THE HIGHGATE CHORAL SOCIEfY TRUSTEES. REPORT 202412025
Charltable Oblects
The objeds of the Charity are the advantt8mènt of arts and culture, in particular the art and
culture of music, by the presentation of concerts and other ancillary activities. The Charity
pursues its objects
prin¢ipaWy through holding public
concerts
and
also
undertakes additional activities lo supp)rt the bcal community. The Trustees of the Charity
are aware of the general guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. They
have regard to this guidance in dec4ding what actbvth'es the Charity should undertake.
onstitution
Highgate Choral Society. originally founded in 1878, has been registered in its current form as
a Charitable Incorporated Organisatmjn (CIO) with the Charity Commissioners under charity
registration number 1191240 since 11th September 2020.
Governance
The administration of the Charity is Ihe responsibltty of the Trustees who are all unpaid
members of the choir elected by its m8mbers in accordance with its constitution.
At the 2025 AGM held on 24 February 2025. Debby Bumian and Tom King resigned and, in
accordance with the Constitution, Emty Finch and Richanl Gourlay retired by rotalion and
were reYlected for a second term of 3 yéars along wtth Caroline Dove and Diana Muggleston
who had been Co￿pIed as Trustees during the year.
At the conclusion of the 2025 AGM the Trustees were Ashitey Ollennu l¢hairl. Ali Brodie
(General Manager}. Felicity Demieik. Caroline Dove. Emily Finch. Janet Floyd, Richard
Gouday, Dsana Muggleston. Luke Randobh ITreasurer) and Ursula Taylor.
Th6 Trustees meet regularly, meeting 4 times during the past year. Our hAusic Dir8Ctor is not
a Trustee, but is invited to attend Tru$tees' meetings.
Ronald Corp OBE
It 18 With profound sadness and a great sense of loss that I have to report Ihe death of our
b8loved hAusic Director. Ron COTP. in May 2025 after a long illness. We offer our sinc8r8
condolences to his life partner John Glass. Ron had directed Highgate Choral Sc¢iely for over
41 years and has left a void. not only in our choir and ts members. but in the lives of countless
others that his wide4eaching musical interests and enduring friendship had touched in the
course of a long and illustn'ous career. We are planning a memorial concert for Ron at
Cadogan Hall on June 23, where we will honour his memory with a selection of his
Compositional works. perfomied by H￿hgate Choral Society. The London Chorus which he
also conducted for overthity years, and the New London Orchèstra which he founded in 1988,
together with alumni of the North London Children's Choir which he also founded and ran for
many years.
uslcal Actlvlti05
Our first cOr￿rt of the year orb 6th November 2024 was a fith'ng finale to Ron's career when.
to a packed hLxtse at Cadogan Hall. he GonduGted the world premiere of his final Gomposition
Phoenix from Ihe Ashes-
cantsta for suffering children. compos&d in memory of a long-
standing member of Highgate Choral Society who died in 2021. together with Holst's A
Somer5el Rhapsody and Fauré's Requiem, performed by his choirs and orchestra with
rènowned soloists Lucy Crowe {soprano} and Roderi¢k Williams (baritone} in celebralion of

