2020-07-31-accounts

CITY OF LONDON CHOIR

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

31 JULY 2020

REGISTERED CHARITY N°: 1164955

CITY OF LONDON CHOIR

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2020

CONTENTS

Charity Information		1
Trustees' Report	2 to 4
Independent Examiners' Report		5
Statement of Financial Activities		6
Balance Sheet		7
Notes forming part of the financial statements	8	to 11

CITY OF LONDON CHOIR

31 JULY 2020

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER:	1164955
PATRONS	Humphrey Burton CBE
	Rt. Rev'd & Rt. Hon. The Lord Chartres
	KCVO PC
TRUSTEES	D G Mansfield - Chairman
	G P A Banner
	C L Clark
	M S St G Hill
	C T Matthews
	C Rayson
	J J Robinson
	A P Thompson (Appointed 26/09/2019)
	M J White (Appointed 26/09/2019)
MUSICAL DIRECTOR	Hilary Davan Wetton
PRINCIPAL GUEST CONDUCTOR	Mark Williams
ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR	Stephen Farr
PRINCIPAL ADDRESS	20 Highclere Road
	New Malden
	KT3 3HJ
BANKERS	Royal Bank of Scotland plc
	5 - 10 Great Tower Street
	London
	EC3P 3HX
INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS	Pillow May Ltd
	The Coach House
	Bremhill Grove Farm
	East Tytherton
	Chippenham
	Wiltshire
	SN15 4LX

WEBSITE

www.cityoflondonchoir.org

2

CITY OF LONDON CHOIR REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2020

The Trustees present their report along with the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31st July 2020.

Charitable Incorporated Organisation

These accounts are prepared for the full year including the combined results of the Charity and its subsidiary, CLC Orchestral Promotions Limited.

Constitution and Objects

The Charity’s Governing Document is its Constitution which was last amended on 30 November 2015.

The objects of the CIO are to promote, improve, develop and maintain public education in the application of the art and science of choral music in all its aspects by the presentation of public choral concerts and by such other ways as the trustees shall determine from time to time primarily in and around the City of London.

In pursuing such objects, the City of London Choir aims to provide exciting musical experiences for members and audiences. In particular, it seeks to:

• Encourage amateur singers, especially those based in the City, to develop their musical expertise and enjoy singing together;

• Provide increased opportunities for audiences to hear both established and less well-known works;

• Demonstrate that music of the highest quality can be achieved by amateurs and professionals working together;

• Celebrate and share the fun of music-making and to encourage more people to experience choral music, whatever their age, background or previous musical interest; and

• Support charities and worthy causes.

Development, Activities and Achievements

The City of London Choir is busy and versatile, regularly performing in ensembles from 8-12 singers to our full strength of around 120. We have provided music for a wide range of social and corporate events and we are particularly pleased to support events organised by our sponsors.

The 2019-20 season has been highly unusual due to the severe restrictions placed on us and our professional partners such as concert halls, orchestras and soloists due to the Coronavirus pandemic. In effect our performing season finished in February.

The choir's first engagement in the season was a recording at Henry Wood Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and soloists Stephanie Corley, Marta Fontanals Simmons, Ed Lyon and William Berger, of a new work by living composer Michael Stimpson, concerned with climate change and entitled The Angry Garden.

As sole promoter we staged one concert during the season, our twelfth Christmas Carol concert in St. John’s, Smith Square, with soloist Rebecca Bottone, Richard Gowers at the organ and Timothy End at the piano.

3

CITY OF LONDON CHOIR REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2020

As a co-promoter with the RPO, we completed our series of joint Mozart/Mendelssohn concerts at the Cadogan Hall. In November we performed Mozart’s Laudate Dominum and Coronation Mass, together with Mendelssohn’s Psalm 43 and Verleih uns Frieden gnädiglich with soloists Grace Davidson, Stephanie Wake-Edwards, Edward Ross and Jacob Philips. Chloë Hanslip was the soloist for Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto.

