ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2022–2023
Patron President Vice-Presidents
President of the Friends
The Rt. Hon. Lord Patten of Barnes CH
Sir Roger Norrington CBE Nicholas Cleobury Adrian Partington Christopher Robinson CBE, CVO Professor Mark Wildman James Gilchrist Roderick Williams OBE Sir Jonathan Phillips KCB
Music Director Vocal Coach Accompanists
Benjamin Nicholas Carys Lane Daniel Greenway, François Cloete
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL 2022–2023
Officers and Trustees
Chair Andrew Frawley Vice-Chair Liz Stock General Secretary Christine Cunningham (resigned 26.06.2023) Artistic Administrator Jennifer Thompson Membership Secretary Pia Key Treasurer Tony Blakeborough Marketing Manager Ian Wylie Development Officer vacant Assistant Artistic Administrator Hannah Rabey
Trustee
Chair of Council
Isabel Fenton
Other Council Members
Friends' Secretary Stuart Packford Scores Librarian Richard Stone Scores Secretary Vanessa Moir Voice Rep: Soprano Diana Reynolds Voice Rep: Alto Alison Langton (died 22.03.2023) Voice Rep: Tenor Mike Fooks Voice Rep: Bass Robert Aitken Student/U30s Representatives Caroline Harbison and Rebecca Faull Internet Secretary Isabel Fenton
Charity No: 233688
| Rehearsal Administrator | Alan Marsh |
|---|---|
| Bulletin Secretary | Marco Mazzorana |
| Programme Secretary | Philippa Logan |
| Chair of Programming Committee | Peter Gilliver |
| Concert Manager | Elizabeth Kyberd |
| Assistant Treasurer | Alan Lane |
| Box Office Administrator | Gillian Beattie |
| Outreach Coordinator | Roger Parry (co-opted 15.11.2022) |
ANNUAL REPORT 2022-2023
Objectives and activities
The Oxford Bach Choir provides music of excellence of all times, with special regard to the works of J S Bach, in order to foster public knowledge and appreciation of such music by public performances, thus providing public benefit to a wide range of people in Oxford and surrounding areas. The Choir offers public access to a high standard of musical performance.
Membership
The total membership of the choir during the 2022-23 season was 172, including those with part-year membership or on 'sabbatical'. There were 22 in the under 30s membership category and a further 25 were full-time students. We had 42 new members (from 59 auditions) joining during the course of the year.
125 members took part in the December concert, 54 in ‘Carols for All’, 122 in the March concert and 103 in the June concert. 2 visiting tenors from Zagreb joined us for Missa Solemnis in March.
Achievements and Performances
Concert Season
The year 2022 saw the 150[th] anniversary of the birth of Ralph Vaughan Williams (RVW) – one of England’s most celebrated composers who had a close association with the Oxford Bach Choir in the past.
Our 2022-2023 concert season started at the Sheldonian Theatre on Saturday 3 December 2022, as we marked this 150[th] anniversary with an all-RVW concert, which was conducted by our music director, Benjamin Nicholas. The choir sang RVW’s Dona Nobis Pacem, and Sancta Civitas (which was reported to be the favourite of RVW’s major choral works and for which the Choir gave the first performance in 1926 in the presence of RVW himself.). We were lucky to engage the outstanding Philharmonia Orchestra who also treated us to the beautiful Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis . Our soloists were Katherine Crompton (s), Ruairi Bowen (t) and Gareth Brynmor John (b). For our performance of Sancta Civitas , we were also joined by the excellent Merton College Girl Choristers. Professor Daniel Grimley, Professor of Music and Head of Humanities, University of Oxford, gave a short, most interesting introduction to Vaughan Williams, in particular to Sancta Civitas .
Our Carols for All concert at the Sheldonian Theatre on Saturday 17 December 2022, was ably conducted and controlled by our Music Director, Benjamin Nicholas. We were once again delighted to be joined by the singers and instrumentalists of the Oxfordshire County Music Service, whose performances were most professional, and delighted the audience. The choir sang a number of well-known and a few lesser-known carols, as well as some items from Messiah . The audience was able to join in with a good number of carols, including our now “traditional” version of The Twelve Days of Christmas , which most definitely requires audience participation! We were also delighted that Benjamin Sheen (Sub Organist at Christ Church Cathedral, and former Oxford Bach Choir accompanist) accompanied the Choir on the organ and piano for a number of the pieces.
