N-Choir AGM
Minutes of the AGM held on Monday 16th March 2026 at 7.45pm
Chairman’s Report (Beth Tapply) :
2025, our 13th year, was another success for N-Choir. The choir has remained at capacity with lots of interest from singers, as a result we have temporarily closed our waiting list as waiting times for a place had reached a year. We remain in a sound financial position and as such subs will remain unchanged for the next year. Our capacity summer and largest ever Christmas concert were both very successful with great audience feedback, and we had our first venture into competition with a well-earned second place at the Hazel Grove music festival.
Our social programme which is such an important part of choir life gave us the Summer and Christmas parties, the Christmas raffles and our very successful carol singing .These events were all wonderful and thanks go to Janet Bell and the social committee for all the work that goes into making these events so special and so important in strengthening the friendships that we have in the choir.
Team
We have been lucky to have had another year of stability in the team and have had the pleasure of working with Matt and Pete who are so important in making N-Choir what it is. We were also grateful to Ben for stepping up as our back up accompanist when Pete has been unavailable, particularly at Hazel Grove and are looking forward to working with him in the summer when Pete takes paternity leave.
Committee
The three executive members are currently: - Chair- Beth Tapply Secretary- Lynne Sarkissian Treasurer- Julie Carty
The remainder of the committee comprises:Librarian - Gill Schnieden Concert Secretary - Gail Stuart Social Secretary- Janet Bell
Thank-you to all the committee for their hard work this year.
Fund Raising
After discussion with choir members this year (2024-25) we chose two charities to support. Profits from the summer concert went to The Seashell Trust, a charity transforming the young lives of those with the most complex disabilities and at Christmas to Chelwood Foodbank Plus which works to end food and bed poverty in the Stockport area.
After consultation with the choir members it has been agreed that we will continue our association with Chelwood Foodbank Plus for the 2026 Christmas concert, there is no doubt that at Christmas support for the foodbank is high and allows us to raise a significant sum. For the summer we will support Maggie’s centre at The Christie a charity close to the hearts of several choir members.
Finally, to enable N-Choir to continue to do all that we do we need help. I am relieved and grateful that all the committee has agreed to stay on for another year (unless we receive any nominations) which gives us great stability but some of the social committee are moving on or taking a break
and so we do need some members to help Janet and her team with our social programme. This is not a huge amount of work when it is shared and it is certainly a role that you could dip in and out of subject to your availability. So please could you see if you could offer a small amount of time to the social committee to ensure that we can maintain the social programme.
Treasurer’s Report to August 2025 (Julie Carty):
This report is compiled from the accounts kept by the current Treasurer Julie Carty. Many thanks to Maggie Bowie and Judith Wright for their help in the account review.
Income
Income increased by £1,340 compared to 2023/24. 77 members were paying subscriptions at the end of the year, and the Gift Aid payment from HMRC increased by £606 from the previous year. These two figures in the main account for the increase.
Expenditure
Taking off payments to charities, operating expenses were in line with last year’s costs. We spent more on rehearsal costs but less on equipment and music, therefore balancing each other out.
Charitable Donations
The choir made donations of £4,585 during the year, £3,610 to Chelwood Foodbank Plus (Christmas Concert) and £975 to The Seashell Trust (Summer Concert). This included donations of £2,890 received from collections at concerts and choir socials.
Summary
The financial year opened with a balance of £8,392, closing with a balance of £12,395 making the profit for the year £4,003, an increase of £1424 from 2023/24.
Going forward, the choir membership cap of 80 is to remain in place, as is the budget of £2000 a year for new music. There are ongoing discussions to find a workshop event for members to attend which will be partially funded by the choir.
Musical Director’s Report (Matt Roughley):
Another terrific year of N-Choir. We continue to make brilliant music together in an environment of fun, relaxed rehearsals, as the choir has done for the last 14 years. Alongside our usual concert series we entered our very first music competition at the Hazel Grove music festival where we gave a really strong account of ourselves, taking home second prize.
