2023-12-31-accounts - Cornerstone Music

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Cornerstone Music CIO

Report of the trustees for the financial year ended 31[st] December 2023

The trustees present their annual report and financial statements and confirm that these comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, the CIO constitution and the Charities SoRP (FRS 102).

Cornerstone Music is a Public Benefit Entity and not operated for profit.

Its objects are

(1) To advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of music in all its aspects by any means the charity trustees see fit, including through presentation of public concerts and recitals;
(2) To further such charitable purpose or purposes as the charity trustees in their absolute discretion shall think fit but in particular through the making of grants and donations.

The activities and accomplishments of Cornerstone Music are described in the report of the Music Director which follows.

The Trustees are Dr David Chapman (chair), Dr Cathy Hammond, Rev Dr Margaret Goodall, Joy Chapman and Adrian Yardley. The address of the charity is 11 Burewelle, Two Mile Ash, Milton Keynes, MK8 8LS. The Independent Examiner is C G Linford MCICM.

Report of the Chair of trustees

The world has been overshadowed by conflict in 2023. It started with the war in Ukraine (which, of course, continues still) and ended with the terrible destruction and mounting death toll in Israel and Palestine. Music can be an escape from the horrors of the world but can also act as commentary and reflection on events, and it was in this latter role that, on 22[nd] January, Cornerstone Music put on an exceptionally powerful performance of Tippett’s Child of Our Time on behalf of Churches Together in Milton Keynes, for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Also engaging with the events in the news, the Celebration Concert of 1[st] October included several coronation pieces in honour of the coronation of King Charles.

Aside from the major concerts, there has been a lot going on this year.

We have been delighted to put on a number of lunchtime recitals and are pleased that our musical director, Adrian Boynton, has resumed his programme of illustrated talks about composers.
With a view to preserving the long-term legacy of the musical skills of Adrian, recordings had been made of performances of his own compositions and arrangements, and plans are in place to publish a collection of his scores. We

Charity number 1188707

Cornerstone Music CIO

are grateful to Daniel Lock and World of Sound for the recordings, and Julie Gillam for carefully transcribing Adrian’s handwritten compositions to a printed score ahead of seeking a publisher. Watch this space!
The Church of Christ the Cornerstone has been enhanced as a concert venue by the purchase of a comprehensive set of staging. Following an initial delivery of modular equipment from Unistage in 2021, we received a second delivery in September 2023 that doubled the quantity of equipment, sufficient to provide for a variety of configurations of any foreseeable concert. These purchases were financed 36% by private donations, 29% by a grant from MK Community Foundation, 18% by Cornerstone Trading paying the VAT, 9% by Gift Aid recovered on the donations and 8% contributed by Cornerstone Music.

The Trustees are honoured to play their part in sustaining the transformative heritage of music in the Milton Keynes area and acknowledge the enormous help and support which makes it possible, including that of Adrian Boynton, the indefatigable administrative and organisational support of Jill Boynton, Adrian Yardley, the choir, clergy, council and members of the Church of Christ the Cornerstone, and helpers too numerous to name but the contribution of each and every one of whom is valued as a vital resource without which this enterprise would not be possible. Chris Linford has generously donated his expertise as Independent Examiner. We acknowledge the great generosity of donors, sponsors and supporters, members of the Chamber Choir and Orchestra, and the benefit of concessionary rates for use of premises kindly agreed by Cornerstone Trading.

Finally, we are always in need of more help! If you would like to part of this fantastic venture, whether singing, helping with publicity, stewarding at concerts, joining the board of trustees, fundraising, or anything else you can offer, please get in touch.

David Chapman Chair, Cornerstone Music

Report of the Music Director

On New Year's Day 2023, The Cornerstone Choir, accompanied by solo trumpeter Louis Grao, took part in special ceremonies in Middleton Hall (just outside John Lewis) and MK Rose in Campbell Park to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the first performance of Amazing Grace (1st January 1773 in Olney). The event was strongly supported. Throughout that day we were featured on BBC Television News.

During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (18 – 25 January) a series of events was held across MK churches to mark the launch of 'Churches Together in Milton Keynes'. Our contribution at Christ the Cornerstone was a performance by the Cornerstone Chamber Choir and Orchestra of Bach's resplendent 'Magnificat' and Tippett's epic masterwork 'A Child of our Time', one work offering undiluted joy and celebration, the other carrying a powerful message of reconciliation and transformation for a troubled world. We were joined by four outstanding soloists — Ana Beard Fernandez (soprano), Katie Coventry (mezzo), Tom Elwin (tenor) and Peter Edge (bass). Both choir and soloists handled the sharply contrasting styles of the two works with great skill.

Charity number 1188707

Cornerstone Music CIO

Bachian splendour (heightened by the brilliant trumpet playing of Ian Lynch and his team) gave way to the power and emotion of Tippett's narrative and his deeply felt settings of spirituals.

