Bury St Edmunds Bach Society
Annual Report
2024/25
1. The Charity’s Aims
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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.
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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.
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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.
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1.4. The Trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
2. Governance
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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.
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2.2. Trustees are elected 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 2024/25 financial year were:
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Richard Chatham
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Jo Dekkers
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Richard Fletcher (Hon. Treasurer)
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Paget Fulcher (Vice Chair)
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James Heathcote (Chair)
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Carolyn Heywood (Hon. Secretary)
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Sarah Mansfield
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Mary-Clare O’Sullivan
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Julia Rance
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Stephen Ruthen
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Marian Rutherford
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Arland Shawe-Taylor
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Janet Todd
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John White-Thomson
3. In Year Activity
3.1. The choir held four concerts during the year:
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Works by Imogen and Gustav Holst and Gabriel Faure on 2 December 2023 at the Apex. The choir was accompanied by The United Strings of Europe and soloist Tara Bungard.
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A Christmas Concert in Lavenham church.
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The St Mark Passion by J S Bach on 29 March 2025, accompanied by The Geldart Ensemble and soloists Hilary Cronin, Tom Lilburn, Hugo Hymas and Ben Noble.
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The Mozart Requiem in St Mary’s Church Bury St Edmunds on 7 June 2025. The piece was performed with a piano four hands accompaniment by Czerny and soloists Jo Songi, Martha Jones, Andrew Henley and Andri Robertsson.
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3.2. The choir held 33 Wednesday evening rehearsals and three Saturday rehearsals at King Edward VI school.
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3.3. The Music Director throughout the year was Benedict Collins Rice and the rehearsal pianists were Anne Reece and Christopher Moore.
4. Income
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4.1. The choir received income from a number of sources:
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Subscriptions of £192 per annum were charged to singing members over the age of 30. There was an average of 98 singing members during the year.
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Ticket sales from the four concerts generated £25738. Ticket prices varied between £16 and £27 and a total of 1235 tickets were sold for the four concerts (Nov 322, Dec 182 , March 351, June 380).
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The choir receives both corporate and individual patronage. Major corporate sponsors during the year included The Rougham Estate Trust (£5000), Glasswells (£1000), Ridley Godfrey Foundation (£2000) and Knights Lowe (£500).
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Gift aid is claimed from HMRC on singing members’ subscriptions and individual patronage, where they have made the necessary declarations.
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The choir receives quarterly income from the Jubilee Fund and surplus funds are deposited with Barclays and CCLA (Church of England) to generate interest.
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Ad hoc fundraising this year included raffles at Christmas and Easter which raised £1596.
5. Expenditure
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5.1. Rehearsal expenditure comprised the MD’s retainer, accompanist’s fees and hire of the school hall.
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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 four concerts this year were:
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Holst/Faure - £12177
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Christmas - £3849
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Bach St Mark - £14308
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Mozart Requiem - £11014
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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.
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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.
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5.5. General costs associated with running the choir include insurance, recruitment and voice checks, bank charges and officers’ expenses.
6. End of Year Position
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6.1. The year ended with cash reserves of £49043.
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6.2. During the year the trustees have adopted a reserves policy to measure the adequacy of cash reserves carried forward into the next year. This is calculated as the total costs of the most expensive concert in the coming year plus 10%. On that basis our cash reserves should be at least £32049. The trustees are therefore satisfied that the end of year reserves are sufficient.
