Wensleydale Concert Series
Registered Charity 1172472
Lairdswood Cottage, Carperby, Leyburn, North Yorkshire DL8 4DB Telephone: 01969 663026 Email: concerts@wensleydaleconcertseries.co.uk
Annual Report 2023
Trustees
Our Trustees during 2023 were:
Carol Haynes Carperby, Leyburn Elizabeth Sowter Carperby, Leyburn Jacqueline Simper Carperby, Leyburn Sir Joseph Pilling Gayle, Hawes Brian Kershaw Woodhall, Leyburn Pip Pointon Aysgarth, Leyburn
Our 2023 Season
In 2023 we held seven concerts, with our season running from May to September. We did not restrict audience numbers as we did during the Covid pandemic, but we continued our practice of not serving refreshments in the interval, as this can be disruptive.
Our concerts included several returning artists, often with different ensembles, and some who were new to the series.
13[th] May 2023 Meera Maharaj flute and Lucy Nolan harp 23[rd] June 2023 Fitzwilliam String Quartet 8[th] July 2023 Ivana Gavric, piano 22[nd] July 2023 Pixels Ensemble 19[th] August 2023 Mark Bebbington, piano 2[nd] September 2023 Moray Welsh, cello and Martin Roscoe, piano 16[th] September 2023 Nicholas Daniel, oboe and Huw Watkins, piano
This was our best year so far in terms of audience numbers. The concert with the Fitzwilliam String Quartet was particularly well attended and helped to establish our reputation as a concert series with musicians of the highest calibre. The final concert with Nicholas Daniel was a last-minute substitution for the planned concert with horn and piano.
Finances
Once again we received many donations, some as small top-ups on TicketSource, others as more substantial gifts. A specific generous donation in 2022 enabled us to invite the Fitzwilliam String Quartet. We also received a grant from the Ireland Trust for the concert with Mark Bebbington
Priorities for 2024/2025 and onwards
At the time of writing our 2025 programme is finalised with a series of eight concerts and includes UK artists with considerable international reputations. This has only been made possible by generous gifts and sponsorship from individuals.
In late 2019 we were offered support for 12 months from the Coop Community Fund. This funding is specifically aimed at promoting the series to a wider audience in and around Wensleydale and further developing community links. We have attempted to contact local schools, but so far no one has taken up our offer of bringing musicians in to perform to the children. A few people have taken up the offer of free tickets in return for bringing an audience member with mobility issues and one attended the whole series, thanks in part to our provision of a taxi to and from concerts. We continue to advertise this offer, in person at concerts and in our printed materials.
Elizabeth Sowter October 2024
Wensleydale Concert Series Financial Summary Jan 1st -Dec 31st 2023
Income
| Ticket & Programme Sales | Online (Ticketsource) | £7,026.11 |
|---|---|---|
| Cheque | £1,633.00 | |
| Cash sales | £1,407.00 | |
| Other Income | Donations | £4,217.09 |
| Total Income | £14,283.20 | |
| Expenses | ||
| Artist Fees & expenses | £9,723.68 | |
| Venue costs | £768.00 | |
| Piano Tuner | £637.50 | |
| Printing | £354.39 | |
| Advertising | £355.00 | |
| Total Expenses | £11,838.57 | |
| Income over expenditure | £2,444.63 |
Community Bank Account
| Barclays 20-45-45 |
90771023 |
|---|---|
| Opening Balance Jan 1st | £10,408.01 |
| Closing Balance Dec 31st | £12,852.64 |
| Outstanding transactions | 0.00 |