## Welsh Singers Showcase ## Trustees’ Annual Report for the Financial Year to 31 July 2024 Welsh Singers Showcase (WSS) is a charity (no. 1179521) governed by a board of Trustees. Its principal purpose is to promote young Welsh classical singers at the start of their careers. It achieves this by staging a competition at which the Welsh representative in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, the leading operatic competition for young singers, is selected by a distinguished jury. Its operations are relatively modest with a competition which takes place every alternate year. ## Review of the Year The year was one in which preparations were made for the 2024 Competition (which took place after the year end on October 20[th] 2024. Activities during the year were as follow: ## **January 2024** - Singers invited to apply - information shared on social media channels, competition website, and through appropriate channels ## **February 2024** - Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama confirmed as the venue for the competition final - David Doidge confirmed as collaborative pianist ## **3 May 2024** - Closing date for applications - 21 applications received ## **12 May 2024** - Auditions at Royal Opera House, London - Jury - Rebecca Evans CBE, Dennis O’Neill CBE, Tim Rhys-Evans MBE, - Collaborative pianist - David Doidge - 10 singers auditioned ## **19 May 2024** - Auditions at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff - Jury - Rebecca Evans CBE, Tim Rhys-Evans MBE, Kate Baylis - Collaborative pianist - Nicola Rose - 11 singers auditioned ## **1 June - Finalists announced:** - Ryan Vaughan Davies - Tenor - Eleri Gwilyn - Soprano - Emyr Lloyd Jones - Tenor - Eiry Price - Soprano - Erin Gwyn Rossington - Soprano ## Outcomes: During the year, all entrants benefited from: - An opportunity to experiment with repertoire and receive expert feedback from the audition, if required. - The opportunity to meet other young singers on a similar journey - Exposure to influential figures in the classical music industry ## Financial Results Donations amounting to £31,550 were received during the year. Total expenditure was £6203. The bulk of the expenditure for the 2024 competition will be reported in the next financial year. Important relationships were developed with donors and supporters during the year and the Charity had bank balances of £35,839 at the end of the financial year to finance the 2024 competition. We are in the process of developing a working relationship built with London Welsh Male Voice Choir. The activities described above were reported, discussed and approved at meetings of the Trustees. The Trustees would like to record their thanks to Mrs Sue Welch for dealing efficiently with the administration of the competition. ## Policies ## Safeguarding Vulnerable Beneficiaries The beneficiaries of the Charity are young classical singers. The Trustees take all possible care to ensure the wellbeing of the participants in the showcase, both at the auditions and the main event itself. ## Conflicts of Interest The Trustees are experienced individuals who are aware that any potential conflicts of interest should be disclosed. Inevitably, such conflicts arise from time to time and the Trustees ensure that the conflicted Trustee does not participate in the relevant decision. ## Paying of Staff The Charity does not have any staff. Mrs Sue Welch is paid for administering the Charity, which is disclosed under Administration in our financial accounts. ## Reserves Policy The Charity recognises the need to hold reserves in order to secure the sustainability of the competition. At the end the financial year under review, the Charity held reserves of £18,900.36 which provided support for the financial requirements of the 2024 competition. The fundraising for the 2026 competition began immediately after the 2024 competition was completed and the Charity’s accounts reflect the two year cycle of the competition. Signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees **Dr Carol Bell, Chair** 25 March 2025 ## **WSS INCOME & EXPENDITU01.08.23 - 31.07.24** |**INCOME**|| |---|---| |Donations|31,550.00| |Gift Aid|50.00| |**Total**|**31,600.00**| |**EXPENDITURE**|| |Fees Paid|2,703.00| |Administrator|3,500.00| |**Total**|**6,203.00**| |**Surplus**|**25,397.00**| |**BANK ACCOUNTS**|| |Current Account Opening Bala 10,442.33|| |Credits|31,600.00| |Debits|6,203.00| |Transfers to Business Reserve 27,000.00|| |Closing Balance|8,839.33| |Business Reserve Opening Bal 15,000.00|| |Transfers from Current Accoun 12,000.00|| |Interest earned|79.11| |Closing Balance|27,079.11| CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesldireclorsl members of Welsh Singers ShowGase On accounts for the year ended 31 July 2024 Charity no.: 1179521 Company no.: Set out on pages 1 to2 I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 3110712024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's truslees of the Company (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law), you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Acfl. Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited for this year under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out Ljnder section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 I'the 2011 Act'}. In carying out my examination, I have followed the Direclions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. Independent examiner's statsment I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention which gives me Gause to believe that.. • accourrting records were not kept in accordance with seclion 386 ofthe Companies Act 2006,. or the accounts do not accord with SL¢ch records., or the accounts do not comply with relevant accounting requirements under section 396 of the CO￿PanieS Act 2006 otherthan any requirement thal the accounts give a 'true and fair. view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination., or .the accounts have not been prepared in accordanrE with the Chartiies SORP (FRS1021. 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". Date: IL/4- Stephen John Bickerton IER October 2018 Relevant professional qualification{sl or body (if any>. FCCA Address: 2nd Floor, 5-7 Avalon Hose, Cathedral Road Cardiff CF11 9HA 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 detalls of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018