Charity No: 233688
Our concert on 12 March 2023 was again at the Sheldonian Theatre and consisted of only one work - Beethoven’s mighty Missa Solemnis . This concert was conducted by our music director Benjamin Nicholas and enabled us to work with the London Mozart Players, a splendid orchestra with whom we have worked many times before. We had originally programmed Missa Solemnis for performance in March 2020, but we had to cancel it on the day of the concert due to Covid, so we were all very pleased to have been able to perform it this year, and with almost the same band of musicians who would have performed in 2020. Our soloists were Claire Rutter (s), Susanna Spicer (a), Justin Lavender (t) and Mark Stone (b).
The last concert of the season was held on Saturday 17 June 2023 at St John the Evangelist Church, Iffley Road and again was conducted by our music director, Benjamin Nicholas. This was mainly an unaccompanied programme but some accompaniment was given on the chamber organ played by Francois Cloete, one of our first class choir accompanists. The challenging programme consisted of Vaughan Williams: Mass in G Minor ; Domenico Scarlatti: Stabat Mater and J S Bach: Komm, Jesu Komm . Our soloists were Aine Smith (s), Lucy Gibbs (a), Sebastian Hill (t) and Thomas Herring (b).
We were very pleased to see that all our concerts in the season were sold out!
In addition to our main concerts, the Choir was honoured to be invited to sing at a memorial service for Priscilla Tolkien, long-time Vice President of the Oxford Bach Choir. A choir of approximately 30 members sang four pieces, including Mozart’s Laudate Dominum accompanied by a string quartet and joined by a professional soprano. In addition to OBC’s contribution, there were readings and musical performances by other organisations Priscilla had been involved with.
Outreach activities
In 2022-23 we continued our outreach work with the launch of the Oxford Bach Choir Schools’ Choral Programme to bring the Joy of Singing to secondary school students in Oxfordshire. It involved working with 100 students in 4 secondary schools: Cheney School, Europa School UK, Matthew Arnold School and The Swan School.
The first event was a workshop for the school choir leaders. This was led by Benjamin Nicholas, Oxford Bach Choir’s Music Director, and Rachel Bowen, our Choral Animateur. Part of the time was spent observing a rehearsal of the Merton Girl Choristers so that the school choir leaders could see good practice and pick up some new ideas and repertoire for ‘warm ups’ for singing sessions in their schools. This was followed by Rachel sharing some new repertoire that the teachers could try out.
Two choral workshops, led by our Choral Animateur, were held in November 2022 and March 2023 at the Centre for Music (Oxfordshire County Music Service), with students from all 4 schools participating. Some members of OBC attended to support these workshops.
In the summer term 2023, our Music Director and Choral Animateur visited schools individually to prepare the students for the end of year concert, which was held in June 2023 at SJE Arts, Oxford. The concert involved the students singing four pieces, a small OBC choir singing some pieces, and the students and OBC joining forces to sing movements from Vivaldi’s Gloria . The concert was performed to a full house, comprising parents/grandparents and carers, school staff as well as OBC members and Friends, and was very well received.
2022-23 also saw our fundraising activities swing into action. Funds were raised from OBC members running the Oxford Town and Gown run, a clarinet recital given by an OBC member, individual donations and support from charitable trusts and Oxford colleges. We are very grateful to all those who supported our outreach work this year.
Charity No: 233688
Thanks
The Trustees and Council of the Choir would like to express their thanks to the choir’s professional team for their work this season: Music Director Benjamin Nicholas; accompanists Daniel Greenway and François Cloete; choral animateur Rachel Bowen for her work on our Schools’ Choral Programme. We also thank all our members who give so freely of their time to rehearse, perform and help the Choir in many other ways. Additionally, we thank Terry Stock for coordinating concert stewards and for organising refreshments at Saturday rehearsals and on concert days.
We are grateful to our Friends, supporters and funders, and in particular to the Oxford Bach Choir Support Trust . We thank the staff of the Sheldonian Theatre and The Oxford University Catholic Chaplaincy for their help over the past year with concert and rehearsal venues. We also thank George Sawer at the Oxford Playhouse/Tickets Oxford, for working with us to promote our concerts and sell tickets.
Finally, the Choir was shocked and saddened to learn of the death of choir member Alison Langton in March 2023. As well as singing in the choir for a number of years, Alison had served on the Choir’s Council as the Rehearsal Administrator and Alto Voice Rep. Members remember Alison as wonderfully kind and generous person with so much time for everyone.