2023 was of course a 'royal' year, with the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla in Westminster Abbey on 6th May as it's centerpiece. Three months earlier we were delighted to welcome the new King to Christ the Cornerstone to confer official 'city status' upon Milton Keynes. I was pleased to be invited to provide music on that occasion, with soprano Emily Haig.

In October our Chamber and Orchestra mounted a special concert as a joint celebration of Coronation year and Milton Keynes' elevation to city status. The programme consisted of two of Bach's finest cantatas, No 34 'O ewiges Feuer' and No 78 'Jesu, Der du meine Seele', two of Handel's Coronation Anthems, 'The King shall rejoice' and 'My heart is inditing', and Haydn's great 'Nelson Mass'. Once again choir rose splendidly to the challenge of delivering varied styles within the same concert. We were blessed with a 'dream team' of soloists – Jenni Harper (soprano), Judy Louie Brown (alto), Peter Davison (tenor) and Timothy Nelson (bass). The orchestra was ably led by Jeremy Sampson, while Craig Greene and David Knight provided excellent continuo support.

In the final weeks of 2023, Cornerstone Chamber Choir was in rehearsal for a performance of Handel's Messiah, planned for January 2024, to mark the first anniversary of the launch of 'Churches Together'.

Chamber music during the year included recitals by Alexander Ardakov and John Macdomnic (trumpet). Macdomnic's recital demonstrated skill across a range of different trumpets, in works by Sweelinck, Handel, Haydn, Hohne, Gershwin and Arban.

At the beginning of the year, our New English Singers a cappella choir gave a lovely Epiphany recital at St Michael's Church Lavendon, featuring versatile flautist Rosie Reed as guest soloist. The annual Christmas Cracker programme in December took place not at Cornerstone this year but at Newport Pagnell Parish Church, with trumpeter John Macdomnic as soloist in works by Purcell, Hovhaness and Hummel. Choral offerings included several carols by contemporary women composers. The concert was enjoyed by a sizeable and enthusiastic audience.

2023 was a busy year for the Cornerstone Childrens Choir. On Sunday 4th June the choir gave a lovely concert at St Peter's Church Gayhurst, featuring Michael Hurd's 'Swinging Samson'. They were joined by two fine young soloists, Louis Grao (trumpet) and Yiding Wang (piano), a recent prizewinner at Milton Keynes Festival. Two regular members of the choir, Lakshith and Neha Dasari, offered piano duets. June 4th was an absolutely perfect summer's day, and after the concert we enjoyed sandwiches, strawberries and cream and delicious cakes, generously supplied by Christine and Robin Thompson, in the elegant and spacious grounds of Gayhurst Court – a real 'Glyndebourne' experience! I am indeed grateful to Christine for her invaluable dayto-day support of the Children's Choir.

Charity number 1188707

Cornerstone Music CIO

Later in the Summer, the Choir gave a similar programme at Freeman Memorial Church in Bletchley, with Louis and Yiding again as soloists. In December the Choir sang a programme of festive music at Highclere Nursing Home in Downs Barn, hugely appreciated by residents, families and staff. And just before Christmas, the Choir sang carols in the main Shopping Centre, close to M&S Food Hall, to raise money for the Cornerstone Christmas Appeal.

During the year, my regular programme of educational talks on music continued. The 'ABC of Music ' talks were held on the second Wednesday of each month at the Oak Tree Centre in Shenley Brook End. The Spring Series focussed on the development of the Concerto in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries; the Autumn Series celebrated Music and Dance through the Ages. A separate series of talks held at 11, Burewelle, Two Mile Ash on the last Wednesday of each month explored the history of music in England, starting with a celebration of the 400th Anniversary of William Byrd, and moving through Purcell, Handel and Haydn to the great revival of English music at the end of the Nineteenth Century in the hands of Parry, Stanford and Elgar.

During the year a further supply of choir staging was acquired to add to the staging purchased in 2021. This allows for more flexible and complete stage set-ups for choral and orchestral concerts (as well as for other events). It was first used for the 'Coronation Concert' in October 2023. Special thanks to Adrian Yardley for his tireless and detailed negotiations with the staging company to secure the best 'deal'.

My thanks to Cheryl Montgomery for designing and making a splendid new cover for our upright piano to replace the old cover, which had become tattered and torn after more than 30 years of use.

Thank you to Peter Steeds and Bob Collard for helpful meetings to affirm and develop the 'special relationship' between Cornerstone Music and Cornerstone Trading. And thanks to Simon and Woody for valuable day-to-day support in the arrangements for concerts and other events.

Thanks to Tim Norwood and Ann Harris for their support and encouragement regarding 'Churches Together' concerts, and special thanks to Ann Wilson for overseeing arrangements between Cornerstone and Churches Together.

My thanks are due to the Trustees of Cornerstone Music – Margaret, Cathy, Joy and Adrian - for their great encouragement and support. Thanks to Jon Rosewell for breathing new life into the Cornerstone Music website and for agreeing to assist further with communication and outreach. Thanks to Adrian Yardley for day-to-day practical support in a variety of areas. Special thanks to David Chapman for constant encouragement, wisdom and support, and to Jill for her tireless and dedicated contribution as volunteer Music Administrator.

