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2021-08-31-accounts

Mid Wales Music Trust

Registered Charity no. 1179225

Annual Report for the period 1 September 2020 - 31 August 2021

Mid Wales Music Trust

Contents Page
Legal and administrative information 3
Trustees report and annual review 4
Receipts and Payments for the period 10
1 September 2020 – 31 August 2021
Statement of Assets and Liabilities 11
Notes 12
  1. MWMT Annual Report 1 September 2020 – 31 August 2021

Mid Wales Music Trust

Legal and Administrative Information

Constitution

The Mid Wales Music Trust is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (no. 1179225), registered with the Charity Commission on 17 July 2018. The charity replaced the ‘old’ Mid Wales Music Trust (no. 1130828) which has been dissolved. The original charity had been in existence since 2009 and was governed by a trust deed. The change in governance was made because the legal framework and governance requirements of a charitable incorporated organisation were more appropriate for the charity’s activities.

Trustees

The Trustees serving during the period covered by this Report were as follows:

Lord Burns (Chair) Robert Ayling Lord Berkeley Nick Butler Susanna Best David Challen Paul Greatbatch Lord Lipsey Emma Metcalfe

Secretary

Catrin Elizabeth Slater

Registered office

Pontywal Farmhouse, Bronllys, Brecon, LD3 0LU

Bankers

Santander, PO Box 383, 21 Prescot Street, London, E1 8RP

Registered charity number

1179225

  1. MWMT Annual Report 1 September 2020 – 31 August 2021

Mid Wales Music Trust

Report of the Trustees for the year 1 September 2020 – 31 August 2021

The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their annual report and financial statements for the period. These have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charity Commission and comply with the Charity’s governing document.

Structure and Governance

The Mid Wales Music Trust is a registered charity, number 1179225. It is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and was registered with the Charity Commission on 17 July 2018. This charity replaces the original charity of the same name which was constituted under a trust deed dated 1 June 2009 and dissolved in 2019.

Trustees

Trustees are appointed with regard to the skills, knowledge and experience required for the effective administration of the CIO. Apart from the first Trustees, all Trustees are appointed for a term of four years which may be renewed for a second term of four years. Any extension of a Trustee’s term beyond eight years must be agreed by a Special Resolution agreed by a majority of the Trustees and noted with an explanation for that extension in the Annual Report.

Aim and Purposes

The charitable object of the Mid Wales Music Trust, as described in the constitution is:

To advance the education, appreciation, and knowledge of the public in the art of classical music, through the promotion of classical music and live performance in general for the public benefit in and for Mid Wales.

Activities

During the period covered by this Report the trustees carried out their charitable aim and objectives as follows:

SCHOOLS PROGRAMME

Coronavirus continued to present significant challenges this year and our original plans had to be adapted many times along the way. The impact of so much disruption and social isolation on young people made it more important than ever to deliver a programme that supports wellbeing and creativity, and provides positive collaborative experiences through music, art and storytelling.

The major challenges were that the venues were all closed and classes/bubbles couldn’t mix, so we couldn’t deliver larger scale performances bringing schools together. We also had to stretch workshop and performance activities over a longer period as there were restrictions around the sharing of instruments, and we had to work around lockdown periods where most children were not in school.

Project Partners 2020/21

Sinfonia Cymru is an innovative and flexible ensemble made up of exceptional young musicians in the early years of their careers (under 30). They are longstanding partners of MWMT, and this year their brilliant musicians performed in our workshops and performances.

Arts Connection is an arts charity based in Llanfyllin in North Powys which works across all art forms and with people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. We have worked with them regularly and are grateful to them for partnering with us to deliver the art activities this year.

South Powys Youth Music runs the South Powys Youth Orchestra and associated choirs and ensembles for young people in the area. We have been working with SPYM since 2017, and their tutors, Berri Munn and Kath Davies, led the whole class string and percussion sessions. Berri also supported the music making workshops for Mai and the Blackbird.

Funding: We are grateful to the following for the funding support they provided towards the schools programme: Brecon Town Council, Carreghofa Primary School, The Colwinston Charitable Trust, Community Foundation in Wales, Gwendoline and Margaret Davies Charity, Ty Cerdd, and Garfield Weston Foundation.