Andrew Frawley
Chair, on behalf of the Trustees of the Oxford Bach Choir – 23 October 2023
Charity No: 233688
Financial Report for year 1/8/22 to 31/7/23
This year, the first full year after Covid restrictions had been lifted, the choir put on a full concert programme of a large concert requiring a full orchestra, the usual Carols for All Concert , a concert with a smaller orchestra (all these held in the Sheldonian Theatre), and a summer concert held at St John The Evangelist’s Church, which was without orchestra.
This year also marked the first full year of fundraising for our 125[th] Anniversary Outreach Appeal to provide an endowment fund to support the choir’s outreach activity, The Joy of Singing , which promotes choral singing in local schools.
1. Choir income & expenditure
The choir’s overall income rose to £129,640 from the previous year’s figure of £91,927. Overall expenditure also rose to £132,686 from £116,658, which resulted in a net expenditure (i.e. a loss) of £3,046 - much smaller than that in the previous year, which was £24,731. These figures are, however, significantly affected by large movements of cash into and out of choir funds.
Choir income
Subscription income from members and Friends (including Gift Aid) fell slightly to £45,901 from £46,353 in the previous year. Most of this reduction was in the Gift Aid figure, as in the previous year the choir had reclaimed a backlog of Gift Aid.
The choir received one large donation from a charity, which when combined with smaller donations from local charities and members raised £33,148 for the Outreach Appeal. There was one unrestricted bequest of £5,000. Donations from the Oxford University Van Houten Fund and the Oxford Bach Choir Support Trust totalling £5,478 were given to fund the Joy of Singing outreach activity. We are extremely grateful for all these donations given to support the choir and its outreach activities.
As a result of excellent publicity and the efforts of choir members, all our concerts sold out. Ticket sales total was slightly lower at £35,644 from £37,946, but the all the previous year’s concerts were in the Sheldonian Theatre, which has a larger capacity. Fund raising activities were curtailed this year by the desire to put most of our fundraising efforts into the Outreach Appeal. Nevertheless, choir members raised almost as much as the previous year, but that had been reduced because of lingering Covid restrictions. The choir would normally hope to raise a larger sum to reduce membership subscriptions.
Programmes sales were down this year, but the increased advertising income and reduced productions costs increased the surplus to £1,596, compared to £1,463 the previous year.
Choir Expenditure
The expenditure over the season was significantly higher than it would normally be, but this is almost all due to the transfer of a large bequest to the Oxford Bach Choir Support Trust. The bequest, made some years ago, was made up to the original sum of £50,000 and transferred to the Trust. The aim is that the funds be invested, and a proportion of the income returned to support the choir’s outreach activities.
The costs of the concerts and rehearsals dropped to £75,356 this year from the very large costs incurred in the previous, 125[th] Anniversary year when they were £111,137. The costs of the Missa Solemnis concert were defrayed by an earlier generous anonymous donation of £5,000. After the concert income is taken off the net cost of the concerts and rehearsals in this year was £41,555,
Charity No: 233688
much smaller than the previous year’s £64,696. The net cost this year is equivalent to the subscription income.
The general running costs of the choir have been kept constant, and the cost of the outreach programme increased in line with the increased activity.
2. Reserves Policy and risk management
The Charity Commission expects trustees to publish their reserve policy to comply with legislation. This includes stating the level of reserves held and why they are held. The Choir’s budgeted costs are expected to exceed anticipated subscription and concert revenues. The Choir therefore relies on donations and fundraising activities to fill the gap. The Outreach activities have increased the expenditure of the choir in turn increasing the demands on fundraising activity, especially whilst the choir raises money for the Outreach Appeal. Recently, the choir has become aware of a significant increase in the cost venue hire. In the coming year the effect is reasonably small, but it is likely to be much more significant in later years.
Reserve policy
Reserves are required to cover the Choir’s liabilities if donations and sponsorship are insufficient to cover overall costs, and to enable the Choir to plan its future activities, normally up to two years ahead. Reserves are also required by way of contingency to cover the financial impact of unexpected events outside the Choir’s control which might seriously impact on the Choir’s revenues. For example, the short notice cancellation of a concert or the more extended cessation of the choir due to significant unexpected events such as occurred due to Covid restrictions. In future any uncertainties in both membership subscription income and box office revenue should not cause significant cashflow difficulties. It is the policy of the Choir to hold unrestricted funds, which are the free reserves of the choir. These must be maintained at a level which equates to no less than six months expenditure. In the current climate of high inflation, the Trustees are expecting significant increases in costs. It is likely that we will have to draw on our reserves in the 2023-24 season, so a larger figure is appropriate this year. Holding sufficient funds will cover the expected short-term increases in the running costs of the Choir, whilst in the longer term the Trustees are seeking to maintain, and if possible build on, the value of its reserves through prudent financial management. It is considered that the minimum level of reserves for this purpose is £53,000.