As usual the choir also participated in several concerts promoted by other organisations. In December we were invited to sing at The Carers’ Trust fundraising concert held at St. George’s, Hanover Square and The Garrick Club Christmas Carol Service at St. Paul’s, Covent Garden. We also continued our relationships with both Raymond Gubbay Ltd at their Christmas Classics concert at the Barbican Hall with the London Concert Orchestra, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at their Magic of Christmas Concert at the Cadogan Hall, both in December.

We were also invited by Kestrel Music to sing at their promotion of Mendelssohn’s Elijah at the Cadogan Hall in February, with The London Mozart Players and soloists Elin Manahan Thomas, Katie Bray, Ed Lyon and Colin Schachat in the title role.

We are extremely grateful to all those individuals and organisations that have provided essential support.

It was much sorrow that we heard during the season of the death, due to the pandemic, of Alvin Chua, a member of the choir since 2010, and Aleem Fakira, the Choir’s Independent Examiner for over 20 years. They will both be much missed.

The Choir is a member of Making Music, previously the National Federation of Music Societies.

Reserves Policy

The Choir needs to hold reserves for a number of reasons: to provide a cushion against losses in the course of a year, to enable it to commit to expenditure up to a year ahead and to give it flexibility in its long term planning. The Choir’s policy is to hold a level of reserves that is broadly equivalent to between one and one and a half year’s worth of planned future expenditure.

4

CITY OF LONDON CHOIR REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2020

Trustees' responsibilities in relation to the financial statements

We choose under the constitution of the Charity to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of its financial activities for the period. In preparing these financial statements we:

• select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;

• make reasonable and prudent judgements and estimates; and

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in business.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf:

11 November 2020

D G Mansfield, Chairman

5

CITY OF LONDON CHOIR

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the City of London Choir

I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 July 2020 set out on pages 6 to 11.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements; you consider that the audit requirement of section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 ("the 2011 Act") does not apply and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

• examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 act

• to follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act

• to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner’s report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and, consequently, no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and this report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

• (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

• to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011Act

• to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the requirements of the 2011Act

have not been met; or

• (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Jessica Pillow Pillow May Limited The Coach House, Bremhill Grove Farm East Tytherton, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 4LX

11 November 2020

6

CITY OF LONDON CHOIR

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2020

Notes INCOMING RESOURCES Subscriptions and Gift Aid refund Friends Concerts 3 Performance and other fees 8 Music hire and resale Sale of CDs 9 Recording income 9 Donations Sale of folders Fund raising 10 Tenor Bursary Scheme Bank interest EXPENDITURE Rehearsal expenses Making Music- insurance Concerts 3 Singing Day/Weekend Music hire and resale Recording expenses 9 Examiner's fees Cost of folders sold Audition costs Tenor Bursary Scheme Vocal Coach Committee expenses Bank Charges Concert Management Sundry Expenses Total resources expended NET MOVEMENT OF FUNDS FOR THE YEAR TOTAL FUNDS BROUGHT FORWARD TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD	UNRESTRICTED RESTRICTED FUND FUND 2020 2020 £ £ 28,790 - 1,050 - 15,277 - 5,986 - 4,442 - 320 - 4,000 - 796 - 267 - 956 - - 1,700 442 -	TOTAL TOTAL FUNDS FUND 2020 2019 £ £ 28,790 31,048 1,050 - 15,277 15,402 5,986 9,802 4,442 6,568 320 435 4,000 - 796 570 267 598 956 5,441 1,700 - 442 498
	62,326 1,700	64,026 70,362
	19,228 - 613 - 11,315 - - - 4,059 - 2,245 - 480 - 275 - 1,405 - - 50 265 - 312 - 275 - 2,160 - (21) -	19,228 23,726 613 613 11,315 14,285 - (24) 4,059 6,276 2,245 2,245 480 825 275 598 1,405 1,325 50 - 265 424 312 664 275 341 2,160 3,600 (21) 2,996
	42,611 50	42,661 56,120
	19,715 1,650	21,365 14,242
	118,036 -	118,036 103,794
	£137,751 £1,650	£139,401 £118,036

There are no recognised gains and losses in 2019 and 2020 other than those included in the Statement of Financial Activities.