Partner Schools

Total participants: 333 children Carreghofa Primary School, Llanymynech Forden Primary School, nr Welshpool Priory Church in Wales School, Brecon Franksbridge Primary School, Llandrindod Wells Llanfaes Primary School, Brecon

  1. MWMT Annual Report 1 September 2020 – 31 August 2021

Whole Class Instrumental Teaching, November 2020 – July 2021 This year we extended the reach of our first access whole class instrumental teaching, working with three classes at each school instead of one. Younger children were taught percussion, while older children were taught violin. For the smaller schools this meant the whole school was participating, and for all schools it created much more of a sense of music reaching across the school community. Usually these sessions, which run

for half a term at each school, would culminate in a performance for parents and other pupils but this year Covid meant this was not possible. Instead, we arranged for Sinfonia Cymru’s fantastic percussionist, Delia Stevens, to spend a day at each school running performance workshops. These went down incredibly well with children and staff, and it was inspiring for the children as beginner musicians to play alongside and watch someone with such exceptional skills up close.

All children who participated in the string tasters were offered the opportunity to continue developing their skills either in group or one-to-one lessons in school from September 2021. South Powys Youth Music are also running a number of free to access music making sessions over the summer holidays for young people in the Brecon area.

“The children loved learning the violin with Berri. She made it fun and was responsive. She built up their skills slowly and they enjoyed it all, they particularly loved playing along with pop songs – it made them feel like real musicians.” (class teacher)

Mai and the Blackbird: workshops and performances, April – May 2021

“Mai and The Magical Blackbird was a triumph! Every element of the project engaged and inspired our children (and staff). Raph, Chloe, Berri, Epsie and Lowri were all superb.” (head teacher)

I adapted Mai and the Blackbird from a Breton folktale. It tells the story of Mai and her widowed mother, who are left impoverished when Mai’s grandfather dies and her three

uncles take for themselves all the farmland, livestock and property that he left. A magical blackbird and a series of magical farm animals come to their help, enabling them to recover their property and turn the tables on the selfish uncles. In the telling of the story we drew out the close relationship between the Breton and Welsh languages, for example the magical animals who come from the sea have very similar names in Breton and Welsh: Buoch Mor / Buwch Mor is sea cow, Kaseg

Mor / Caseg Mor is sea horse, and Denved Mor / Dafad Mor is sea sheep.

  1. MWMT Annual Report 1 September 2020 – 31 August 2021

i. Art activities

The folk tale is deeply rooted in the natural land and seascape of Brittany, so the art workshop used the natural world as the creative springboard, inviting the children to explore the grounds in and about their schools to find materials such as grasses, feathers, sheep’s wool and seed heads to make their own paintbrushes (Franksbridge School’s paintbrushes are pictured, right). The children then painted their images outdoors and these were sent through to Arts Connection. The artworks were collated to create a film that provided a visual backdrop for the final performances.

“The artwork has been brilliant, the children have enjoyed it so much, and the themes meant we could use our forest school area to work. We’ve also got stuck in and really enjoyed it as teachers, even bringing materials in from our gardens and fields at home.” (teacher)

ii. Music making

Raph Clarkson, who has worked with us over several years, led a day of music-making workshops at each school. He was joined by strings tutor Berri and Sinfonia Cymru harpist Chloe Powell-Davies. The children either played percussion instruments or – if they had already participated in the strings sessions – violins, and together with Raph, Berri and Chloe they devised new music to help bring key moments in the story to life. Two weeks later Raph, Chloe and Berri returned to each school for a performance day, joined by Sinfonia Cymru’s flautist Epsie Thompson and violist Lowri Thomas.The performance brought together the story, the artwork, the children’s music and chamber music performed by Sinfonia Cymru and inspired by the story. Following the performance, notes on the music were sent to each school to help them engage and explore further.