Risk management
As a result of transferring the bequest to the Oxford Bach Choir Support Trust, the level of unrestricted reserves on 31 July 2023 was much lower than the previous year standing at £84,000 (2022: £120,359), of which £4,606 was designated. This is considered to be adequate. The Trustees continue to monitor the adequacy of the reserves. The Trustees insure against most unexpected events that could result in concert cancellations. However, the insurance policy did not cover all costs incurred due to the Covid pandemic, which was considered to be a force majeure event. The Trustees will continue to ensure that any contracts for future choir activities minimise any risk to the choir, whilst ensuring its support to the musical landscape and its musicians.
A Blakeborough
Treasurer, Oxford Bach Choir – 25 October 2023
Charity No: 233688
Financial Statements Oxford Bach Choir Charity number: 0233688 For the Year Ended 31 July 2023 Charity No: 233688
INDEPENDENT EXJMNER'S REPOFIT TO THE TRUSTEES ON THE ACCOUNTS OF OXFORD BACH CHOR Chvlty rn): (r233688 I rew110 the charity trustees on my examili)n the xcounls ol the chJity the yew 31 July 2023. RESPIJNSIBILITIES AND BASIS OF REPORT As the ITuSts. you are resP(s1b1e lor the Praration of C0rtS n a(xordance with the r4UIrents of Chwilps Act 2011 {'Ihe Acf). I report in resp1 of my examwialion ol the chwitys COUnts cJrd out under seCtn 145 of Ihe and in carrying out my examination I have followed the applicable directions given by the Charity CMS1 under sIK)n 14951{bl of the kt INDEPEND&4T EXAMINER'S ST ATEM84T I have cometed my examination. I cortirm that rl) material maltws have come lo my altenlion in connff lion wilh the trAaninatson gr¥ing me cause to believe that in any matwial resp1.. 1. aCc(ntIng r&(Yds wer& kt in reSt ol thech¥ity & rw4uired by section 130 01 the Act; c 2 the accounts do not acccfd with thos8 IordS. c 3. the accounts do not compty wrth the ¥Jplicable ruIrementS CnIng the form and cont1 ol accounts set out in the Charits IAccounts and ReFX)rts) Regulations 2008 her than any requyeMIl that aCCnIS gNe a'lrue and fair vith•l which is not a mattw consNlu&J as part of an indwndenl examina10. I have no colenS and have corn8 acT[S no other mattws wi cOnnOn with the eXinatiOn lo whh attention shoukl b8 drawn in Ihis report in order to abkn a wopw understanding Lrf the a(OUnts lo re&hed. Corg8 sly ACA Cooper Parry Advisory Limited 3 Danetxook Court Langford Lane KJlinglc Oxlord OX51LQ Charity No: 233688
OXFORD BACH CHOIR Charlty rwmber 0233688 Accoupifs FOR THE YEAR TO 31 JULY 2023 INCOME ANO EXPENDITURE ACCCXThll ACCUMLLATED FiN4D ITrKOMe SUBSCAIPTIONS 35,923.00 2.520.00 7.458 s.goi. 35.664.00 2,M.C¥) 7,998.58 46,35 FrndS A8lund d lax on s11?08 DOPIATIOMS & GIIAIITS mb9r8. Irlgrnls and oth 125 ce4¢h ap 368.00 25.0(X).00 6.311.44 5.0th).00 2.478.00 ma)r domrs Fun(tra'wry Inaii 1.3rJ.34 8equests QAlwd UnNeriiiy Van I.. Ouirna¢h >Ald W Chc4r &JFVt Tluii: Ouirnach 2 378.00 3 951.34 Tothl. +svn•lI a 9r•nt• 44.157.44 D&cÉmb8f Crt Cwol