Chairman’s AGM Report
5[th] March 2021
Hi all,
When we closed the choir down on March 16th last year we thought it would be for a few weeks only. Little did we know we would still be in lockdown a year later. I have to report the choir has kept going in ways we never dreamed of before. We commenced zoom committee meetings shortly afterwards and have been very active ever since. A lot of work had to be done re arranging concerts only to see them fall again one by one including our yearly showpiece at Huddersfield town hall, this was particularly poignant as it was to be Alan Brierley's last concert after nine great years as our Musical Director.
In the meantime we welcomed Dorian Kelly on board as our new MD and commence on something totally alien to us The Zoom Rehearsal, Tuesday nights would never be the same again, here we sit under Dorian and Emma's guidance able to see our friends but have to sing on our own. Very strange but it actually works with to date approximately 3/4 of the choir having taken part.
Christmas came and went the highlight of which was the choir Zoom party which was a great success. The debut of Wish I was at home for Christmas was a triumph and £600 raised for charity to boot. We hope 2021 brings better times and we are able to get together again as soon as possible.
Lastly I would like to thank our amazing committee who have battled on throughout the last 12 months, there have been some changes in personal, our long time secretary Andy Johnston stepped down but into the breach came Howard Samuels, sadly Howard is leaving us and returning home to the dark side. We appealed for a new secretary and I'm pleased to announce that Steve Flynn has volunteered for the post. As we all know David Haigh recently passed, he was a valuable member of our committee and will be sorely missed. Fred Sims was co-opted on to committee in 2020 and Paul Morgan has volunteered to join us this year. I would like to give special thanks to John Middleton who has managed to put together a very informative and amusing weekly newsletter during these trying times. That’s all from me, please keep safe and hope to see you all soon.
Yours Sincerely.
John Mallinson
Secretary’s AGM Report
3[rd] March 2021
I would like to begin with a nod to my predecessor. During his time in choir, Andy Johnson held this post of secretary for a considerable number of years. His contribution to the role was professional and enthusiastic. He was progressive and always pushed us all on committee to think of new ways for choir to be the best it could be.Thank you Andy.
Following the sad news this week, I would like to pay tribute to David Haigh. A stalwart of choir in every way possible. I have served on committee with him for 5 years, his calm and considered manner was always reassuring and when he had something to say it was worth listening to. The flip side was his joy for life, energy and enthusiasm. A great entertainer and of course his rousing South Australia shanty will live in the memory forever. Thank you for your friendship, dedication to choir and 25 years of singing, you will be missed.
It’s now that I should recall the highlights of our year. Scarborough, concerts, a couple of funny anecdotes here and there. Sadly the last 12 months haven’t provided those memories. Life on committee has still been busy and we started with the task of cancelling concerts and avoiding a fairly substantial sum in contractual liabilities. This we did and then came the recruitment of our new MD. Alan left last summer and we set about recruiting. Trickier than you might think with no rehearsals to trial and us unable to visit prospective candidates and see them in action. I am delighted to have been part of the team to choose Dorian and I think we did rather well. It has been the most difficult start to his tenure imaginable. He hasn’t even met anyone yet! His Zoom rehearsals have been imaginative, organised and enjoyable. Ably assisted by Emma whose work for us is tireless and greatly appreciated, these rehearsals have been vital in keeping us together as much as learning new and keeping old pieces up to scratch.
For each of us our relationship with choir is a marriage, some have managed a very long time others less so, but like a marriage it is founded on the principles, for better or worse, in sickness and health. The last 12 months have been challenging and put us all to the test. The strength and unity remains fully intact and worth every effort you have all put in.
As vaccinations roll out and restrictions begin to ease the future looks bright. Live rehearsals and concerts will return, hopefully in the summer and the energy will surge. This is my last duty as secretary and indeed a member of choir. As I head to Southport, I’m sure Steve will carry the secretary baton with a steady hand and work hard on your behalf. All that remains is to send you all my very best wishes and reflect fondly on my time as a member and secretary of New Mill Male Voice Choir.