“Raph is always encouraging and always finds a way to incorporate all the children’s ideas, they loved the composition workshops.” (class teacher)

Repertoire Traditional Celtic Music from Brittany and Wales for harp Beatles Blackbird, arranged by Raph Clarkson Claude Debussy Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp Olivier Messiaen Le Merle Noir (for solo flute) Sally Beamish Between Earth and Sky (for flute, viola and harp) William Mathias Zodiac Trio (for flute, viola and harp) Toru Takemitsu ‘and then I knew twas wind’ (flute, viola, harp)

  1. MWMT Annual Report 1 September 2020 – 31 August 2021

Feedback from teachers and children:

The younger children picked out particular moments in the musicmaking and performances that they especially enjoyed, for example, moments in their own music: “the magic music” … “when we were rubbing the leaves” … “making the horse footsteps”; and also “the blackbird music” played by Epsie (Messiaen’s ‘Le Merle Noir’)

Older pupils relished the musical knowledge they had acquired through the project, describing how they “enjoyed playing tremelo” on their violins to evoke a moment of magical transformation … “listening to the music Sinfonia Cymru played” … “hearing the flute go high, the viola go low, and the harp in the middle” … “I liked watching how the musicians played their instruments all together”.

Responding to a question about what they found difficult, the emphasis was on trying to master technical skills: … “getting between different strings – although it got easier when I did it more” … “holding the bow correctly” … “plucking with the bow in your hand” … “finding the right place to put my chin”.

Glasbury Arts Partnership

MWMT has been working with Glasbury Arts this year, evaluating their Harps in Schools project at Gwernyfed High School and acting as a sounding board for project leader and trustee John Fitzgerald. The project, which enables ten pupils to receive weekly harp tuition in school has been enthusiastically received and has managed to negotiate the various challenges Covid presented, via online lessons and the additional purchase of small harps that the pupils could use at home (the original idea had been to simply have three lever harps in school for lessons and for pupils to practice during break/lunch times). Glasbury Arts are now looking to raise more funds to extend their project to Clyro Primary School and Penmaes SEN School in Brecon.

Fitzwilliam’s at Hay Chamber Music Festival

Unfortunately the Fitzwilliam Quartet’s annual festival at Hay on Wye had to be cancelled at the last minute owing to Coronavirus restrictions. The MWMT trustees made their usual donation to support the organisation and help them with their ongoing costs. The Trustees look forward to the festival returning in Autumn 2021.

Brecon Baroque Festival, October 2020

Coronavirus meant that the 2020 Festival was delivered online instead of live. Filming took place in early August in Brecon. There were four online events, all heavily focussed on Chad Kelly’s new arrangement, specially commissioned by BBF, of Bach’s Goldberg Variations. The films premiered over what should have been the live festival weekend, October 23 to 25, and there was a charge to view. The films remained available to view for ticket buyers until the end of January 2021.

The Festival was successful with sales exceeding the (conservative) budget and BBF significantly growing its mailing list.

  1. MWMT Annual Report 1 September 2020 – 31 August 2021

There was very appreciative audience feedback, plus excellent press reviews, including a 5* one from The Times. Social media, including interaction with Classic FM, increased greatly and excellent presence in listings and through reciprocal deals with partner organisations has also helped the Festival to strengthen its profile.

Financial Review

Income and expenditure was lower than usual this year due to Coronavirus limiting our programme. Total receipts during this financial period were £27,543 (£31,660 in 2020 and £65,843 in 2019 – the most recent pre-Covid period), with an additional £1,700 due from Gift Aid.

The trustees are extremely grateful to all those who supported the Mid Wales Music Trust during the year.

Total payments during the period were £24,932 (£27,760 in 2020 and £58,036 in 2019), while the total funds in the bank at the year end were £20,730 (£18,119 in 2020). Taking into account liabilities (£200) and assets (£1,700), the total carried forward at the end of the period was £22,229 (£20,682 in 2020).

Receipts and Payments accounts

These accounts have been prepared under the receipts and payments method. Receipts and payments accounts contain a summary of money received and spent during the period and a list of assets and liabilities at the end of the period.

Reserves Policy

The Trustees’ policy is to hold surplus unrestricted funds as reserves that could be available to provide support for future projects.