Our 2025 Christmas concert at St. Michaels and All Angels was an absolute triumph with a packed out audience who were so responsive to the performance we produced.
It’s always a pleasure to see new members join our choir and I hope they have felt welcomed into our lovely community.
A huge thank you to everyone who makes N-Choir the fantastic group that it is. The whole committee who work tirelessly, our wonderful accompanist Pete Durrant, the social ‘elves’ and to everyone making contributions to the life of N-Choir.
I’m looking forward to what the next year has in store for us as we continue to seek new and exciting singing opportunities for all our members.
Election of Officers:
No nominations received.
Beth Tapply to stand as Chairman. Julie Carty to stand as Treasurer. Lynne Sarkissian to stand as Secretary.
Voted on block. Proposed by Clare Bolton Seconded by Rachael Brindle
All voted in favour, none voted against.
Any Other Business: None. Date of next AGM: March 2027
Lynne Sarkissian Secretary, N-Choir 17[th] March 2026
| N-CHOIR INCOME AND EXPENDITURE INCOME Subscriptions Concerts Gift Aid Social Events Donations Received (paid to Charity) Misc TOTAL INCOME EXPENDITURE Donations to Charity Tutor Pianist Equipment Rehearsal Room Hire Music Scores Music Licence & Insurance IT/Website Social (catering etc) Cost of Concerts Gifts/Flowers Sum Up charges for payments by card Misc (including stationery) TOTAL EXPENSES PROFIT/LOSS |
2023-24 12855.00 3444.35 1976.41 2990.00 1403.00 318.50 22987.26 3225.00 4015.00 2570.00 635.23 1709.00 1713.82 323.00 278.60 3522.70 1934.80 183.25 54.63 243.14 20408.17 2579.09 |
2024-25 14015.00 3395.01 2583.08 2832.00 2890.22 100.00 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 25815.31 | |||
| 4585.00 4335.00 3030.00 28.98 1626.00 1330.66 337.00 372.51 3867.60 1771.34 182.78 39.27 305.63 |
|||
| 21811.77 | |||
| 4003.54 | |||
| OPENING BALANCE B/FWD PROFIT /LOSS FOR YEAR CASH AT BANK |
5812.70 2579.09 8391.79 |
8391.79 4003.54 |
|
| 12395.33 |
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A ndependent Examiner's Report Report to the trustoes On accounts for tho y•ar end•d Charlty no Ilf any) I Iql574 S•t out on pagos I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the alyjve chanty (Ihe Trust.) for the year ended Re•pon•lbllltie8 and bash of rnport As the charty's trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charitie8 Act 2011 (ihe Ac*"). I repjrt in respect ol my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed all the applTrcable Directions given by the Charity Commi88ion under sectlon 14515){b) of the Ad. Independent he charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 and l am qualified to •xamlnor'8 Statement undertake the examination by being a qualified member of [insert nam8 of applicable listed bodyl]. Del8t81] rfnot applicable. I have corneted my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed bek>w ') which give8 me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accountiNJ records were not kept In accordance with sectlon 130 of the Charities Act; or the 8c¢ounts did not accord with the accounting record8,' or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirement8 concerning the fomi and content of accounts 8et out in the Charities {A¢counts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the a¢counts give a Irue and fair. view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come auoss no other matters in connection with the examination to whith attention should b8 drawn in thi5 report in ord8r to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. ' Rease dolete th8 words in the brackets rfthey do not apply. Slgned: Nam•: f. Relevant professlonal qualification(s) or body IER Oct 2018
(If any): Addreu: Section B Disclosure Only complete If the examinei needs to highlight material malt8is of concern (see CC32. IrKlependent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Glve h•re brlef d•tall• of any Items that the examlner wl•ho$ to dl8cIo80. Njo ly4[ IER Oct 2018