Adrian Boynton

Charity number 1188707

Cornerstone Music CIO

Statement of Financial Activity

----- Start of picture text -----
Year to Year to
Note 31 [st] December 31 [st] December
2023 2022
£ £
INCOME
Donations:
Friends of Music 2,417 2,260
Choir donations 4,777 1,555
Other donations 1,196 660
Gift Aid 5 2,193 797
_ ____
10,583 5,272
Ticket sales 5,140 3,452
Investment income 163 39
15,886 8,763
EXPENDITURE
Performers 6 7,955 3,735
Venue hire 7 1,914 1,950
Scores 8 1,002 583
Website 9 287 1,188
Conducting fee 10 1,400 -
Staging 11 1,185 -
13,743 7,456
Net income 2,143 1,307
Gain/ on investments 1,093 <1,158>
Funds brought forward 2,890 2,741
Funds carried forward £ 6,126 £ 2,890
----- End of picture text -----

Charity number 1188707

Cornerstone Music CIO

Balance Sheet

	Fixed assets Investments Current assets	Note As at 31st December 2023 £ As at 31st December 2022 £ 12 12,935 11,842 1,148 2,579 4,672 _____ 2,579 5,820 13 <9,388> <14,772> ______ ______ liabilities <6,809> <8,952> £ 6,126 £ 2,890	Note As at 31st December 2023 £ As at 31st December 2022 £ 12 12,935 11,842 1,148 2,579 4,672 _____ 2,579 5,820 13 <9,388> <14,772> ______ ______ liabilities <6,809> <8,952> £ 6,126 £ 2,890
	Debtors Cash at bank

	Creditor
	Net current
	Net assets

Charity number 1188707

Cornerstone Music CIO

Notes

Cornerstone Music CIO is a Public Benefit Entity and does not seek profit. It is registered with the Charity Commission. Neither the trustees nor the independent examiner receives remuneration or expenses.
These financial statements comply with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SoRP) second edition October 2019, and report income and expenditure deriving from a programme of musical events put on during the financial year ended 31[st] December 2023.
Accounting bases: These financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis: that the CIO will continue with generous support, skilled knowledge and experience of the Music Director Adrian Boynton and administrator Jill Boynton for the foreseeable future.

These financial statements have been prepared on the accruals basis: that unsettled (unpaid) costs appear as debtors or creditors at financial year end, which include the use of estimates where necessary.

The principal economic risks to CIO are: contagion that would depress ticket sales or prevent performers from attending; and rise in venue charges. The trustees are prepared to mitigate the consequences of risk.
Gift Aid is recovered from HMRC equivalent to 25% of donations. Donations received are treated as income upon receipt.
The Music Director calls on his extensive range of contacts to enlist excellent performers. Performer fees are paid to professional solo singers and expenses to the orchestra. Cornerstone Chamber Choir sing gratis.
Venue fees are levied by the City Church for performances. Occasionally events are performed elsewhere with a fee paid for hire of premises.
Score expenditure includes hire of music scores, tuning the piano & organ prior to performance, PRS charges for use of copyrighted material and printing of concert tickets.
Website expenditure includes minor and occasional minor costs of providing refreshments.
In 2023, the trustees resolved to pay £700 conducting fee to Adrian Boynton per major concert with retrospective effect.
A minor contribution toward a set of modular Staging purchased by the City Church to be used for music events (worth £12,000).
In 2022, £13,000 was invested in COIF charities funds managed by CCLA.
Adrian Boynton is owed conducting fees from previous years.

Charity number 1188707

CHARITY (OMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent ExaMineS Roport Report to the trusteesl LNJEE£ iofvJE r4osi- On accounts for Ihe year ended 4f Charlty no (if any) II%E 701 Set out on pages 5ts7 nerrthr lo Int& tho p•oe Thurthrs ol addthon81 $heeis: I report to the Irustees on my examination of the a¢¢ounts of the above charity {"the Trust") for the year ended 31 / I I/ 20L3 As the charity's trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {'the Act"). Responsibilities and basis of report I report in re$pe¢t of my examination of the Trusl's accounts carried out under sedion 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of the Act. Independent tTtrctTrffy s gross income excee examiner's statomont undertake the exa ap wuLlified member of linsert name of Ody]].-Dèlete I l if not applicable. I have completed my examination. I confinn that no material matters have come lo my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below ') which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records vfftre not kept in a¢¢ordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or the a¢¢ounts did not accord wrth the accounling records,. or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts sel out in the Chanlies (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independenl examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in ¢onnection 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. pi lete e words in the brackets if they do not apply. se Slgned: Date: 01 2cQ Name: & L I(0£) Rèlevant professional qualification{s} or body ffCicN IER Oct 2018

lif any): Address: CCD Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs lo highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charrty accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief delails of any items that the examinèr wishes to disclos8. IER Oct 2018