## **Bury St Edmunds Bach Society** ## **Annual Report** ## **2023/24** ## **1. The Charity’s Aims** - 1.1. The Bury St Edmunds Bach Society is registered with The Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Charity Number 1181842). It operates under the name Bury Bach Choir. - 1.2. The society is a choral society based in Bury St Edmunds Suffolk, dedicated to public performances of classical choral works, particularly those of JS Bach. - 1.3. The objectives of the CIO are the maintenance of the Bury St Edmunds Bach Society in the study and practice of choral music, and the promotion of musical performances both generally and for the benefit of such charitable purposes as the charity trustees may from time to time think fit. - 1.4. The Trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. ## **2. Governance** - 2.1. The society is governed by a committee of trustees who meet regularly through the year to plan programmes and manage the affairs of the choir. - 2.2. Trustees are elected annually at the AGM and may be co-opted during the year, in accordance with the CIO’s Constitution, its governing document. ## 2.3. Trustees during the 2023/24 financial year were: - Richard Chatham - Linda Cleveley - Jo Dekkers - Richard Fletcher (Hon. Treasurer) - James Heathcote (Vice Chair) - Sarah Mansfield - Mary-Clare O’Sullivan - Julia Rance - Stephen Ruthen - Marian Rutherford - Arland Shawe-Taylor - Susanna Spall (Hon. Secretary) - Janet Todd - John White-Thomson - Tessa Wright (Chair) ## **3. In Year Activity** ## 3.1. The choir held three concerts during the year: - Works by Bach and Martines on 2 December 2023 at the Apex. The choir was accompanied by The Geldart Ensemble (15 players) and soloists Hilary Cronin, Valerie Reid, Nick Pritchard and Benjamin Noble. - Works by Bruckner on 9 March 2024 at the Apex. The choir was accompanied by The Tailleferre Ensemble and Ibex Brass (18 players). - Works by Puccini on 25 May 2024 at St Edmundsbury Cathedral. The choir was accompanied by the Prometheus Orchestra (22 players) and soloists Alice Johnston, Samuel Moore and Tom Asher. - 3.2. The choir held 33 Wednesday evening rehearsals and three Saturday rehearsals at King Edward VI school. - 3.3. The Music Director throughout the year was Benedict Collins Rice and the rehearsal pianist was Anne Reece. ## **4. Income** - 4.1. The choir received income from a number of sources: - Subscriptions of £186 per annum were charged to singing members over the age of 30. There was an average of 80 singing members during the year. - Ticket sales from the three concerts generated £23636. Ticket prices varied between £17 and £27 and a total of 1080 tickets were sold for the three concerts (Dec 408 , March 319, May 353). - The choir receives both corporate and individual patronage. Major corporate sponsors during the year included Sofas and Stuff (£3500), Glasswells (£1000), Ridley Godfrey Foundation (£1000) and Wise Music (£1000). - Gift aid is claimed from HMRC on singing members’ subscriptions and individual patronage, where they have made the necessary declarations. - The choir receives quarterly income from the Jubilee Fund and surplus funds are deposited with Barclays and CCLA (Church of England) to generate interest. - Ad hoc fundraising this year included a successful Easter raffle which raised £740. ## **5. Expenditure** - 5.1. Rehearsal expenditure comprised the MD’s retainer, accompanist’s fees and hire of the school hall. - 5.2. The costs of putting on concerts comprise payments to instrumentalists, soloists and conductor, venue and instrument hire and staging. These vary according to the concert programme and venue. The costs for the three concerts this year were: - Bach Martines - £11355 - Bruckner - £6492 - Puccini - £13384 - 5.3. There are incidental costs associated with staging concerts including box office fees, publicity, performing rights fees, orchestral score hire, soloist accommodation and refreshments. - 5.4. The aim is to offset the expenditure on music for singers by income from singers. In some instances the choir subsidises the cost of music from general funds. - 5.5. General costs associated with running the choir include insurance, recruitment and voice checks, bank charges and officer’s expenses. ## **6. End of Year Position** - 6.1. The year ended with cash reserves of £38,266. This represents 62% of current year expenditure, which trustees judge to be a sufficient level of reserves. **Bury St Edmunds Bach Society** **(Registered Charity Incorporated Organisation No 1181842)** **Accounts for the 12 month period ended 31st July 2024** |**Receipts**
**Singing Members**
Subscriptions
Fund-raising efforts
**Concerts**
Ticket salesdirect to choir, at door and other outlets
Ticket sales at the box-office
Sponsorship
Supplying copies of music to singers
Sale of programmes at concerts
Advertisements in concert programmes
Other concert income
**Patronage and Grants**
Corporate patrons
Personal patrons
Tax refunds on covenants
Miscellaneous Patronage
**Trading Activities**
Social Events
Miscellaneous trading
**Investment Income**
Bank Interest
Jubillee Income
**TOTAL RECEIPTS**
**Net Surplus (Deficit) for the year**
**Cash and bank balance at 1st August 2023**
**Cash and bank balance at 1st August 2024**
Increase (decrease) in year|**2024**
**2024**
**2023**
17244
18134
1039
661
**18,283**
7979
9345
15657
22217
0
0
3860
2270
875
996
75
425
0
**28,445**
7120
8370
2305
2180
3721
3700
0
500
**13,146**
0
0
71
129
**71**
1361
731
1802
1795
**3,163**
**£63,109**
**£1,324**
£36,402
£37,726
**£1,324**|**2023**
**Expenditure**
**2024**
**Rehearsing**
Conductors' fees
8037
Accompanists' fees
2599

Venues
3329

**18,795**
**Concerts**
Conductors' fees
3000

Soloists' fees
5950

Orchestra's fees
12717

Hire of instruments and orch.scores
1069

Venues
6525

Staging and Lighting
3894

Handbills, Posters and banner
1125

Performing Right fees
176
**35,252**
Box-office commission
2437
Supplying copies of music to singers
5880

