2024-03-31-accounts

December, 2024

Report to the Charity

Commission 2023-24

The Charity’s activities at the beginning of April 2023 were directed to the fulfillment of the core aims by completing the preparations for the production of Fame and Envy , a new opera by Roger Simmonds set to an initial story by Simon Kingston. During 2023 OCO staged several fund-raising events that also raised awareness of the production of Fame and Envy.

Production and Preparation for Fame and Envy

Kingston’s plot was an original conception, with none of the heroic, legendary, historical or literary inspirations underlying much of opera, but it lacked nothing in the way of drama, intrigue or, indeed, tragedy by pitting genuine against fake and love against the eponymous emotions of fame and envy. Under the direction of Callie Nestleroth the six young professional singers gave excellent performances in the natural theatrical space that is St Mary’s Church, Thame. From an artistic and musical perspective Fame and Envy was very successful and deserved a better attendance at the performances. However, the enforced choice of this venue, away from OCO’s base in Wheatley, may have contributed to some of the loss of audience.

Planning for the 2024 Season

The planning for OCO’s next production in 2024 has been focused on stimulating musical awareness and finding new talent in Wheatley. To that end OCO organized a song writing competition in November 2023. The competition was open to all ages in three categories (junior, adult and senior). The response was impressive in that over 20 entries were submitted (including 4 from primary schoolchildren) with OCO patron, Jessica Dromgoole, judging the contributions.

With this gratifyingly large selection of compositions OCO invited Gerard Foster, a Bafta award winning scriptwriter (and resident of Wheatley), to fashion a storyline that would utilize the themes generated by the compositions. Although this would be Gerard’s introduction to writing a script set to music, he willingly accepted the challenge and duly produced a storyline that incorporated many of the songs from the competition that would eventually be arranged musically by Roger Simmonds. OCO scheduled the performance of this new work for November 2024 at St Mary’s Church, Wheatley.

The Trustees are pleased to confirm that the Charity’s funds are in credit for the forthcoming productions and events planned for 2024.

David Keene Chairman of Trustees

37D Church Road, Wheatley OX33 1LZ Registered charity number 1178044

http://www.oxcontemporaryopera.org [e-mail]

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OXFORDSHIRE CONTEMPORARY OPERA

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

2023 - 24

37D Church Road, Wheatley OX33 1LZ Registered charity number 1178044

http://www.oxcontemporaryopera.org [e-mail]

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Oxfordshire Contemporary Opera

Statement of financial activities in FY 2023/24

Note FY 2022/23 £ Income Brought forward from FY 2021/22 1,211.12 Brought forward from FY 2022/23 Donations 1,625.00 Gift Aid Ticket sales 2 790.00 Raffle ticket sales 2 97.00 Bar sales 2 261.50 Ticket sales (2) 5 460.00 Raffle ticket sales (2) 5 70.00 Ticket sales (3) 6 70.00 Ticket sales (4) 7 Raffle ticket sales (4) 7 Ticket sales (5) 9 Bar and programme sales 9 _ Total income 4,584.62 Expenditure Squarespace 268.80 OCO Insurance 1 96.00 Google 259.79 Parchment Print 132.20 Advertising 2 67.50 Postage 10.05 Musicians Fees 2 280.00 Refreshment costs/SUN voucher 2 209.86 TEN licence 2 21.00 PayPal/SumUp/Stripe costs 2 3.88 Artistic Director Fees 3 500.00 Travel expenses (Fame & Envy) 4 278.26 Hire of Holton Village Hall 5 166.50 Hire of URC 4 20.00 Advertising (2) 5 49.99 Musician Fees (2) 5 50.00 Crick’s of Wheatley voucher 5 25.00 PayPal/SumUp/Stripe costs (2) 5 2.59 Advertising (2) 4 29.95	FY 2023/24 £ 2,113.25 7,020.00 1,637.50 630.00 100.00 2,300.00 436.00 _ 14,236.75 506.40 279.86
37D Church Road, Wheatley OX33 1LZ http://www.oxcontemporaryopera.org
Registered charity number 1178044 [e-mail]
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Hire of Holton Village Hall (2)	7	110.00
Musician Fees (2)	7	400.00
Advertising (3)	7	40.80
PayPal/SumUp/Stripe costs (3)	7	3.77
Hire of Holton Village Hall (3)	8	119.00
Hire of Wheatley Park Academy	8	150.00
Hire of St Mary’s, Thame	8	394.00
Travel Expenses (Fame & Envy) (2) 4		606.53
Artistic Director Fees (2)	3	1,000.00
Stage Designer Fees		300.00
Soloist Fees	9	4,500.00
Musicians Fees (2)	9	1,700.00
Thank you	9	30.00
Rehearsal food	8	70.00
Advertising (3)	9	416.56
Costumes	9	18.00
Props	9	520.14
Piano Tuning	9	125.00
Parchment Print (2)		184.68
Bar costs	9	199.77
PayPal/SumUp/Stripe costs (4)	9	27.97
Strategy meetings		141.26
Song competition prizes	10	238.48

_ _ Total Expenditure (2,471.37) (12,020.52)

Funds

At April 2023 Net Movement of Resources in the Year

2,113.25 902.13

At 31 March 2024

___ 2,216.23

The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure are derived from continuing activities.

Notes

1. Insurance suspended with effect from 19[th] June, 2023. 2. A fund-raising concert was held on 24[th] June, 2022. 3. Artistic Director for Fame and Envy appointed on 16[th] August, 2022. 4. Audition and Marketing for Fame and Envy. 5. A fund-raising concert was held on 16[th] November, 2022. 37D Church Road, Wheatley OX33 1LZ Registered charity number 1178044

http://www.oxcontemporaryopera.org [e-mail]

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1. Fame and Envy scheduled for 16[th] and 17[th] June, 2023. Advanced ticket sales in FY22/23.

2. A fund-raising concert was held on 28[th] April, 2023

3. Space for rehearsals and performances of Fame and Envy

4. The performances of Fame and Envy were held on 16[th] and 17[th] June, 2023

5. A song writing competition was held at Wheatley Primary School on 18[th] November, 2023.

37D Church Road, Wheatley OX33 1LZ Registered charity number 1178044

http://www.oxcontemporaryopera.org [e-mail]

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