AGM 2025 Reports
AGM 2025 – Vice-Chairman’s Report
The year has seen a significant change with the standing-down of our previous chairman, Paul Bisson, in May. Paul brought huge energy and commitment to the choir, and as yet no-one has come forward to replace him. Since Paul’s departure the committee has reallocated his roles and is functioning as an “autonomous collective” (to borrow a term from OS Michael Palin!) but we do need more volunteers for this and other roles.
Musically, we have had an excellent year, building on Richard’s, and James’ now three years as MD and Accompanist, giving us inspirational leadership and musicality and considerable work behind the scenes in preparation and organization - together with the school’s talented choir joining us as appropriate.
We continued to extend our repertoire with Christopher Tin’s fabulous and exciting “To Shiver The Sky” with the School orchestra and soloists in November, which gave us not only a thorough musical workout but also increased our linguistic experience!
Following that, “Messiah” in Shrewsbury Abbey in December, supported by Noxwode baroque ensemble and fantastic (and local) soloists, was hugely appreciated by the audience. The local charities supported by the choir were The Lingen Davies Cancer Fund, and "Feed the Birds"
In March we performed Mozart’s glorious Requiem with the School, a thrilling work much appreciated by audience and performers alike.
In summer we started to rehearse for this December’s performance of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, a new work for many of us but sumptuous, exciting and full of seasonal spirit!
Building on the donations following Messiah we have adopted for the current year three more local and highly deserving charities: Severn Hospice; The Shrewsbury Ark, and Friends of Shrewsbury Samaritans. Charitable connections such as these use the power and connectivity of communities not only to support their valuable work but enable promotion of each other’s activities and aspirations, bringing the Choir’s joy in music to a greater audience, while the charities can spread their appeal more widely.
We have also had several new members join this year, we hope you are enjoying being part of the choir and if you would like to be more involved we are always looking for additional committee members.
Whilst our finances have been affected by increasing costs and pressures on personal budgets, we have, despite having lower total income, maintained a healthy bank balance and recorded a small surplus of income over expenditure , as detailed in Jill’s report. I am most appreciative of all her work in keeping us informed and solvent!
I am grateful to Paul, and also to all my fellow trustees, for their hard work and commitment without which so much would not be achieved, and whose wisdom and experience will ensure the long-term future of Shrewsbury School Community Choir and Shropshire Charity Concerts. If any of the choir feel they could offer support in the vacant roles of Chairman, Events management, and Publicity, please do speak to me or any other trustee.
Jonathan Davies, Vice-Chairman
November 2025
Commentary on the 2024/25 Accounts
The Cash Summary accounts show the 2023/24 and 2024/25 income and expenses and the variance.
Our total income of around £19,000 in 2024/5 was down more than £4,000 from the income for 2023/24. This is because during the year we only had one ticketed concert: The Messiah. We had two non-ticketed concerts: St Cecilia “To Shiver the Sky” and the Spring concert: Mozart’s Requiem, which was performed as a school concert. There was no summer term concert as we concentrated on embarking on Bach Christmas Oratorio rehearsals. There has been no Gift Aid benefit claimed in 2024/25.
Overall expenses were down in 2024/25 by about £2,000. However, there would have been even less expenses if the school concert has been cost free as originally expected. Unfortunately, the school orchestra were unavailable due to other commitments and we opted against just organ accompaniment for the Mozart Requiem. Therefore we sustained professional orchestral costs and also conductor charges as this event was over and above Richard’s standard choir and school responsibilities.
Our total members subscriptions at around £11,500 showed an increase over 2023/24 as our member numbers increased. (Please note the accrual figure made up of prepayment for the autumn term subscriptions during the month of August and a deposit payment to the Abbey).
Our conductor and accompanist rehearsal costs showed a small increase to £4,370 in 2024/25.
Our overall financial position improved by around £1,384. This is a smaller profit than last year, but a higher bank balance nevertheless.
We gave away £2,000 in charity donations, this year to The Lingen Davies Cancer Fund, and "Feed the Birds".
I would like to thank Jackie Llewellyn for her invaluable help in preparing the accounts, and Paul Bisson’s ongoing support with various queries.
Jill Anderton-Huang
November 2025
Music Director’s Report
Excellent use of the summer term to prepare for the Bach concert in December 2025.