his 40 years as music director of Highgale Choral Society and 30 years in the same role al
The Lothn Chorus.
Ron also conducted our annual Famity Carols concert on 7th December 2024 al St Michael's
Chur¢h. Highgate where his talent for coaxing compelling perfonnances from our ￿rnber$
and audience alike and his innate sense of fur) rernained re%Autely to the foie. as he
determinedly resisted the effects of his last illness. At the end of the concert. we held a bucket
collection for Iwo local charities nominat8d and chosen by our members. This kn'me. it was the
tum of C4WS Homeless Project and Wood that Works. Thanks to the genero$lty of choir
members and our audience. we raised £1,332 whith meanl that each chartty received an
amazing £666 towards their important and necessary work with the poor. the homeless and
those suffering from mental health issues.
We were subsequently hugely fortunate to have been able to secure the services of three first
class ¢￿￿￿¢torS lor the remaining thTee concert5 of the year. not lèasl as a foretaste for our
members that lrfe after Ron might in tim8 b8CA)m8 possiblo trj imagine.
On 8° March 2025 we perfomied Monteverdi's Vesper5 of 1610. vAdely regarded as one of
the greatest pieces of sa¢red music ever composed, heralding the transition be￿een the
Iraditional style of the late Renaissance and the start of the Baroque period, to a capacty
audience at All Hallows Church. Gospel Oak under the expert batten of Jeremy Jackman.
whose CV range5 from singing ￿th the King's Singers and in operas, to chorus master al the
London Philharmonic Choir. the musical diwtor of the English Baroque Choir and directing
performances all over the world. We were accompanied by the New London Orchestra and
our soloists were sopranos Aorfe Miskelly and Hafflet Bums, counlertenor James Laing. t6nors
Gwilym Bowen arKI Ruairi Bowen and baritone Felix Kemp.
For our nexl concert, held on 1* May 2025. at Sl Michael's Church. HMJhgate, w8 focused on
English 20 and 21 century music: Edward Elgarfs Give unlo th• Lord,. Herbert Howells, King
David: Hubert Parry's My heart is Like a Singing Bifft. and Ralph Vaughan Williams. Toward
th6 Unknown Règion. We also premièred Russell Hepplewhite's The Diarists Pages,. and
sang a nevAy commissioned piece by Joanna Forbes L'Estrange. A Season to Sing. We also
sang, in Ron Corp's memory, Elegy lor Himsem composed by Ron with text from Chidiok
Tichbome, an English Catholtc poet who wrole il on the eve of his execution for involvement
in a plot against Elizabeth 1 st. Perhaps appropriately. it is a dark meditation on a lrfe cut short.
Our guest conductor for this concert was Hilary Campbell. a freelance choral specialist,
director of music at Kellogg College, Oxford, musical director of Bristol Choral Society, West
London Chows and West London Chamber Choir. assistsnt chorus directrK of London
Symphony Chorus and associate conductor of Ex Cathedra. We were ac￿Mpanied by
organist Ethvard Batting and our soprano Katie Trethewey.
For ourfinal concert ofthe 2024125 season. we returned to A]1 Halkiws. Chur¢h. Gospel Oak on
Saturday, 5 July 2025, and to the music of Handel and Bach, contemporaries who never in
fact met, singing 8 number of songs by George Frideric Handel (including May No Rash
Intruder) and Johann Sebastian Bach linduding Nun 1st das Hell und die Kraw. as well as
Bach's Magnificat in D Major.
Our gu8St conduclor on thal occasion. Jennifer Sterling. is cU￿entlY associate choral director
at Sl Martin-in-the-Fields, a soprano soloisL a scotkn.sh folk singer and a member of the vocal
ensemble. Oclavoce. She was joined in the concert by the New London Orchestra 2nd soloists
Madeline Boreham and Georgia Melville (sopranosl. Majid El-Bushra {alto), David Webb
(tenor) and Michael Craddock (bass}.

Another highlight of our2024125 season was our bier)nial intemational lour. in May 2025, when
we travelled to BeT1in lo perform in iwo tonc•rts. also under the dwection of Jennrfer Sterling.
Forthe second of these ¢oncerts. we werejoined bythe Berfiner Singakademie. In the glorious
surroundings of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church on the 80 anniversary of Victory in
Europe Day. It was a very special occasion.
During the year, Highgate Choral Society also participated in siwing Camiina Burana at the
Royal Albert Hall and Beethoven's Ninth SymptrK)r)y at the Barbican, both promoted by
Raymond Gubbay Ltd.
We are deepty gratslul to Alexander Wells. our accompanist. not just for his brilliant piano
playing skills, but also for his calm presence at the keyboard which helF*d to keep us
focused and on an even kèel in the darkest of times.
M¢mbershlp
Membership sto(yJ at 178 at the end of the year. a little below the 192 of the previous year.
Finance
The resuli for the year was a General Fund surplus of £16,674, resulting in a carried forward
General Fund of £66.995 and a Commissioning Fund balance of £9,581. Ticket prices
remained the same as the previous year and membership subscriptions were increased by
S.8°￿.
Independent Examiner
We are. as ever, very grateful to Ri¢hard Morris. our independent examiner. for his continued
support and adwce during the year.
Conclusion
The success of our year in Mu￿Cal and financial terrns bears testimony to the resilien¢e of our
management structure and the ￿mmitMent of our members in the face of a challenging year.
I would like to thank each and every Trustee for their dedication and skill in maintainlng our
organisation in a very good positKJn trom which to face the future with conf￿9n(8.
hitey Ollennu
Chair
Highgate Choral Society
4 Febnjary 2026

