Charity number 11991221
St Paul's Opera Report of the Trustees and Financial Statement For the year ended 31 December 2023
Address
St Paul's Church Rectory Grove London SW4 0DX
Trustees
Independent Examiner
Patricia Carter Anthony Bell Anthea Bishop (res. 21 March 2023) Jonathan Boardman Charlotte Brosnan Matthew Carter Alexandra Dinwiddie Philip Hensher (appt. 16 May 2023) Susan Roberts Catherine Atkin LLB ACA CTA Atkin & Co Chartered Accountants 75 The Chase London SW40NR
History
St Paul's Opera was founded in 2013 within the organisational framework of St Paul's Church, Clapham. From January 2022, St Paul's Opera was fully independent from St Paul's Church. Charitable status was gained on 30 May 2022.
Objectives and aims
To advance the art of opera and classical vocal music for the benefit of the public through the organisation and production of performances and educational classes and events.
St Paul's Opera is embedded in the local community to which it contributes significantly. Its purposes are:
-
To advance the experience, understanding and enjoyment of opera and classical vocal music
-
To provide development opportunities to singers training for, or early in, their professional opera careers
-
To advance education about opera
St Paufs Opera Report of the Trustees and Financial Statement For the year ended 31 December 2023 REVIEW OF AcnvmES Artistic Programme and Schools Outreach St Paul's Opera's annual programme involves a three-evening and one matinée summer festival of staged opera, and a number of gala and oratorio concerts. The programme also includes an annual masterclass conducted by an internationally renowned opera singer for the benefit of early-career sin8ers as well as a fund-raisin8 gala featurin8 four internationally renowned opera sin8ers. To advance its educational aims St Paul's Opera collaborates with local primary schools to promote and enhance awareness and understandin8 of opera and vocal music. This report deals with activities throughout the 2023 calendar year. 20 January.. Love and War Gala Concert 23 February: Masterclass given by David Butt Philip 23 March- David Butt Philip Gala Concert 21 April.. Iolh Anniversary Gala concert 29, 30 June and l July: Carmen, opera by Georges Bizet (which was also the focus of the schools, outreach programmel 20 October.. Endless Pleasure Gala Concert 8-9 December: Little Redand The Big Bad... reimagined opera after César Cui Love ond War Gala concert featuring husband and wife Louis (bass baritonel and Tanya Hurst Isopranol. The pro8ramme comprised arias and duets from works by Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Rachmaninoff, Wagner and Donizetti. Originally planned for the end of 2022, the concert has been postponed due to illne55 but successfully started SPO'S 2023 programme. Masterdass SPO Patron David Butt Philip returned for his fifth masterclass to give five young singers the benefit of his experience. One member ofthe audience w35 moved to write- "I'd never been to a Masterclass before and. to be honest. wasn't sure what to expect. By the end of the evenin& thou8h, I was seriously impressed. It was absorbing bein8 able to watch and listen to five young singers being shown how to enhance their performance by the ins18htful advice of a world class opera singer." Davld Butt Phlllp Gala Always a popular evenin& David was joined by three other opera stars- Katie Stevenson, Ross Ram8obin and Natalya Romaniw- who tO8ether brought the ma8ic of the international opera stage to Clapham. th 10 Anniversary concert th Celebrating SPO'S 10 birthday. many past performers returned to St Paul's Church to perform an evening of'8reatest hits. from opera staged by the company in the previous decade, including arias and scenes from opera including Figoro. Cosi Fon Tutte, Albert Herring, Magic Flute and Don Giovonni. We even persuaded young Royal Opera House tenor Michael Gibson'to perform a rafter-rattling Nessun Dorma for us.
St Paul's Opern Report of the Trustees and Flnancial Statement For the year Lded 31 December 2023 Carmen One of the highlights of our year. rehearsals started in April for the fully staged June/July production of Cormen. The cast of 21 included 16 sin8ers who were at a late 5ta8e of their specialist music conservatoire or college training or early in their professional careers. Performances included an 11-piece chamber orchestra. For the first time SPO was able to provide the singers with a modest bursary. £100, to cover the cost of travel to and from rehearsals and the performances. Audience numbers for the four performances were more than 470. Endless Pleasure Autumn and the onset of colder. darker evenings saw an enthusiastic audience warmed by a joyful selection of music. Featuring many of the singers who formed the cast of Carmen, as well as many well-known- and some more obscure- operatic arias, Endless Pleasure even ventured into the world of musical theatre. The finale was the Champagne Chorus from Die Fledermou5, giving a hint as to the identity of the opera chosen for 2024. Little Red ond the Blq Bad.., In December, St Paul's Opera sta8ed a production of Little Red ond the 8ig Bod... featurin8 specially commissioned libretto from London-based Canadian writer and opera director Ashley Pearson. which gave a modern twist to an age-old story. There was one evenin8 performance and a specia5 matinée performance for children and families. The matinée was free for children. with a particular focus on children from schoo15 participatin8 in the schools. outreach programme. Audience numbers for this performance were 130 over two days, Schools, Outreach St Paul's Opera's Schools Outreach Programme was expanded in 2023 and involved four local state primary schools, up from two in the previous year. The schools were Macaulay CofE, Heathbrook, Reay and Bonneville, and involved up to 160 children aged 8 to 11. Workshops introducing opera through singing, music, storytelling, and role-play were led by Cormen cast members experienced with children's choirs and music groups. Cast members involved were all DBS certificated. Publlc beneflt In accordance with St Paul's Opera's Objects, the activities reported here benefited three particular groups: our audience, our singers, and local schoolchildren. St Paul's Opera introduced and irnplemented a Safeguarding Policy during the year. in recognition of its duty to safeguard the welfare of children and adults at risk of harm from its activities, includin8 online. Appointment of Trnstees St Paul's Opera's constitution requires that there be at least three Trustees. The initial Trustees were the eight subscribers to the Constitution. In the period reported, one Trustee resigned, and one new Trustee was appointed. In selecting individuals for appointment, the Trustees are obliged to have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the charity.
