Friends of the Vox Trustee Report 2024/2025
Friends of the Vox was established for the public benefit, to advance, improve, develop, and maintain public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of choral music. Friends of the Vox is passionate about the power of choral music to unite people from all walks of life. We strive to make a tangible difference in our local community and to foster connections on a global scale. Through our local initiatives, global connections, and the remarkable performances of our choirs, we aspire to make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities. We firmly believe in the transformative power of choral music and hope that you will join us to support our vision. Together we can nurture a passionate and thriving musical community.
2024/2025 season performance review
The 2024/2025 season has seen Friends of the Vox continue to create outstanding choral experiences in the community. The events have been bigger than in previous years and expanded our reach to singers around the UK. Contemporary choral music continues to be a focus with new commissions and the championing of the music of living composers central to all that we do.
Education, Collaboration, and Community
Friends of the Vox continues to build community through choral music with a variety of outreach events beyond the two choirs. In November 2024, Vox Anima Chamber Choir joined a collaborative concert with students from Weald of Kent Grammar School, at Tonbridge Chapel, to perform Kim André Arnesen's "Stabat Mater".
In March 2025, members of Vox Anima Chamber Choir joined 60 young singers from Woldingham School, to rehearse and perform Cecilia McDowall’s Everyday Wonders: The Girl From Aleppo. Conducted by Victoria Milnes and accompanied by two incredibly talented sixth form students on piano and violin, the performance was part of the school’s Spring concert.
In June 2025, members of Vox Anima Chamber Choir and Vox Populi took part in a concert titled Sounds of Infinity at Cadogan Hall, London, as part of the 2025 Vox Anima London concert series.
Upper Voices Festival
On Saturday 9 November 2024, Friends of the Vox hosted our inaugural Upper Voices Festival, a celebration of upper voices and female composers. Singers from across the UK gathered at St Peter’s Eaton Square, London, for a day of singing, learning, and celebration. This special event highlighted music for upper voices and works by female composers, guided by the exceptional expertise of workshop leaders Charles MacDougall and Emily
Dickens. The event drew a wonderfully diverse group of participants, with choirs traveling from Birmingham, Bristol, and beyond, representing singers from across generations. The day culminated in an informal concert, where participants had the chance to showcase the pieces they had worked on throughout the day.
The concert also featured a stunning set by Vox Anima Chamber Choir, which showcased pieces by Eric W. Barnum, Zanaida Robles, Sarah Quartel, Jocelyn Hagen, and Karen Marrolli, providing a fitting finale to a day celebrating the richness of upper-voice repertoire. A standout moment of the concert was the world premiere of O Oriens by Emerging Composers Winner Anna Rocławska-Musiałczyk, who was in the audience, marking a significant milestone in the choir’s commitment to promoting new works.
Vox Anima Chamber Choir
The Chamber Choir recorded 6 pieces at the VOCES8 Centre in May 2025, under the supervision of recording engineer Alexander Van Ingen, conducted by James Meaders and supported by collaborative artists Richard Hammond-Hall and Floriane Peycelon. As well as the three winning pieces from the 2024 Emerging Composers initiative, the choir recorded a commission by composer Cecilia McDowall – Meet Cute – with lyrics by Charles Anthony Silvestri. The recording was made possible by significant fundraising led by the Development Manager, with support received from over 100 supporters.
Vox Populi
In 2024/2025 Vox Populi performed in 2 concerts, and many members took part in our Fauré Requiem "Come and Sing" under the expert guidance of conductor James Meaders and accompanist Richard Hammond-Hall at St. Nicholas Church in Sevenoaks.
2024 concluded with a joint Christmas concert between Vox Populi, Vox Anima Chamber Choir, and Hurst Green Singers at Pamoja Hall in Sevenoaks. The event included music from Heather Sorenson, Taylor Scott Davis, and the world premiere of Dan Forrest’s Upper Voices arrangement of Angels We Have Heard on High performed by Vox Anima Chamber Choir. In May 2025, another joint concert saw Vox Populi perform Dan Forrest’s CREATION.
Charity updates
The paid Development Manager role continues to be a hugely valuable addition to the charity. The fundraising for the VOCES8 recording and grant applications/fundraising plans for future events would not be possible without this role.
One trustee position remains open, and the board are assessing the skill set and person specification needed before recruiting into this role.
Funding
It has been identified that core choir activity is covered by our current funding model (subscriptions by members and sponsorship for the chamber choir) but to deliver bigger projects additional funding is required.
The Vox Anima Chamber Choir sponsorship programme continues to be successful. All donors were thanked for their support in the 2024/2025 season and have been asked to continue to support the chamber choir for 2025/2026. Some new sponsors have been acquired and the choir and charity are continually looking for new opportunities to raise money.
