midsummer music Charity Number 1145873 TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT for the period 01 January 2023- 31 December 2023 Charity's principal addre55: 56 Severalls Avenue Buckinghamshire Chesham HP5 3EL MIDSUMMER MUSIC Charlty Number 1145873 TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT for the period 01 January 2023 - 310ecember 2023 Charity's principal address: 56 Severalls Avenue Chesham Bucklnghamshire HP5 3EL Narnes of the charlty trustees who manage the charity., Slr Jeremy Dlxon- Chair Mrs B10rg Lewis- Artistic Director Mr Christopher Aldren Name of senior member of staff: Mrs Madelelne Llster (Mattarl . Festlval Dlrector Mldsummer Muslc's governin8 document15 a Trust Deed, which was executed on 21 De¢ember 2011. The objects of the charlty as set out in its governlng document are. To advance, Improve, develop and malntaln publlc educatlon In and appreclatlon of the art of muslc through the presentatlon of publlc concerts and recStals, and for such other purposes a5 shall be excluslvely charitable, a5 the trustees moy from tlme to time declde." The Charitable Trust Is adminlstered by three trustees. The trustees are appolnted or re-appolnted by the existing trustee5. At the forefront of the trustees, declslon-makin& Is a commitment to the guidance155ued by the Charity Commission on publlc beneflt. In 2023, the three trustees all gave thelr time voluntarily and received no remuneration or other benefits in the period. The main focus of Midsummer Music's work is to produce an annual chamber music festival. This led by two Artlstic Dlrectors: the planist, Paul Lewls and the cellist, Bj0r8 Lewis (also a trusteel, both of whom are Internationally-renowned concert musiclans and award-winning recording artists, The Artisti¢ Dirertots recelved no remuneratlon or other benefit in the perlod either for their work in plannin8 the festival, or as fees for performing at the festival. The Festival Director, Madeleine Lister (Mattarl Is self-employed, The Festival Directorfs responsibillties Include all administration, charitable compliance, fvnd-raisinsi financial management, marketln& ticket sales, festival production and Eeneral management. Midsummer Muslc In 2023 2023 wo5 a good year for Mldsummer Music. Bulldlng on the return In confidence that the first post- pandemlc festlval in 2022 had engendered, Midsummer Music was able to plan it5 Usual event5. The first event of the year wa5 the Launch Concert held in Lohdon on 12 Aprll at 33 Mansfleld Street. Thls toncert had a partlcular slgnlflcance, as It was the flrst fundralslng event Mldsummer Muslc had organised since 2019. The event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic restrirtion5, and no suitable date was found in 2022. 50, it was lovely to be able to present a concert in 2023. It opened wlth two cello works by Fauré, Après un Réve and Élegie, followed by Schumann's Fantasy Pieces Op. 73 played by Biorg Lewis with Madeleine Mattar. The evenlng then concluded with Schuberfs monumental A minor Sonata D845 played by Paul Lewi5. The evènt is an occasion to connért with established audlence members but also to promote the festlval events In June to potentially new audlence members. It is a valuable evening that encourages donations and generally raises the profile of Midsummer Music. The artists all gave theirseNices for fr99 Sn order to maximise the fundralsin8 Potential of the event, Thls yearfs main event, the Midsummer Music June festival, was held from Wednesday 21 to Frlday 23 June. It was the 14 edition and the first year in whlch onllne tlcket sales vla Tlcketsource were offered. Tlcket prlce5 were held the same as the previous year1£30 and £201 with £5 tickets available forthose aged 18 and under, In selecting the art15ts for 2022, 8 8reat effort had been made to ensure that all were UK-based, so as to keep C05t5 down. In 2023, some excellent artists from Europe were Invlted together wlth other UK artists. Along wlth the Artlstlc Dlrectors, Paul Lewis and Blorg Lewls, the team of muslcians made a total of eight terrlflcally accompllshed and established artlsts; Claud13 Almone-marsan violin Nicholas 8ootiman vlola Berit Cardas violln/viola Liza Ferschtman violln Giovanni Gnocchl cello TIM Horton plono BJ0rg Lewls cello Paul Lewi5 plano The format remalned the same a5 In previous years.. five concerts given over three days. The repertolre chosen to fill the concerts offered a significant amount of variety, wlth composers ranging from Bach, Beethoven and Brahms to Lulse Adolpa le Beav, Nadia Boulanger, Ellzabeth Maconchy and Sofla Gubaidulina. A5 an example, here are some of the works performed in 2023: Bach Partita No. 3 in E major for solo violln Sofla Gubaldulina Preludes for solo cello Ellzabeth Maconchy 5trin8 Quartet No. 3 8rahms Sextet No. 2 in G major Schubert Three Marches Militaires Schoenbery Verkiarte Nacht Op. 4 for string sextet Schubert Piano Sonatas Prokofiev Violin Sonata No. 2 Nadia Boulanger Three Pleces for cello and plano Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 in plano and string quartet arrangement This is not a comprehensive list, but gives a flavour of the breadth of dlfferent composers, periods and sound worlds experienced, There were