Bury St Edmunds Bach Society
(Registered Charity Incorpoarted Organisation No 1181842)
Accounts for the 12 month period ended 31st July 2025
| Receipts 2025 Singing Members Subscriptions 18921 Fund-raising eforts 1791 Concerts Ticket sales direct to choir, at door and other ou 9228 Ticket sales at the box-ofce 16510 Sponsorship Supplying copies of music to singers 3973 Sale of programmes at concerts 831 Advertisements in concert programmes 50 Other concert income Patronage and Grants Corporate patrons 9490 Personal patrons 2246 Tax refunds on covenants 3830 Miscellaneous patronage Trading Activities Social Events Miscellaneous trading 138 Investment Income Bank Interest 1352 Jubillee Income 1842 TOTAL RECEIPTS |
2025 2024 17,244 1,039 20,712 7,979 15,657 - 3,860 875 75 30,592 7,120 2,305 3,721 - 15,566 - 71 138 1,361 1,802 3,194 £70,203 |
2024 18,283 28,445 13,146 71 3,163 |
|---|---|---|
| £63,109 |
Bury St Edmunds Bach Society
(Registered Charity Incorporated Organisation No 1181842)
Accounts for the 12 month period ended 31st July 2025
| Expenditure 2025 Rehearsing Conductors' fees 8025 Accompanists' fees 2682 Venues 3529 Concerts Conductors' fees 3500 Soloists' fees 6094 Orchestra's fees 8685 Hire of instruments and orch.scores 2660 Venues 5599 Staging and Lighting 5250 Handbills, Posters etc. 1776 Performing Right fees 170 Box-ofce commission 2560 Supplying copies of music to singers 4499 Concert programmes 803 Miscellaneous concert expenses 1102 Trading General Publicity Social/Training Events Purchase or repair of Fixed Assets 270 Administration Conductors/Ofcers expenses and mee 91 Making Music Subscription and Insuran 840 Bank Charges 73 Miscellaneous expenses 679 TOTAL EXPENDITURE |
2025 2024 8,037 2,599 3,329 14,236 3,000 5,950 12,717 1,069 6,525 3,894 1,125 176 2,437 5,880 601 1,597 42,697 326 - 408 270 304 811 48 953 1,683 £58,886 |
2024 13,965 44,970 734 2,116 |
|---|---|---|
| £61,785 |
Bury St Edmunds Bach Society (Registered Charity Incorporated Organisation No 1181842)
Accounts for the 12 month period ended 31st July 2024
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Receipts | £70,203 | £63,109 |
| Expenditure | £58,886 | £61,785 |
| Net receipts for the year | £11,317 | £1,324 |
| Cash and bank balance at 1st August 2024 | £37,726 | |
| Cash and bank balance at 1st August 2025 | £49,044 | |
| Increase (decrease) in year | £11,317 |
(Registered Charity Incorporated Organisation No 1181842)
Bury St Edmunds Bach Society
Accounts for the 12 month period ended 31st July 2025
| Receipts Singing Members Subscriptions Fund-raising eforts Concerts Ticket salesdirect to choir, at door and other out Ticket sales at the box-ofce 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 (Defcit) for the year Cash and bank balance at 1st August 2024 Cash and bank balance at 1st August 2025 Increase (decrease) in year Reserves Policy carry Forward Requirement (Budgeted cost of most expensive concert in the 25/26 season pl |
2025 2025 2024 18921 17244 1791 1039 20,712 l 9228 7979 16510 15657 3973 3860 831 875 50 75 30,592 9490 7120 2246 2305 3830 3721 15,566 138 71 138 1352 1361 1842 1802 3,194 £70,203 £11,317 £37,726 £49,044 £11,317 £32,049 us 10% contingency) |
2024 Expenditure 2025 Rehearsing Conductors' fees 8025 Accompanists' fees 2682 Venues 3529 18,283 Concerts Conductors' fees 3500 Soloists' fees 6094 Orchestra's fees 8685 Hire of instruments and orch.scores 2660 Venues 5599 Staging and Lighting 5250 Handbills, Posters and banner 1776 Performing Right fees 170 28,445 Box-ofce commission 2560 Supplying copies of music to singers 4499 Concert programmes 803 Miscellaneous concert expenses 1102 Trading 13,146 General Publicity Purchase or repair of Fixed Assets 270 Social Events/Training 71 Administration Conductors/Ofcers expenses and meeting 91 Making Music Subscription and Insurance 840 Bank Charges 73 3,163 Miscellaneous expenses 679 £63,109 TOTAL EXPENDITURE £1,324 |
2025 2024 8037 2599 3329 14,236 3000 5950 12717 1069 6525 3894 1125 176 2437 5880 601 1597 42,697 326 0 408 270 304 811 48 953 1,683 £58,886 |