The board are continuing to review running costs, recognising that it is important to pay commercial rates for all professional musicians involved, and are developing a strategy to ensure we can meet these increased fundraising needs over the next 5 years.
An Independent Review was required by the Charity Commission. The Treasurer approached Anthony Royle of Royle Accounting and asked him to look over the charity accounts and carry out this review. He had a full view of the charity bank statements, cashbook, and invoices for the year.
Anthony was thanked for his review which he donated free of charge.
Board of Trustees as at June 2026
Chair - Laura Cloke Secretary - Cathy Booth Treasurer - Alexandra Meaders Member - Becky Clifford Member – Simon Fowler
Plus
Artistic advisor - James Meaders Development advisor - Laura Fowler
Report written by Laura Cloke 21[st] June 2026
Friends of the Vox
Summary of Income and Expenses from 1 September 2024
| Vox Populi | Income | Income | Expenses | Expenses | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vox Anima C FotV general |
Subs 2024 - 2025 General fundraising May 2025 concert hamber Choir Subs 2024 - 2025 Sponsorship General income Feb 2025 concert May 2025 Recording Session Income Come & Sing Nov 2024 Upper Voices Festival Nov 2024 Emerging composers 2024 Joint VP / VACC / HGS Dec 2024 concert Joint VACC / VP C&S Carols Dec 2025 Total Opening balance at 1 Sep 2024 Current account balance Uncleared Total Split of funds FoTV Vox Populi VACC Restricted funds FoTV Vox Populi VACC Available funds FoTV Vox Populi VACC |
£4,777.50 General expenses £0.00 Accompanist Rehearsal venue £954.32 May 2025 concert |
-£771.63 -£2,580.00 -£1,040.00 -£515.00 -£4,906.63 -£1,636.00 -£2,040.00 -£595.00 |
|||||
| amber Choir Subs 2024 - 2025 Sponsorship General income Feb 2025 concert May 2025 Recording Session Income Come & Sing Nov 2024 Upper Voices Festival Nov 2024 Emerging composers 2024 Joint VP / VACC / HGS Dec 2024 concert Joint VACC / VP C&S Carols Dec 2025 Total |
£5,731.82 £3,407.00 General expenses £3,450.00 Accompanist £0.00 £922.55 Feb 2025 concert |
-£4,906.63 -£1,636.00 -£2,040.00 -£595.00 |
||||||
| £3,059.74 May 2025 Recording Session £10,839.29 £2,665.33 Expenses £2,252.60 Come & Sing Nov 2024 £1,593.55 Upper Voices Festival Nov 2024 £0.00 Emerging composers 2024 £3,137.69) Joint VP / VACC / HGS Dec 2024 £750.00) Joint VACC / VP C&S Carols Dec £10,399.17 Monthly Payments to J Meaders |
-£3,825.00 | |||||||
| -£8,096.00 -£5,971.93 |
||||||||
| -£250.00 | ||||||||
| -£3,498.47 | ||||||||
| -£1,750.00 | ||||||||
| concert | -£5,851.29 | |||||||
| 2025 | £0.00 | |||||||
| £10,399.17 Monthly Payments to J Meaders |
-£17,321.69 -£4,200.00 |
|||||||
| Opening balance at 1 Sep 2024 | £9,948.29 FoTV money brought forward from 31/8/24 VP money brought forward from 31/8/24 VACC money brought forward from 31/8/24 |
£6,104.97 £753.33 £3,089.99 |
||||||
| £9,948.29 | ||||||||
| Current account balance Uncleared Total Split of funds FoTV Vox Populi VACC Restricted funds FoTV Vox Populi VACC Available funds FoTV Vox Populi VACC |
£2,394.25 Opening balance £9,948.29 £0.00 Monthly payments to Meaders -£4,200.00 FoTV I/E in year -£6,922.52 VP I/E in year £825.19 VACC I/E in year £2,743.29 £2,394.25 £2,394.25 -£817.55 -£521.48 £3,733.28 £3,450.00 is money from sponsors (unrestricted) £2,394.25 £2,906.95 £0.00 £0.00 -£3,724.50 -£521.48 £3,733.28 |
£9,948.29 -£4,200.00 -£6,922.52 £825.19 £2,743.29 |
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees Charity Name Friends of The VOX
On accounts for the year 31[st] August 2025 Charity no 1200317 ended (if any) Set out on pages Summary of Expenses and Income – 31/08/2025
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/08/2025 .
Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of 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 I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did not comply with the 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.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Date: 19/06/2026
Signed: Name: Royle Accounting Ltd Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any):
1
Oct 2018
IER
Address: Dutch House, New Romney, Kent TN28 8QZ
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
None
2
Oct 2018
IER