eoncwt ¢ClC•rt c(¥Thrt 10,549.63 8,152.21 11,052.23 10,498.00 7,839.00 9.580.30 10 228.51 37,945.81 35,644.02 December CCert Caml wncert March ccrtwi 11.362.741 11.046.841 11.419.671 696al 11,361.121 19rJ.631 1,211.75 14,665.221 14.52&591 Saljs.. Dttember concert Carol concort 498.24 0.00 508.00 195.00 537.00 0.00 472.10 1.199.24 2,1162.10 Prtswwnme AthtÈrlk%em¢nts 1484.00 &9 801.67 OTHER IKOME 2.834.00 2.685.25 IAt•rest 415.55 ator5ry Indi 100 Cb lrntl Evwrt Wlig Ta$n9 1.204.05 449.00 875.00 7K13 7ee.crfj In2.06 0.00 21.43 560.00 8oatkast TOTAL WCOIIE 120..77 Charity No: 233688
OXFORD BACH CHOIR Charlty number 0223688 ACCOUNTS FOA THE YEAR TO 31 JULY MEANDE PE EXPENDITURE COIKERT8 & AEHEARSAL8 feB5ional expe8¥ VerJe and stkuirnJ ¢vJti Ilu[l IM0n1 hlrn PRS payThrfrts C1 of slr•amkng ¢mri Cost of pwamrnes ¥•13, recfuknignt a FAdtty Cost of muy 125 coMnwQO 49,709.74 15.485.43 1.470.14 76,319.45 10,722.27 .492.18 1.087.28 4,783.16 2.820.47 I.6.94 5.789.42 2.670.98 e.050.Tr) 111.137.24 AWMSTFIATION AND OUTREACH mlntsirAlknn trÈknlnO. Indu(Ing s• Maklw 1c. including inswanc• After pgrfy. Frv4nd$ rgc•pllw & 8•8xm w•vIJw ML%celLqneow, InLfjTrJ Zoom trh TrnfY6f•r of ltsrtln P•isrs bgqug8110 08C SuFPOrt Tt 2,216.91 825.64 322.10 70.1 3,894.87 2.166.54 914.70 78.52 264.29 2.C96.60 57.329.52 TOTAL EXPfNDITVRE 13 6.74 116.667.89 NET INCOME FOR THE YeAR 13045.97> P4.n1.10) CA91, BAtr BALANCE5 OTHER AsseTS 8ROUGHfFORWAAO 121.731,22 146 462.32 CAL BANK BALANCES APLI OTHEA IIET AggET8 CAAAIED FORWAIIO 118 105.21 121 n122 Charity No: 233688
OXFORD BACH CHOIR Ch•rity numb•r 0233688 ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 JULY 2023 TATEMENT AND AT 20rJ BAIX ANO CASH BALANCES INVESTMENT.. CAFCASN CASH AT BANK: BAR¢LAVS 92.426.70 101.150.06 Currènt attou Bu¥irbe88 Pr¢miurn 18,282.33 5 67192 18,282.33 .955.25 23,361 8 OTHEII A88ET8 AND UA81UT8 A•1$.. Prepahj 04)ge% Easy recei¥at4è 2,411.3a 9,422.26 21.43 247.fy) Van Houten grani 2.478.) 560.00 1C¥).00 250.00 4.600.69 Gill aKI r1Ved aft•v y•ar ornl 4.W3.33 Litibl[t.' (Dmbon rne•wid li ISut4cnptlon r•e•p4•J in atharK•i [Pu1Thty and prcwaTrme cc1 lE8b"med PRS duo) IScor91 rwiwo¢J In thancgl (Cornm1•sn & muxfi£in Iwsl (Olhw oynthlW• 15.000.001 (362.iTrJl 0.00 1500.001 11.102.001 poo.001 117.33 17,381,331 1616.(Lll IS35.201 1960.501 I450.1) 12,640.031 121 n1.22 Areiu1$I FuThJ- Ggwral Fur D•syroled FurKI- Martin Polers. Be¢we•t D•sKJrwi•d FurY- C•Jlreach Fund DeswJr*ied fund- Vlssa Sc4emM Coert H•8trfd•d Fu. 125 79.394.45 0.00 4,NJ6.03 0.00 3I.684.78 11Q.685.26 85,632.49 46.702.49 3,022.90 5.oao.00 1.373.3d 121.731.r2 Tr•Mhrn 8ol•nc• crtwd Urne$1rL FuThJ. Fund Oe¥ional&J FuTrJ- Martln Peteis. FLmd Do$1ala FuThJ- Ouire&n Fund Destell lthJ- Ml%8a Sobmrms corK R¢$lii¢lwJ Fund- 125 ¢)Jtreach 6S.&32.49 46.702.49 3.022. s.cth). 1.3n.34 121.731.22 9).89).33 178.79J.871 1,702.49 3297.51 79.394.45 0.00 4.606.03 0.00 ts4.4.78 118.685.25 5.478. 13.894.871 15.0th).001 1.311.44 129,639.77 132.fj85.74 Approved ffi hh•ll ol Tnmth |AThdr•w Frawl¥v chrMan Charity No: 233688