,167	2024 £ 14,868 140 3,583
		18,591
		2,641 255
		2,896

		15,695

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

Ian Carpenter Treasurer

Date: 27 May 2026