## **Bury St Edmunds Bach Society**
## **Annual Report**
## **2024/25**
## **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 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:
- Richard Chatham
- Jo Dekkers
- Richard Fletcher (Hon. Treasurer)
- Paget Fulcher (Vice Chair)
- James Heathcote (Chair)
- Carolyn Heywood (Hon. Secretary)
- Sarah Mansfield
- Mary-Clare O’Sullivan
- Julia Rance
- Stephen Ruthen
- Marian Rutherford
- Arland Shawe-Taylor
- Janet Todd
- John White-Thomson
## **3. In Year Activity**
## 3.1. The choir held four concerts during the year:
- 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.
- A Christmas Concert in Lavenham church.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 pianists were Anne Reece and Christopher Moore.
## **4. Income**
- 4.1. The choir received income from a number of sources:
- 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.
- 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).
- 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).
- 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 raffles at Christmas and Easter which raised £1596.
## **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 four concerts this year were:
- Holst/Faure - £12177
- Christmas - £3849
- Bach St Mark - £14308
- Mozart Requiem - £11014
- 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 officers’ expenses.
## **6. End of Year Position**
- 6.1. The year ended with cash reserves of £49043.
- 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:
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; or
3. 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
Page 1
## **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|
|---|---|---|
Page 2
## **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|
|---|---|---|
Page 3
## **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|
|---|---|---|
Page 4