2020-08-31-accounts

Oxford Bach Soloists

Charitable Incorporated Organisation Trustees’ Annual Report Year ended 31st August 2020

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The CIO was established to promote, maintain, improve and advance the education of the public in the arts, culture, and heritage, and in particular (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing), the arts of orchestral, choral and other music.

Since the previous Annual Report (and since our founding) there has been no change to the CIO’s principal charitable objectives and activities, which are:

1. the organisation and/or presentation of concerts of high educational and artistic merit, conferences, lectures and recordings;

2. the organisation and presentation of concerts and collaborations with schools and other places of education; and

3. by such other means as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine.

This includes the organisation and promotion of concerts and the facilitation and organisation of other engagements such as workshops, lectures, and recordings in the United Kingdom and abroad. Alongside the core performances, the CIO is committed to providing additional opportunities for professional development and education through complementary projects and mentoring. In furtherance of these objectives the CIO engages international singers and instrumentalists, artists, performers and repetiteurs; additionally, the CIO engages skilled professional and technical advisers such as language and vocal coaches, musicologists, historians, and keyboard technicians.

The Trustees have reviewed the Charity’s objectives and activities and acknowledged that they have paid due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission as noted in Section 4 of the Charities Act 2011. The CIO fulfilled its objectives by presenting 17 concerts and other performances, and continuing its educational scheme offering twelve Choral Scholarships each academic year. The Trustees express the objectives in a ‘Mission Statement’ and monitor its activities/initiatives against this.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Oxford Bach Soloists

Charitable Incorporated Organisation Trustees’ Annual Report Year ended 31st August 2020

From 1[st] September 2019 to 31[st] August 2020, the Oxford Bach Soloists gave 10 live performances to a total of 2,854 audience members, and 4 online performances reaching 53,565 views. The activities were as follows:

Live Performances

• 7 live concerts followed the chronology of Johann Sebastian Bach’s compositional output, combining existing and new historically informed performance practice techniques.

• 1 further live performance continued a collaboration with New College Choir: a new liturgical resource in the form of a truncated Lutheran Vespers with Bach Cantata, performed once each term.

• 1 further live performance saw Oxford Bach Soloists appear in the Bath Recitals series for the third year running, performing a Christmas Baroque programme.

• The remaining live performance was a Christmas fundraiser in Christ Church Cathedral Oxford, raising over £40,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Online performances

• In response to the UK coronavirus lockdown imposed on 23 March 2020, the Oxford Bach Soloists moved quickly to produce some unique lockdown content in the form of St John Passion from Isolation . A collaboration with production company Positive Note, this exceptional performance was released on YouTube in 9 episodes from 10 April to 31 May 2020, involving hundreds of musicians all over the world.

• 2 online performances began our “Back to Bach” monthly series, initiated during the lockdown to provide opportunities to offer paid work to musicians, whilst maintaining the Oxford Bach Soloists’ online presence and profile, for continued engagement.

• 1 further online performance saw instrumentalists from the Oxford Bach Soloists collaborate with the choristers of New College Choir in their first episode of lockdown content, “apart/together”.

In November 2019, the Oxford Bach Soloists appointed their first patron, Michael Chance CBE, one of the foremost exponents of the male alto voice in all areas of the classical repertoire, and a champion of Johann

Oxford Bach Soloists

Charitable Incorporated Organisation Trustees’ Annual Report Year ended 31st August 2020

Sebastian Bach’s music, recording over thirty discs dedicated to the composer.

In response to the UK coronavirus lockdown imposed on 23 March 2020, the Board of Trustees decided to cancel all planned live concerts through to March 2021, with the hope of restarting the organisation’s regular concert series on Good Friday 2021 (2 April).

During this challenging period, the Oxford Bach Soloists’ network of Friends and sponsors continued to support the organisation. Many renewed their memberships despite the lack of concert activity. A large number converted ticket purchases for cancelled concerts into donations, and some made additional donations on top of their usual membership.

Creating and releasing content online in this period has been an excellent way of engaging with this generous network, finding new and fruitful collaborations, and reaching out to new audiences worldwide.

The Choral Scholarship scheme, which was launched in 2018, welcomed its second cohort of twelve choral scholars. These scholarships have provided a unique opportunity for young aspiring singers to develop their solo singing within the musical programme of the Oxford Bach Soloists. Choral Scholars are appointed for a single academic year (September to August) and make up the core of the chorus, helping to maintain its musical integrity. Choral Scholars develop their skills by taking on the challenges of step-out solos during concerts and receive one-to-one expert German language coaching as part of their training, as well as extensive one-to-one mentoring from the Artistic Director of Oxford Bach Soloists.

Building on the successes of the inaugural cohort, the second cohort were on track to meet and exceed all of the objectives above, but came to a halt when the lockdown was imposed in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Despite the absence of any performance opportunities, the Oxford Bach Soloists continued to support its Choral Scholars throughout the year with one-to-one online coaching and a one-to-one online masterclass with the British baritone Roderick Williams. The recruitment cycle for a third cohort of choral scholars was suspended for a year.