Howard
Treasurer’s - AGM Report
New Mill Male Voice Choir Accounts for y/e 30 Sep 2020
Whilst Covid has had a severe impact on our activities it only really impacted the second half of our financial year. Therefore the financial effects due to drop in concert income were minimal as our main profit making concerts are in the first 3 months of our financial year (1 Oct-31 Dec).
There were two significant factors contributing to the deficit of £3200
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i) we incurred £2463 costs relating to our aborted London trip for accommodation deposit and coach hire deposit. Both of these amounts should be reimbursed in due course from members as and when the proposed trip eventually takes place (hopefully summer 2022)
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ii) the tax refund claim for 2019/20 £1726 was received after the year end
The above two amounts taken together total £4189 so our underlying financial result ignoring the above would have been a surplus of approx £1000.
No further comments but I’m happy to take questions either at the AGM or beforehand.
Steve Davies
5 March 2021
Musical Director’s AGM Report
4th March 2021
I would like to start my report to the 2021 AGM with a big ‘thank you’ to John Mallinson, the committee, Emma, and all the members that I have so far met online. You have all made me feel very welcome. I would also like to thank my predecessor Alan Brierley for his long service to the choir and for getting you all into such good choral shape!
No-one could really have imagined the circumstances that we have been living with for almost a year now and to be the musical director of a choir for nearly 8 months and not actually have heard it sing is quite a surreal concept.
However, I have been heartened by the members’ enthusiasm to embrace technology and rehearse online for 34 weeks (minus two weeks missed for the Christmas break). During that time, we have been busy, working on the new pieces from January 2020 as well as refreshing more familiar repertoire. We have also started work on the new pieces from January 2021, made a cracking Christmas video ( Stop the Cavalry ) and raised money for charity with a fabulous online Christmas variety show.
There have been some difficult times, none more so than recently, with the sad passing of top tenor David Haigh. But I thank you for the magnificent work you have all been doing since July 2020, which clearly demonstrates your enduring commitment to the choir.
Looking to the future, it seems likely that we might be able to return to normal rehearsals by July 2021 and I for one cannot wait to hear the choir in full flow! The committee are working hard to ensure the concert with the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (at Huddersfield Town Hall in October 2021) can go ahead, and this (perhaps along with smaller events in September, November, and December) will provide an ideal focus for our rehearsals throughout the summer and autumn period.
I will end this report as I started, with a’ thank you’ for your continuing patience, support, and dogged determination to keep the spirit of New Mill Male Voice Choir burning bright.
Best wishes
Dorian Kelly
Ijependent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of New Mill Male Voice Choir RmpIbll1tl•$ •nd r•port th¢ olth¢Cknrfkn 01 I 4¢1'1 •M b> Jt (W C"LMWiS*X •Jv 14ySXbl Aa
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NEW MILL MALE VOICE CHOIR CONTROL ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 30 SEPTEMBER 2020 Cash control balance blf 01-Oct-19 14.00 reipts/PaymentS cash to bank 3414.80 3147.72 balance clf 30-Sep-20 281.08 3428.80 3428.80 Trea8urorf8 {Current) account balance blf 01-Oct-19 23042.44 cash to bank other receiptslpayments 23367.13 26834.44 balance cjf 30-Sep-20 19575.13 46409.57 46409.57 total balances at 304ep-20 £ 19856.21 total balances at 01Qct-19 £ 23056.44 Surplusl(deficlt) for year £ -32023
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Ijependent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of New Mill Male Voice Choir RmpIbll1tl•$ •nd r•port th¢ olth¢Cknrfkn 01 I 4¢1'1 •M b> Jt (W C"LMWiS*X •Jv 14ySXbl Aa
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NEW MILL MALE VOICE CHOIR CONTROL ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 30 SEPTEMBER 2020 Cash control balance blf 01-Oct-19 14.00 reipts/PaymentS cash to bank 3414.80 3147.72 balance clf 30-Sep-20 281.08 3428.80 3428.80 Trea8urorf8 {Current) account balance blf 01-Oct-19 23042.44 cash to bank other receiptslpayments 23367.13 26834.44 balance cjf 30-Sep-20 19575.13 46409.57 46409.57 total balances at 304ep-20 £ 19856.21 total balances at 01Qct-19 £ 23056.44 Surplusl(deficlt) for year £ -32023
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