Future Direction

Following the meeting of the Trustees on 24 August 2021, it was agreed that from September 2021, the Mid Wales Music Trust does not plan to produce projects and performances itself. Instead it proposes to focus its work around raising funds, principally through donations from individuals, to support charities to deliver high quality performances and educational projects for the public benefit in and for Mid Wales. The Trustees remain fully committed to realising the charitable object as stated at the top of the Report and believe that this revised approach will have a positive impact for the region.

  1. MWMT Annual Report 1 September 2020 – 31 August 2021

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR

1 September 2020 - 31 August 2021

General Restricted Total
Funds Funds 2021 2020
Receipts
Donations from individuals 8,550 - 8,550 11,300
Trust funding 4,000 9,325 13,325 14,500
Public funding 1,300 1,300 3,665
Partnership funding - 1,200 1,200 2,195
Gift Aid 3,168 - 3,168 -
Total receipts: 15,718 11,825 27,543 31,660
Payments
Administration & project mgt 2,967 7,233 10,200 12,488
Office costs - - - 34
Communications 275 - 275 203
Travel & subsistence 170 - 170 280
Joined Up Music (JUM) project costs - 10,342 10,342 13,060
Other projects: fees & associated
costs - - - -
Hay Chamber Music Festival 2,000 - 2,000 -
Brecon Baroque Festival 1,250 - 1,250 1,000
Professional fees 200 - 200 200
Insurance 495 - 495 495
Total payments: 7,357 17,575 24,932 27,760
Total surplus/deficit 8,361 -5,750 2,611 3,900
Cash funds brought fwd 1 Sept 2020 12,369 5,750 18,119 14,219
Cash funds carried fwd 31 August
2021 20,730 - 20,730 18,119

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD:

LORD BURNS, CHAIR DATE : 11 APRIL 2022

  1. MWMT Annual Report 1 September 2020 – 31 August 2021

MID WALES MUSIC TRUST

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES: FOR THE YEAR 1 September 2020 - 31 August 2021

Cash Assets
Bank accounts
Other Monetary Assets
Gift Aid due
Liabilities*
Fees owed
Examination of accounts		 General
funds
£
1,700
1,700
General
funds
£
-
200		 Restricted
funds
£
-
-
Restricted
funds
£
-
-		 31/08/2021
£
20,730
Total 2021
£
1,700
1,700
Total 2021
£
-
200		 Total
2020
£
3,168
3,168
Total
2020
£
425
200
200 - 200 625
  1. MWMT Annual Report 1 September 2020 – 31 August 2021

MID WALES MUSIC TRUST

NOTES

1. Breakdown of restricted funding for Joined Up Music

£
Colwinston Charitable Trust 5,000
Community Foundation in Wales 2,000
Gwendoline & Margaret Davies
Charity 2,000
Ty Cerdd (final instalment of grant) 250
Brecon Town Council 1,050
Carreghofa School via PCC 1,200
Glasbury Arts (evaluation of harp
project) 325
11,825

2. In kind support

MWMT greatly values the in-kind and partnership support received during the period:

Professional musicians for workshops
and performances: fees and
associated costs met by Sinfonia
Cymru
Art workshops, delivered digitally by
Arts Connection
South Powys Youth Music: fees &
associated costs for instrumental
taster sessions at South Powys primary
schools		 5,332
654
1,766
7,752

3. Administration and project management costs

Catrin Slater is employed on a freelance basis to manage the administration of the charity and to direct its artistic programme. She is paid for the number of hours she works, and during this period she worked 408 hours (500 hours in 2020) or 51 days (62.5 days in 2020).

  1. MWMT Annual Report 1 September 2020 – 31 August 2021

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Mid Wales Music Trust

Charity No 1179225

I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31st August 2021, which are set out on pages 10 - 12

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 Charities’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 examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records.

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.

Signed:

Name: Susan Davies

Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies: MAAT

Address: PAVO, Unit 30 Ddole Road Industrial Estate, Llandrindod Wells, Powys LD1 6DF Date: 16 November 2021

  1. MWMT Annual Report 1 September 2020 – 31 August 2021