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2024-10-16-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 17/10/2023 Period start date To 16/10/2024 Period end date

Charity name: Musica Secreta

Charity registration number: 1180343

Objectives and Activities

SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document		 Para 1.17 The purposes of our charity are
•
To advance education, for the public
benefit, in the knowledge and appreciation
of music primarily but not exclusively for
female voices, whether for choir, consort,
or solo voices, accompanied or
unaccompanied.
To further the development of public
appreciation of and education in the musical
arts through concerts, workshops,
conferences, lectures, broadcasts, publications
(print, digital, and online), and recordings, and
by such other means as the trustees shall from
time to time determine.
Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.		 Para 1.17 and
1.19		 The charity fulfils its purposes through
giving concerts, making recordings, and
running workshops. Where possible and
practical, amateur choirs are invited to be
involved in performances.
The charity also engages in primary trading
through its website, selling scores and
CDs. The website is also used to distribute
free scores and advice to choirs wishing to
develop experience in singing female-voice
polyphony.
The charity supports two ensembles:
Musica Secreta, a professional ensemble
normally comprising 8-10 singers, viol, and
keyboard (organ or harpsichord); and
Celestial Sirens, an amateur choir based in
the south of England that meets on an ad
hoc basis to prepare performances,
sometimes alongside Musica Secreta.
Musica Secreta and Celestial Sirens
directed by Laurie Stras; Claire Williams is
credited as Ensemble Director on
programmes and recording notes.
Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit		 Para 1.18 In shaping the objectives for and planning
the charity’s activities, the trustees have
had regard to the Charity Commission’s
guidance on public benefit and fee
charging. The ensemble relies on grants
and income from fees and primary trading
to cover the costs of its activities. Budgets
for projects are based on industry-
appropriate rates (such as union-
recommended rates, where available);
grants are sought to reduce the fees
chargeable to promoters.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

SORP reference
Contribution made by
volunteers		 Para 1.38 The charity, the primary trading, and the
ensemble are all managed by one person
(Stras), who is also responsible for the
research on which programmes are based,
and the editions performed. Management
of the charity involves all reporting tasks
(accounting and annual report), populating
and managing the website, managing the
self-release label Lucky Music, social
media marketing (and profile strategy) and
delivery, grant writing and other forms of
fundraising, administration around
recordings and rehearsals (including
accommodation, scheduling, booking of
artists and technicians). Other members of
the ensemble are only able to help in a
limited way because none of the activity is
remunerated.
Other

Achievements and Performance

SORP reference

Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.		 Para 1.20 Formal activities
Between 17 October 2023 and 16 October
2024, formal activities have included:
•
Two concerts, at BREMF and at the
Turner Sims Concert Hall, of the
Mother, Sister, Daughter_programme, in
October 2023
•
Release of a Christmas single,
December 2023
•
Release of_Corpore et anima, a five-
track digital EP between October 2023
and February 2024. The project,
raising awareness and directing the
audience to donate to breast cancer
research charities MetUpUK and Breast
Cancer Now, culminated in a live
performance on BBC Radio 3_In Tune_
on 5 February 2024.
•
Recording of 100 minutes of music from
the Biffoli-Sostegni manuscript, in
January 2024, that will become a stand-
alone release, in conjunction with
Laurie’s Leverhulme Emeritus
Fellowship project
•
Laurie led a workshop in Worcester in
May 2024, based on the Biffoli-Sostegni
manuscript repertoire
•
Two video recording sessions in Oxford
in August 2024 to complement the
January recordings
Musica Secreta website and score shop
We continue to sell scores and CDs from the
website.

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period		 Para 1.21 The reconciled bank account has a credit
balance of £4272.22, and the cash box
contains £50.00. This gives us a total of
£1322.22 float and £3000.00 in reserve.
Total income from all sources was
£31,231.15.
Total expenditure was £34,908.34.
Expenditure was higher than income this
year, but we have funded a large recording
project this year without a release to
recoup.
Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held		 Para 1.22 Reserves are needed to bridge the gap
between spending/paying fees and
receiving payment from promoters. The
ideal level of reserves is £3000 per
contracted concert, the minimum we judge
to be necessary to cover compensatory
artists’ fees for a single concert in case of
promoter non-payment.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 Although there is no separate account for
reserves, there is capacity to cover our
ideal reserve amount for 2024/25 in the
general fund.
Reasons for holding zero
reserves		 Para 1.22 n/a
Details of fund materially in
deficit		 Para 1.24 n/a
Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern		 Para 1.23