I’m really proud of how well the Evensong concert was received by both choir members and the audience. The audience enjoyed the concept and appreciated the opportunity to take part in elements of the performance. It was felt that the project also allowed us to focus on the Bach programme simultaneously.
The Bach Oratorio went extremely well, I was delighted with the performance. We received compliments from both the audience and the soloists. Although the orchestral players were difficult to secure, they were superb.
The workshop with Matthew Coleridge was very well received and proved to be a lovely, innovative idea that benefitted both the choir and the school. It was valuable for the choir to experience external influences.
I’m looking forward to using St Mary’s in town; it’s a superb location with very promising acoustics. We’ll see how the choir fares in March.
We also have an exciting collaboration ahead with Shrewsbury Choral on Mozart’s Requiem and Rutter’s Magnificat in the summer, something different and definitely something to look forward to.
The choir remains well focused during rehearsals, and new members are joining and staying. There is more to do in this area, but we are starting from a strong position.
Richard Robbins November 2025
Cash Summary
Shropshire Charity Concerts CIO For the year ended 31 August 2025
| Cash Summary Shropshire Charity Concerts CIO For the year ended 31 August 2025 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | VARIANCE | |
| Income | |||
| Choir Annual Subscriptions | 11,637 | 10,125 | 15% |
| Concert programme sales | 333 | 374 | -11% |
| Concert refreshment sales | 77 | 355 | -78% |
| Donations for Refreshments and social events | 99 | - | - |
| Donations from the public | - | 47 | -100% |
| Gift Aid | - | 2,875 | -100% |
| Messiah subscriptions and donations | - | 285 | -100% |
| Other donations | 259 | 510 | -49% |
| Sales and hire of scores to members | - | 500 | -100% |
| Scarves and folders sold | 7 | 20 | -65% |
| Ticket Sales - Messiah | 6,608 | 4,614 | 43% |
| Ticket Sales - Spring concert | - | 3,537 | -100% |
| Total Income | 19,020 | 23,241 | -18% |
| Less Expenses | |||
| Accruals | 315 | (540) | 158% |
| Advertising & Marketing | 763 | 1,007 | -24% |
| Audit & Accountancy fees | 100 | 200 | -50% |
| Bank Fees | 116 | 78 | 50% |
| Card Processing Costs ticketsource sumup | 351 | 419 | -16% |
| Charity Donations | 2,000 | 3,000 | -33% |
| Concert expenses | - | 305 | -100% |
| Concert Programme Costs | - | 86 | -100% |
| Concert refreshment costs | 124 | 321 | -61% |
| General Expenses | 217 | 105 | 106% |
| Gifts purchased for members (retirement etc) | 39 | 44 | -11% |
| Insurance | 468 | 151 | 210% |
| Messiah Orchestra and MD | 2,800 | 3,993 | -30% |
| Messiah Performance costs | 270 | - | - |
| Messiah Soloists | 1,050 | 1,350 | -22% |
Income and Expenditure Shropshire Charity Concerts CIO
Cash Summary
| 2025 | 2024 | VARIANCE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Messiah Venue Hire and Staging costs | 760 | 760 | - |
| Music purchase and hire Cost to choir | 131 | 12 | 1,030% |
| Prepayments | 250 | - | - |
| Printing & Stationery | - | 84 | -100% |
| Rehearsal Conductor & Accompanist Costs | 4,370 | 4,175 | 5% |
| Rehearsal Refreshment Costs | 653 | 387 | 69% |
| Social functions and Refreshments | 223 | - | - |
| Spring Concert Soloists, Orchestra, Conductor | 2,450 | 2,117 | 16% |
| Spring Concert Venue and Staging Costs | - | 975 | -100% |
| Subscriptions | 187 | 380 | -51% |
| Total Expenses | 17,636 | 19,408 | -9% |
| Surplus (Deficit) | 1,384 | 3,834 | -64% |
| Net Cash Movement | 1,384 | 3,834 | -64% |
| Summary | |||
| Opening Balance | 18,482 | 14,648 | 26% |
| Plus Net Cash Movement | 1,384 | 3,834 | -64% |
| Cash Balance | 19,866 | 18,482 | 7% |
Income and Expenditure Shropshire Charity Concerts CIO