## **WORKSOP MUSIC and DRAMA FESTIVAL ACCOUNTS** ## **30/06/23 to 30/06/24** ## **INCOME EXPENSES** **Easy Fundraising 144.70 Prizes 120.00 Entries 3117.40 Website & Hosting 232.55 Programmes & entrance 1584.40 Venues 674.00 Lunch repayments 36.00 Insurance & subs 410.00 Prize Donation 100.00 Refunds 904.50 Concert takings 852.62 Medals & ribbons 64.99 Adjudicator hospitality 442.19 Adjudicators’ fees 1602.50 Printing 120.00 Accompanists & tech 360.00 _________________________________________________________________________ £5835.12 £4931.73 Balance 2023 £1895.10 Balance 2024 £2798.49 Totals £7730.22 Totals £ 7730.22 _________________________________________________________________________** ## **WORKSOP MUSIC and DRAMA FESTIVAL** ## TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING held on 11[th] July 2024 at The Crossing, Newcastle Street, Worksop ## CHAIRMAN’S REPORT The Festival 2024 ran over the weekends of 9[th] /10[th] , Friday 15[th] and 16[th] /17[th] March. The number of entries was up this year, which meant that the large Musical Theatre class was accommodated in the morning session of Sunday 17[th] . The instrumental adjudicator, IZ, was new to us. We found her very pleasant and she was well received. She gave constructive criticism and helpful advice. However, like last year, we did have adjudicator problems. BH who had been booked for the second weekend and the Schools Day, asked if he could be released from his commitment as he had the opportunity of 4 weeks’ work in Hong Kong. It would have been churlish to refuse but it left us with the predicament of finding another adjudicator. After many emails and phone calls we secured LS from Sutton Coldfield. However this was not to be because she contracted Covid four days before the Schools Day. Our secretary immediately got in touch with Festivals House and an emergency call was put out for an available adjudicator. Fortunately CT from Ripon who helped us out last year at short notice, came to our rescue again. We were delighted to see her and to renew our working relationship. Our Vice Chairman, Pauline Hind, has had to move to Suffolk near her daughter following several falls and a spell in hospital. We greatly missed her this year and the sterling work she has done over the years as announcer. She never missed a Festival session and she was the familiar face of reassurance for many entrants. We thank her for her loyal service. At this point I have to record the sad news of the death of George Baines in late November last year. He too was a long standing committee member of over 25 years. He had a great depth of musical knowledge and ability which the Festival benefitted from. He was Music Co-ordinator and one of the accompanists. He became Chairman of the East Midlands region when it was re-established in 2000. He was a joy to work with – a clever man with a wonderful sense of humour. He respected everyone and in turn was well respected and highly regarded in local music circles. Failing health necessitated his move back to Bradford to be closer to his son and daughter. He was a proud Yorkshireman and as so many have said, a true gentleman. We were privileged to know and work with him. Trustee and committee members work so hard before and during the Festival and the commitment and loyalty are highly valued. Thank you. Without you, there would be no Festival. The main aim currently is to try and recruit a few more people who would be willing to join us – a problem confronting many festivals it seems. We have been fortunate that Worksop Rotary Club is keen to support us with two monetary prizes and also with some volunteers to help out during Festival sessions. We are very grateful for the help and hope that they may like to be involved again next year. We had to find an alternative venue for the Schools Day as The Crossing was already booked. We were able to book the Masonic Hall which is conveniently nearby so the relocation didn’t cause too much difficulty in finding it. The performance and seating spaces were more limited but the staff were very accommodating and welcoming and there was the added bonus of a good sized car park. The other classes continue to be held at Worksop College by kind permission of the Headmaster, who always pops in when he can, and with the ongoing support of the Director of Music. We also use Outwood Academy Portland for the large instrumental and brass groups The classes were well supported this year with the Musical Theatre and Vocal classes being very popular. While many of the entrants were glad to be accompanied by NG or YCL, an increasing number of entrants are now coming with recordings of the accompaniment on their mobiles and using them for their performances. We lost quite a lot of time while the recordings were found and sessions over-ran. This is something that will have to be taken into consideration next year. Our thanks go to K for implementing the runmyfestival program which eases the planning but still relies on K’s expertise and intervention when entries present difficulties. Thanks also go to C for printing the programmes and the award certificates, and to T for willingly taking on the complexities of managing the card reader – so many people use their card for admission payment that it is essential for us to have this facility available. The Prize Winners Concert, now renamed Celebration of Music Concert, was a great success in the new venue of the Performance Hall at Outwood Academy Portland which provides raised seating, a large performance area and good car parking. We had to provide the refreshments at the interval and it worked well. Thank you to E for stepping into Pauline’s shoes to announce with K. J and K put together a very good programme that was enjoyed by all and we had some very favourable comments. We plan to go there next year, the main advantage being that the audience can see the performers. With MW, the tech expert, organising the lighting and sound systems it was certainly one of the most successful concerts we have had. There have been 4 trustee and committee meetings through the year and some Zoom meetings with the National Federation and the East Midlands Forum. Both K and I have attended and contributed to discussions. Although they are not face to face meetings, they save considerably on travelling expenses. We have certainly had some unexpected problems this year, but thanks to the committee and the trustees we have come through them all, and succeeded. So yet again, another great festival.