Concert programmes
601

Miscellaneous concert expenses
1597


**Trading**
**14,750**
General Publicity
326
Purchase or repair of Fixed Assets
0

Social Events/Training
408

**129**
**Administration**
Conductors/Officers expenses and meetings
304

Making Music Subscription and Insurance
811

Bank Charges
48
**2,526**
Miscellaneous expenses
953
**£71,453**
**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**
**£4,593**|**2024**
**2023**

7670

2875

3434
**13,965**

2865

6750

15155

2945

6034

4777

1122

396

3734

3121

868

2257
**44,970**

0

0

528
**734**

754

885

62

628
**2,116**
**£61,785**|**2023**



**13,978**












**50,024**



**528**




**2,329**
**£66,860**| |---|---|---|---|---| **Accounts Examined by Mr Stephen Cook, Knights Lowe Accountants, Bury St Edmunds.** ## **BURY ST EDMUNDS BACH SOCIETY** (Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation No 1181842) ## **ACCOUNTS** **Accounts for the year ended 31 July 2024** **Knighst Lowe Limited** Eldo House, Kempson Way Bury St Edmunds IP32 7AR **BURY ST EDMUNDS BACH SOCIETY** ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES** ## **YEAR ENDED 31 July 2024** I report on the accounts of the Society for the year ended 31 July 2024 set out on pages 2 to 4. ## **RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES AND THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER** As the charity’s Trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirement of Section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) does not apply and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act, follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act, and state whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT** My examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commission. An independent examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S STATEMENT** In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention :- 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements :- - (a) to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the 2011 Act, and - (b) to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met, or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 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. James Knights ACA Knights Lowe Chartered Accountants Eldo House, Kempson Way Suffolk Business Park Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP32 7AR Page 1 ## **BURY ST EDMUNDS BACH SOCIETY** (Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation No 1181842) ## **Accounts for the year ended 31 July 2024** |**Receipts and Payments Account**
**Income Receipts**
**Voluntary Sources**
**Singing Members**
Subscriptions
Fundraising efforts
**Concerts**
Ticket sales direct to choir, at the door & other outlets
Ticket sales at the box office
Sponsorship
Supplying copies of music to singers
Sale of programmes at concerts
Advertisements in concert programmes
Other concert income
**Patronage**
Corporate patrons
Personal patrons
Tax refunds on covenants
Miscellaneous patronage
Grants from Local Authorities
**Trading Activities**
Social events
Miscellaneous trading
**Investment Income**
Bank Interest
Jubillee income
**Total Receipts**|£
£
17,244
1,039
18,283
7,979
15,657
0
3,860
875
0
75
28,446
7,120
2,305
3,721
0
0
13,146
0
71
71
1,361
1,802
3,163
63,109
2024|2023|2023| |---|---|---|---| |||£
£
18,134
661
18,795
9,345
22,217
0
2,270
996
0
425
35,253
8,370
2,180
3,700
500
0
14,750
0
129
129
731
1,795
2,526
71,453|| ||||| ||||71,453| Page 2 ## **BURY ST EDMUNDS BACH SOCIETY** (Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation No 1181842) ## **Accounts for the year ended** ## **31 July 2024** |**Direct Charitable Expenditure**
**Rehearsing**
Conductors' fees
Accompanists' fees
Venues
**Concerts**
Conductors' fees
Soloists' fees
Orchestra's fees
Hire of instruments and orchestral scores
Venues
Staging and Lighting
Handbills, Posters and Banner
Performing Rights fees
Box Office commission
Supplying copies of music to singers
Concert programmes
Charitable donation from concert
Miscellaneous concert expenses
**Other Expenditure**
**Trading**
General Publicity
Social events
Purchase or repair of fixed assets
**Administration and Management**
Conductors /officers expenses and meetings
Making Music Subscription and insurance
Bank charges
Miscellaneous Expenses
**Awayday Expenditure**
**Total Expenditure**|£
£
8,037
2,599
3,329
13,965
3,000
5,950
12,717
1,069
6,525
3,894
1,125
176
2,437
5,880
601
1,597
0
44,971
326
0
408
734
304
811
48
953
2,116
0
61,786
2024|2023|2023| |---|---|---|---| |||£
£
7,670
2,875
3,434
13,979
2,865
6,750
15,155
2,945
6,034
4,777
1,122
396
3,734
3,121
868
2,257
0
50,024
0
0
528
528
754
885
62
628
2,329
0
66,860|| ||||| ||||| ||||66,860| Page 3 ## **BURY ST EDMUNDS BACH SOCIETY** (Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation No 1181842) ## **Accounts for the year ended** ## **31 July 2024** |Net receipts for the period
Cash and Bank balances at 1stAugust 2022
Cash and Bank balances at 31st July 2023
**Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31st July 2023**
**Monetary Assets**
**Cash and Bank Balances**
Current Account – Barclays Bank
Business Premium Account – Barclays
Current Account – HSBC
Cash in Hand
COIF Account Choir Fund
**Total Monetary Assets**
**Debtors**
**Liabilities**
**Creditors**
PRS
Soloist fee
**Total Monetary Assets, less liabilities**
**Non-Monetary Assets**
**Tangible Fixed Assets**
**At cost**|£
£
1,323
31,809
33,132
£
£
403
12,945
0
54
23,000
36,402
120
0
500
500
36,022
£
15,749
2024|2023|2023| |---|---|---|---| |||£
£
4,593
36,211
40,804
£
£
4,749
3,892
0
168
23,000
31,809
0
0
0
0
31,809
£
15,705|| ||||| ||||| ||||31,809| ||||£
15,705| Page 4