2024 13,965 44,970 734 2,116 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £61,785 | ||||
Bury St Edmunds Bach Society CIO
Assets and Liabilities
| Monetary Assets 2025 Cash and Bank Balances Community Account - Barclays Bank 2544.01 Business Premium Account - Barclays Bank 23411.56 Cash in hand 87.93 COIF Account choir fund 23000.00 Total Monetary Assets Debtors (Signifcant income not yet received) Creditors(Significant invoices not yet received or not yet paid) TOTAL ASSETS (Monetary plus Debtors less Liabilities) FIXED ASSETS (at Cost) |
2025 2024 1,580.86 13,123.64 21.86 23,000.00 49,043.50 0 49,043.50 17,085.76 |
2024 37,726.36 0 |
|---|---|---|
| 37,726.36 | ||
| 17,085.76 |
BURY ST EDMUNDS BACH SOCIETY
(Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation No 1181842)
ACCOUNTS Accounts for the year ended 31 July 2025
BURY ST EDMUNDS BACH SOCIETY
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES
Year ended 31 July 2025
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Bury St Edmunds Bach Society
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Bury St Edmunds Bach Society (the Charity) for the Year ended 31 July 2025
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Charity 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 Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all 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:
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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; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008
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 FCA Knights Lowe Chartered Accountants Eldo House, Kempson Way Suffolk Business Park Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP32 7AR 21/01/2026
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BURY ST EDMUNDS BACH SOCIETY
(Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation No 1181842)
Accounts for the year ended 31 July 2025
| 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 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 Trading Activities Miscellaneous trading Investment Income Bank Interest Jubillee income Total Receipts |
£ £ 18,921 1,791 20,712 9,228 16,510 3,973 831 50 - 30,592 9,490 2,246 3,830 15,566 138 138 1,352 1,842 3,194 70,203 2025 |
£ £ 17,244 1,039 18,283 7,979 15,657 3,860 875 - 75 28,446 7,120 2,305 3,721 13,146 71 71 1,361 1,802 3,163 63,109 2024 |
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BURY ST EDMUNDS BACH SOCIETY
(Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation No 1181842)
Accounts for the year ended 31 July 2025
| 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 Miscellaneous concert expenses Other Expenditure Trading General Publicity Purchase or repair of fixed assets Administration and Management Conductors /officers expenses and meetings Making Music Subscription and insurance Bank charges Miscellaneous Expenses Total Expenditure |
£ £ 8,025 2,682 3,529 14,236 3,500 6,094 8,685 2,660 5,599 5,250 1,776 170 2,560 4,499 803 1,102 42,697 - 270 270 91 840 73 679 1,683 58,886 2025 |
£ £ 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 44,971 326 408 734 304 811 48 953 2,116 61,786 2024 |
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BURY ST EDMUNDS BACH SOCIETY
(Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation No 1181842)
Accounts for the year ended 31 July 2025
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities Monetary Assets Cash and Bank Balances Current Account – Barclays Bank Business Premium Account – Barclays Cash in Hand COIF Account Choir Fund Total Monetary Assets Total Monetary Assets, less liabilities Non-Monetary Assets Tangible Fixed Assets At cost Funds Fund balances at 1 August 2024 Total income for the year Total expenditure for the year Net receipts for the period Fund balances at 31 July 2025 |
£ £ 2,544 23,412 88 23,000 49,044 49,044 17,086 66,129 54,812 70,203 (58,886) 11,317 66,129 2025 |
£ £ 1,581 13,124 22 23,000 37,726 37,726 17,086 54,812 53,489 63,109 (61,786) 1,323 54,812 2024 |
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