St Paul's Opera Report of the Trustees and Financial Statement For the year ended 31 December 2023 Flnance summary This report relates to the period from l January to 31 December 2023. In the years from its foundation in 2013 to the last month of 2022. St Paul's Opera's banking was included, in a separate account, in the banking arrangements of St Paul's Church with Natwest Bank. In November 2022 St Paul's Opera opened an account with Cater Allen Private Bank. Income for the 2023 period reported was £46.711. Expenditure was £50,609, which included £1,393 in equipment purchases. When plannin8 for the year the Trustees were aware that the Summer Opera was likely to result in a deficit- the loss of almost £4.000 on the event accounts for virtually all of 2023's overall loss. The cash balance at 31 December was £11,118. All funds held by St Paul's Opera are unrestricted. The Trustees were confident that the funds were adequate to the projected plan5 for 2024. The Trustees are grateful for the funding 5UPPOrt received from the April Trust. Cosman Keller Art and Music Trust, Emma's Estate Agents, Pilates Sanctuary and personal donations. A successful Friends scheme has also attrarted generous funding from sUPPQrters. Structure, Governance and Mana8ement St Paul's Opera is a Charitable Incorporated Or8anisation ICIO). re8lStered with the Charity Commission on 30 May 2022. St Paul's Opera is governed by its Constitution. There are currently eight Trustee5 (October 2024). The Trustees serving during the year reported and since the year end were: Patricia Carter Anthony Bell Ires.7 September 20241 Anthea Bishop Ires. 21 March 2023} Jonathan Boardman Charlotte Brosnan Matthew Carter Alexandra Dinwiddie Philip Hensher (appt. 16 May 2023) Susan Roberts The Trustees have concluded and affirm that the activities carried out in the period from I January to 31 December 2023 fulfil St Paul's Opera's charitable objectives. ustee Trustee Date: Date: il I )2*
St Paul's Opera 1199122 Receipts and payments accounts For the period 01/01/2023 31/12/2023 To from
CC16a
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ - 32,743 6,757 7,211 - - - - 46,711 - - - 46,711 42,572 2,272 1,568 2,054 750 1,393 - - - 50,609 - - - 50,609 - 3,898 - 15,016 11,118 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds to the nearest £ - 32,743 6,757 7,211 - - - - 46,711 - - - 46,711 42,572 2,272 1,568 2,054 750 1,393 - - - 50,609 - - - 50,609 - 3,898 |
Total funds to the nearest £ - 32,743 6,757 7,211 - - - - 46,711 - - - 46,711 42,572 2,272 1,568 2,054 750 1,393 - - - 50,609 - - - 50,609 - 3,898 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer funds from St Paul's Church | - | - - - - - - - - - |
- | 18,132 | ||
| Income from Events | 32,743 | 32,743 | 18,554 | |||
| Donations and subscriptions | 6,757 | 6,757 | 4,835 | |||
| Sponsorship | 7,211 | 7,211 | 3,458 | |||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
46,711 | 46,711 | 44,979 | |||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | - - - |
- | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | |||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| - | 46,711 | 44,979 | ||||
| Expenditure on events | 42,572 | - - - - - - - - - - |
42,572 | 27,263 | ||
| Rent and insurance | 2,272 | 2,272 | 1,500 | |||
| Merchant charges | 1,568 | 1,568 | 1,181 | |||
| Administration costs | 2,054 | 2,054 | 19 | |||
| Independent Examiner | 750 | 750 | - | |||
| Equipment | 1,393 | 1,393 | - | |||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| **Sub total ** | 50,609 | 50,609 | 29,963 | |||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
||||||
| - | - - - |
- | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | - | |||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||||
| - | 50,609 | 29,963 | ||||
| - 3,898 | - | - | - 3,898 | 15,016 | ||
| - | - | - - |
- | - | ||
| 15,016 | - | 15,016 | - | |||
| 11,118 | - | - | 11,118 | 15,016 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
04/10/2024
1
3
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets |
Signature Details Details Bank accounts Cash float Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 10,968 - 150 - - 11,118 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
|||
| Date of approval |
|||
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
04/10/2024
2
3
REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF ST PAUL'S OPERA CHARITY NO: 1199122 ON THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED to 31 DECEMBER 2023 SET OUT ON PAGES 1 AND 2
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trust") for the year ended 31 December 2023
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act")
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 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 examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which give me cause to believe that that, in any material respect:
-
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
-
the accounts did not comply with th applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (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 independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection 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.
Signed:
Date 04 October 2024
Name: Catherine Atkin ACA CTA 75 The Chase Clapham London SW4 0NR
3