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)		 Para 1.47 Royalties on recordings; primary
trading; grants; crowdfunding
Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted		 Para 1.46 n/a
A description of the principal
risks facing the charity		 Para 1.46 Risks include:
•
director retiring
•
continued shrinking of arts sector in
the UK
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s
trusts:
Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)
Para 1.25		 The charity is governed by a constitution.
How is the charity
constituted?		 Para 1.25 The charity is a Charitable Incorporated
Organisation.
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)
Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees		 Para 1.25 The trustees were approached by the
ensemble’s directors on the basis of their
knowledge and skills associated with the
charity’s purposes.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees		 Para 1.51
The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works		 Para 1.51
Relationship with any related
parties		 Para 1.51
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name Musica Secreta
Other name the charity uses
Registered charity number 1180343
Charity’s principal address 24 Oakmount Ave
Southampton
SO17 1DR
UK

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1
2
3
4
3		 Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for whole
**year **		 Name of person (or body) entitled
to appoint trustee (ifany)
Mr Nick Boston Chair
Ms Sarah Dunant resigned 30/01/2023
Prof Andrew
Pinnock
Ms Anna Wright Appointed 30/01/2023
Dr Susan Jackson Appointed 30/01/2023

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets n/a held in this capacity Name and objects of the n/a charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for n/a safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of
adviser
Name
Address
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Professor Laurie Stras – administrator for the charity; director of the ensemble

Professor Laurie Stras – administrator for the charity; director of the ensemble

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

n/a

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Nick Boston Position (eg Secretary, Chair Chair, etc) Date 20.3.25

CHARITY COMMissioN FOR ENGLAND AND WALE ￿l￿p)lY P4m Se¢ 118D343 Recei tsandp ments accounts CC16a Forthe pèrlod from To 17110120rJ Section A Receipts and payments YnrÈstrf¢ted lunds Restrfcted fund5 ETrdowment fuThls Total furwJ5 La6t year b)tht ￿eSt t¢the Th￿rest£ tolhe nfywest£ tolhe nwe5t£ A1 Re¢¢lpts cOn￿rtS 6500 51 100 51 Erjucatyon Grants Pnrnarylrddkn Ro￿leS GIft￿ 25 540 5125 4Q 1 204 Sub total(GrDSS Incom8 for ARJ 31 231 A2 Asset and Inveslment sales, Isee table). Sub total 31 231 31 211 6920 ents AGtsThnrnoatsn and SLtsL%iw OffiGp peripheo15 Prima IrnLin EX En5è profE￿nal lee5- rnusidan9 pra￿s￿n￿l fees- technical prOfe￿nal lees- otrber sp￿@ ch3rgWire Tran6ion ca Trgvel ¥ 10 173 654 18 eoo 9927 18 9927 238 9W 2 2•1 34 ¥vJe Sub total 908 8 161 A4 As$d and Investment purchases, (see tsblel Sub total 34￿8 34W8 8157 Netof rewpts/(payments) . AS Tran5ftr5 belween fund5 A6 Cash funds last >tar end Cash funds this y•ar •nd 3677 3677 1 237 1959 7899 9 236 43 XX R1 a¢wJnts Issi

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds lo TrRarost£ Restrfcted IufKI$ to ne¥est£ Endowment lund$ to n&ve5t£ Cal¢wib Dtlails B1 Ca8h funds Cègh In bAr 4272 CAsh in Total cash fimds 4322 11 Unrestrtcted funds Restrfded funds to r￿are51£ Endowm•nt runds to Thearest£ Detal FLmd towhh tbH* Cwrent¥alue Detsys FLmd towthkh 4J6•tb•lo CostlopOwAI} . B4A38ets retained forlhe . charitys own use I ni- F￿￿ta which ablll relates bThen due Details B5 Llabllitlos Sioned by onE tyl￿￿tru￿et& ¢ btsha￿ofaI thp Sbanalure Print Na Date of mval IC4< Eos7DfvJ Is/+ cc￿ R2 accMM {ss)

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Musica Secreta members of On accounts for the year 16[th] October 2024 Charity no 1180343 ended Set out on pages 1-2

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 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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

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

Signed:
Name:
Address:

 Date:
25 April 2025
Margaret Rachel Cooper FCA
29 Welbeck Avenue
Southampton
SO17 1ST

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