stellar performances all round, and the collegial manner in which the concerts were shared between the artists. made for a partlcularly rich concert experience. The artistic level of the musicians was both excellent and inspirins and is the very essence of Midsummer Music. A warm informallty is another hallmark of the festival,. detailed and informed introdurtion5 to many of the lesser- known works w@r@ appreciated bythe audience. Audience numbers were a8ain stronB thisyear and together with a very loyal core of audlence members who have been devoted to the festival for many years, there were many discovering it for the first time. Grandparents now bring their children and grandchildren and there is a sense that the message of the visceral power of live music is being handed down. In 2023, Midsummer Muslc re-establlshed its Ilnk wSth the local school Ilnked to the church venue: St Marfs Church of England Primary School. The Artistic Directors, Paul Lewis and Bjorg Lewis strongly believe that it 15 Vital for children to experience hearlng live muslt belng Created in an engaging space and also for the Children to be able interact with the muslclans and have the chance to ask them questions and share their understandlng of the MLSSIC. We are especially grateful to Berit Cardas, Bj0r8 Lewis and Tim Horton, who 8ave wonderfully varied concert of music for all ot the 5chool'5 Key Stage 2 children - those aged 7 to 11. The children are was absolutely packed, wlth a great sense of atmosphere. There were works byschubert, Chopln and Nadia Boul8n8er and then the eontert finishèd wlth a brllllant rendition of Ferdinand the 8ull 8iven by the irrepre55ible Berit Carda5. The work is a classlcal violln plece by Alan Ridout with story narrative and much comedic effectl It went down brllllantly and the whole concert was hugely appreclated by the children, headteacher and staff alike, The invitation to the school will be extended again in 2024. It15 really important that Midsummer Music Is as actesslble as posslble to the local community and we wlll always seek to foster PQSltlve relation5hlps with schools In the local area. To conclude, 2023 was another fantastic year of concerts and outreach work. The supportive community whlch has bullt up around Midsltmmer Muslc Is its most V81uable asset. We are all partlcularly grateful to the church communlty who so generously allow Midsummer Music to set Sts festival In thelr beautiful and very busy church. St Mary's In Old Amersham Is an absolutely perfect space in which to perform and hear mu51c, and we all appreclate how accommodating the clergy and the parish are for the week that we are setting up, rehearsing and puttln8 on the concerts. We are proud to attract an audlence locally, natlonally and Internatlon8lly. The presence of the festlval In the town of Old Amer5ham Is a posltive factor, boostln8 the local economy and lendlng an alr of anticlpatlon and excitement, Over the past 14 year5, Mid5Lsmmer Mu51 has bullt a reputatlon as a world-class cla55icaS muslc event, It Is upliftlng and inspiring, It is fortunate to be led by two incredibly passionate advocate5 for muslc and its transformative power, Paul and Blorg Lewls. It promotes the art of classlcal musSc.maklng In an Invlting and upllftlng manner and is true to its mission to both educate and entertain. We are proud to be assoclated with Midsummer Music and always asp5re to make its bènèflts aceesslble to as many people as posslble, Midsummer Muslc 8enerates Income from the flve sources below: 11 Fundraising / Launch Concert 21 Donatlons from Supporters 31 Ticket sales from the festival 41 GiftAid 51 Refreshment and brochure sales durln8 the festlval Income sources in 2023 Supporters Gift Refreshment$lBrochures Fundralslng cOn￿rt Midsummer Muslc ended the year in a steady financlal position. Significantly* It W?5 the second year In a row to close wlth a net Incoming resource. At the close of the 2023 financial year, Mldsummer Muslc held cash at the bank of £31,999, all of whlch is unrestricted fund5. In order to meet unforeseen clr¢umstan¢es (another pandemlc, a cancelled festlval, a drop in Supporter donations. reduced tlcket sales), the reserve level remains set at £10,000. The Trustees and Artistic Directors would like to express their gratitude to everyone who helps Midsummer Music thrive: the amazing artists, loyal audience and especially the Supporters of Mldsummer Muslc. Their Beneroslty and love of music remain5 the foundation of all that the festival can achleve. We remain committed to building on Mldsummer Muslc's contrlbutlon to the UK'S cultural landscape, making the event as accesslble as possible to the local community and to those who travel long distan¢es to attend. Above all, everyone associated with Midsummer Music is determined to maintaln the hlghest standards of artlstlc excellence in Ilve classlcal music performance. The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above. Signed on behalf o* the thariws trustees Signature Full Name: Slr Jeremy Dlxon P051tion.' Chairman of the Trustees Date: MIDSUMMXR MUSIC Ch8rfty No: 1145873 ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDED 31 DKCEMBER 2023 Alexander Chartered MwmBom¢n¢AttounMts Churchlll Al¢xonder