7

CITY OF LONDON CHOIR

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT 31 JULY 2020

Notes CURRENT ASSETS Stocks 4 Debtors 5 Cash at bank and in hand 7 Creditors: amounts falling due within one years 6 NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES FUNDS Unrestricted funds Restricted funds TOTAL FUNDS	UNRESTRICTED FUND 31/07/2020 £ 3,208 5,866 129,805	RESTRICTED TOTAL TOTAL FUND FUNDS FUND 31/07/2020 31/07/2020 31/07/2019 £ £ £ - 3,208 1,656 - 5,866 7,746 1,650 131,455 118,865
	138,879 (1,128)	1,650 140,529 128,267 - (1,128) (10,231)
	137,751	1,650 139,401 118,036
	137,751	1,650 139,401 118,036
	137,751 -	- 137,751 118,036 1,650 1,650 0
	£137,751	£1,650 £139,401 £118,036

The financial statements on pages 6 to 10 were approved by the trustees on 11 November 2020 and signed on its behalf by:

_______ D G Mansfield Chairman

This balance sheet should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes to the financial statements.

8

CITY OF LONDON CHOIR

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

31 JULY 2020

1. Accounting policies

Basis of accounting

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014; the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom (FRS 102) and with the Charities Act 2011.

Fund Accounting

The Charity's Unrestricted Funds consist of general funds which the Charity may use for its purposes at its discretion.

Restricted Funds are those where the donor has imposed restrictions on the use of the funds.

Income arising on restricted funds and expenditure incurred in respect of these funds are reflected through the Statement of Financial Activities with any surpluses or deficits being appropriated to/from restricted funds.

Stocks

Stocks are valued at the lower of cost or net realisable value.

2. Income

Voluntary income and donations are accounted for as received by the Charity.

3. Concert Account

Cadogan Hall Mozart/Mendelssohn St. John’s, Smith Square Carols Barbican Hall Verdi Other	Income Expenditure 2020 Profit / (Loss) £ £ £ 3,865 6,885 (3,020) 9,179 4,619 4,559 2,233 3,737 (1,504) - (3,927) 3,927		2019
			£
	£15,277 £11,315 £3,962		£1,117

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CITY OF LONDON CHOIR

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

31 JULY 2020

4. Stocks Folders held for resale 5. Debtors Amounts falling due within one year H M Revenue & Customs Other debtors 6. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Concert account Other creditors 7. Cash at bank and in hand CCLA Deposit account Metro Bank accounts RBS accounts	2020 2019 £ £ 3,208 1,656
	£3,208 £1,656
	2020 2019 £ £ 5,665 6,206 211 1,540
	£5,866 £12,966
	2020 2019 £ £ 123 123 1,005 10,108
	£1,128 £10,231
	2020 2019 £ £ 79,747 79,354 10,606 9,984 41,102 29,527
	£113,455 £118,865

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CITY OF LONDON CHOIR

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

31 JULY 2020

8. Performance and other fees Net surplus per engagement Raymond Gubbay Ltd The Garrick Club RPO The Carers’ Trust Kestrel Music Ahouwa recording Weddings Summer Music in City Churches Rye Arts Festival 9. Recording account Income Expenditure Net income 10. Fund raising Sandwich & Drink sales Easy Fund Raising Amazon Promises Auction	2020 £ 1,390 550 - 421 2,250 970 256 149 -	2019 £ 2.577 475 5.101 425 - - - - 1.224 £7,696 2019 £ 435 471 £(36) 2019 £ 798 408 - 4,235
	£5,986
	2020 £ 4,000
	2,245
	£1,755
	2020 £ 333 582 40 - £956
		£5,441

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CITY OF LONDON CHOIR

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

31 JULY 2020

11. Trustee remuneration and benefits

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 July 2020 nor for the year ended 31 July 2019.

Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 July 2020 nor for the year ended 31 July 2019.

12. Related Party Disclosure

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 July 2020 nor for the year ended 31 July 2019.