The Swan Consort CIO
Charity number 1194785
Annual report and accounts 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024
Trustees
The following served as Trustees in this period:
Kieran Cooper Nataliya Izedinova Tom Wale (Chair)
Accounts
| INCOME | |
|---|---|
| Fees | 2,896.40 |
| Donations | 1,154.95 |
| Bank interest | 0.74 |
| Other income | 40.00 |
| Total | 4,092.09 |
| EXPENDITTURE | |
| Artist fees and travel | 4,322.70 |
| Bank charges | 60.00 |
| Insurance | 266.00 |
| Competition entry fee | 100.00 |
| Total | 4,748.70 |
| Result for the year | -656.61 |
| BALANCE SHEET | |
| Opening balance | 769.34 |
| Result for the year | -656.61 |
| Cash in bank 31 March 2024 | 112.73 |
Artistic Director report – Anita Datta
Summary
Artistic Director’s Report September 2024
Summary
This year has been focussed on the development of organisational strategy, with a view to launching a series of larger projects in 2025-2026. Successful concerts and business/strategy meetings have been undertaken, as the organisation looks forward to commencing fundraising for initiatives within a new artistic strategy.
Activities Review
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Wye Valley Music: ‘A Tudor Christmas’ and Bird Song workshops The Swan Consort were invited to provide the Christmas concert for Wye Valley Music (WVM) in Gloucestershire, December 2023. This booking was extended to involve bird song workshops in local primary schools
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A Tudor Christmas: Concert: The Swan Consort delivered a programme of Tudor Christmas music presented by a 5-part consort, accompanied by lutenist Jacob Heringman. The concert sold out in advance of the performance date, and as the consort’s first performance in that region provided an opportunity to develop new audience and promoter relationships. The concert was well-received with excellent feedback from the festival
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Primary School ‘Bird Song’ workshops : Workshops were delivered at two schools in a new, expanded format, responding to ACE feedback on the previous funding application. AD visited schools with additional repertoire and scaffolding to performance a fortnight before the whole group visit, resulting in increased engagement and a flourishing of skills. The extended workshop scheme demonstrates evident improvements on the previous model, and received detailed and extensive positive feedback from the WVM organisation.
Executive ‘Away Day’
In April, AD called an executive away day with the two longest-serving members of The Swan Consort (Lewis Cullen, Robin Datta) and young artist Stellaria Ciampolini to review The Swan Consort’s working patterns and develop a strategy for the next 3-5 years.
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The executive team identified key strengths amongst the existing team and agreed new working protocols to support the establishment of a more consistent and robust executive structure in the planning, organising, and execution of arts events
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AD and Stellaria Ciampolini proposed the establishment of COLLEGIUM, an instrumental ensemble to complement the work of the vocal consort and increase the organisation’s scope to include cantata, oratorio, opera, and instrumental concerti
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The executive identified that, taking into account feedback from promoters and the disruption to the group’s trajectory following covid, the organisation agreed that the development of professional MEDIA ASSETS would be prioritised in 2025, with a view to securing concert tours of existing/planned programmes, and working towards a studio recording by 2028.