The Oxford Bach Soloists’ newsletter captures the experiences of the musicians as they journey through the complete vocal works of Johann Sebastian Bach, and is sent out to over 1000 followers every month

Oxford Bach Soloists

Charitable Incorporated Organisation Trustees’ Annual Report Year ended 31st August 2020

FINANCIAL REVIEW

This was the third operating period of the charity. The proceeds from concerts were £50,883 in the 12-month period, compared with costs of £107,597. The shortfall has been covered by general fundraising from Friends (£33,369), and from general donations (£69,391). There is a surplus of £46,047 calculated on a cash basis, some of which will be spent on costs in the next financial period. The Charity has secured funding from an individual donor for 2020-21 which will allow significant growth and secured funds to pay musicians.

Proceeds from concerts and general fundraising are lower than the previous period, as fewer concerts were performed in a shorter period. However, choral scholarship donations, proceeds per concert, and general fundraising per month have all increased since the previous period, which reflects the growing audience and reach of the organisation.

General administration costs reduced slightly across the period while the fees paid to musicians increased significantly.

At the end of the financial period, the Charity held assets of £83,000. These assets are adequate to provide the charity with working capital and the Trustees do not believe them to be excessive. Work continues to build a strong base of regular donors through the Friends programme and to sponsor the appointment of choral scholars. The charity does not break even on all the concerts which it performs, though it aims to be sustainable over a full 12-month period.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

The Charity is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and has memorandum and articles associated with this.

New Trustees are appointed according to the following procedure:

• a) Identifying an area of expertise either useful to the Charity or not present in the existing makeup of the Board.

• b) A process of gathering names.

• c) Names to be discussed at Trustees’ meeting

Oxford Bach Soloists

Charitable Incorporated Organisation Trustees’ Annual Report Year ended 31st August 2020

• d) Selected individual(s) to be interviewed in person by two or more Trustees.

e) Election of a nominated person in a formal meeting of Trustees.

The support the administration of the Charity as it grows, the Charity has:

• a) Engaged the services of a professional bookkeeper.

• b) Engaged a General Manager working 3 days per week to drive the operational side of the Charity

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

The Charity is registered as Oxford Bach Soloists with Charity registration number 1172192. Its registered office is 29 Stanley Close, Oxford, OX2 0LB

Trustees during the period were:

Mr Miles Young, Chair Ms Helen Morton, Treasurer (appointed 26 November 2020) Professor Robert Quinney Ms Judith Finch (retired as Treasurer on 26 November 2020 but remained a Trustee) Dr Pegram Harrison Mr Paull Hammond-Davies (retired 18 May 2020) Ms Miranda Whiteley

The Trustees named on the Charity’s bank account during the period were the Chair and the Treasurer.

©

CHARITY COMMIS510N iok tNGIANU AND WALES Oxlord B•ch Soloi¥ts 1172192 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the yrfod 011LV)Q019 31108r2020 To Section A Receipts and payments Llnr¢8trlcted funds Restrlctsd lund$ Endowment funds Total funds Last year lo tl noHroBt£ toth• totho n•rnt£ to th• no•r¢st£ A1 Recei Ckn Produdion Engagemenls External Producon En ments Donation In(Jme I(￿￿r[uSt5 & Foundationsl 21926 27.957 21926 27.957 81.266 33.369 11.13B Donatron Income IChLYal Sthdathp DOnat￿n5) DonatK)n Ir￿Orne Ilndmdual Giwryl q3.469 69.391 69,391 Sub total(Gross income for AR) 153.644 153.644 85.874 A2 Assgt and Investment sales. (see tsblel. Sub total Total recelpts 153.644 151644 85,874 A3Pa (Mn Produdion ENJagements- M￿a Fees 7&092 7&092 41,SSS n Produ(11￿ Engagements. AJI other costs Marketin￿cOmM8 Slaff Ptypal + Stripe fees Cxvn ProducM Engagements- Chtsr81 *hrJars mECella￿)us co818 1532 1532 3.937 6.708 10,304 880 1.868 947 947 114n 17 19,473 17 8,673 Sub total 107,597 t07,597 71067 A4 Assgt and Invgstmont purchases. (see table) Sub total 107.597 107.597 72,057 Net of receIpt￿(payments) A5 Transfers bgtwegn funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 46,047 13.817 36,964 83,001 83,001 13,817 CCXX R1 ac￿unt$ ISSI

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrostricted funds Rgstrlcted funds Endowrnent funds Categorles Detai to r￿￿est£ to nearest £ B1 Cash funds HSBC 63.625 Papal 19.376 Total cash funds xxxvl(511 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to n•arot£ Endowment lunds Details to no8rn$1£ Furrfl to Details Cosi ltyiionall CuThent¥al onjl Fund to whlch a8S8t bélon Curront valuo onal Detai15 Cost lo￿0￿1) B4 Assets rotained for the charity's own use Fund tOThich Amount d Detsils B5 Liabilities SKJftèd by one ortsw trwteas on behalf of all thg trustee5 Signature Print Name Date of roval CCXX R2 accounts ISSI

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ members of On accounts for the year ended Set out on pages Responsibilities and basis of report	Oxford Bach Soloists	Oxford Bach Soloists	Oxford Bach Soloists
	31 August 2020	Charity no (if any)	1172192
	1
	I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended31 / 08 / 2020. As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

• the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or

• the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or  the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Date: 22 / 09 / 2021 Signed: Name: Kirsten Gillingham Relevant professional CIPFA qualification(s) or body Membership number: 66893 (if any): Address: 69 Wantage Road Wallingford OX10 0LS

IER 1 Oct 2018

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

IER 2 Oct 2018