CHARITY COMMIS510
FOR ENGLAND AND WALE
Highgale Choral Society
Annual accounts for the
1st September 2024
Charity N.
1191240
eriod
to
31st August 2025
Section A
Statement of financial activities
Total
Unr•strict?d
Funds
Last Y&ar
Draft 09109125
Dèslgnat•d
Commissioning
Fund
Total
Unrèstrlct•d
Funds
Gènèral
Funds
Incoma
Concert Ticket Sales
Pro
amme Sales
Pro
ramme Advertisin
Membershi
Subscri
tions
Fnends
Donations
onsorshi
Gift Aid Tax Recove
Bar Sales
R8fr8shments Net Income
Music Hire Income
External Concert Promoters Income
Benslow Weekend Income
Tour Income
Commissionin
Sundry Income
Total In¢om•
47.193
2.442
1.880
47.193
2.442
1.880
46.450
1.950
137
18.794
11.510
3.882
1.056
5.$49
3.165
28.410
2.096
1.625
46.415
2.010
1.95D
137
18.794
11.510
3882
1.056
3.150
9.829
4.241
1.019
4.432
1.670
16,283
3.165
43.295
43.295
1.000
382
Fund Income
1.000
382
187.68S
350
1.000
188,685
121.530
nditur•
Concert Costs
Pro ramme Costs
Rehearsal Costs
Bar Costs
Music Hire Costs
External Concert Promoters Costs
Benslow Weekend Costs
Tour Costs
Bank & Card Char
PRS Ro
alties
Insurances
Makin
Music Annual Subscri
Commissionin
Fund Costs
reciation
SLJnd Costs
Tot•1 Exp•ndltur•
82.716
5.615
28.268
1.237
5.341
1,421
82.716
5.615
28,268
1.237
5.341
1.421
67,918
4,065
23.870
1.267
3,722
949
14.523
43.443
159
314
380
520
43,443
159
314
380
520
s.000
581
1,016
176.011
es less Interest
214
631
339
496
300
514
1,403
120.211
lion
581
1.016
171,011
s.000
Income less Expenditure
16.674
4.000
12.674
1,319
Transfers betsyeen fund5
Net movement fvnds
16,674
4.000
12.674
1,319
Funds brought forward
50.321
13,581
63.902
62.583
Funds canied fonvard
66.995
9.581
76.576
63.902

Section B
Balance sheet
T*)knl
Totsl
15237
3.591
ai b￿kInd In IN*￿24&
66 523
79623
628
9581
63.JD2
50.321
9581
63 902

CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ETr￿LAND ANO WALES
Independent examinerfs report on the
accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner s Report
Report to the trustees
The Highgate Choral Soclety
On accounts for the year
ended
31st August 2025
Charity no
(rf any)
1191240
Set out on pages
I report to the trustees my examination of the accounts of the *)ove
Charity (the Trusf} for the year ended 3110812025.
Responsibilities and
basis of report
As the tharitys trustees, Y￿ are responsible for Ihe preparation of the
aCc￿nts in accordan￿ wtth the requirements of Ihe Chartiies Ad 2011
rthe A￿.
I report in respect of my examinati￿ of trle Trusys accwnts carried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Aci and in (arrying out my examination. I
have followed all the applicab￿ Directions given by the Chanty Ccxnmissi
under section 145(5)(b) of the ACL
Independent I have completed my examination. I c(xffimi that no material matters have
examinerfs statsment come to my attention in connection wrth Ihe examnation which gives me
cause to believe that in. any material resFett.
the aoJ)unting records V￿re r￿t kept in accordarts section 130
of the Charities Act; or
the a0￿Unts did not accofty %%ith the acccwnting records; or
the aCC£￿nts did not c£¥nply with the applicable wuirements
COn￿MIr￿a the fomi and ￿ntent of accounts set in the Charities
(Accounts and Rewrts) RegulatiL￿s 2(JJ8 other than any requirement
that the accounts give a 'true and fairf which is not a matter
c¢)nsidered as part of an independent ex*nination.
I have no concems have come ￿s$ no other matters in ¢(￿nection
Ih the examina
to which attention sh￿Id be drawn in this report in
er to enable a
Per understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
April 2028
Name:
Rithard MorTiS
Relevant professional
qual1f1&￿Ion(sj or body
lif any):
Addrnss:
8 Holt Close
Lond
N10 3HW
IER
Oct 2018