## _**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 exami￿li)n ￿ the xcounls ol the chJity the yew 31 July 2023. RESPIJNSIBILITIES AND BASIS OF REPORT As the ITuSt￿s. you are resP(￿s1b1e lor the Pr￿aration of ￿C0￿rtS n a(xordance with the r4UIr￿ents of Chwilps Act 2011 {'Ihe Acf). I report in resp￿1 of my examwialion ol the chwitys ￿COUnts cJr*d out under seCt￿n 145 of Ihe and in carrying out my examination I have followed the applicable directions given by the Charity C￿M￿S1 under s￿IK)n 14951{bl of the kt INDEPEND&4T EXAMINER'S ST ATEM84T I have com￿eted 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 resp￿1.. 1. aCc(￿ntIng r&(Yds wer& k￿t in reS￿t ol thech¥ity & rw4uired by section 130 01 the Act; c 2 the accounts do not acccfd with thos8 I￿ordS. c 3. the accounts do not compty wrth the ¥Jplicable r￿uIrementS C￿￿nIng the form and cont￿1 ol accounts set out in the Charit*s IAccounts and ReFX)rts) Regulations 2008 ￿her than any requyeM￿Il that aCC￿nIS gNe a'lrue and fair vith•l which is not a mattw consNlu&J as part of an indwndenl examina10￿. I have no col￿e￿nS and have corn8 acT[￿S no other mattws wi cOnn￿￿On with the eX￿inatiOn lo wh￿h attention shoukl b8 drawn in Ihis report in order to ￿abkn a wopw understanding Lrf the a(￿OUnts lo re&hed. C*org8 sly￿ ACA Cooper Parry Advisory Limited 3 Danetxook Court Langford Lane K*Jlinglc 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 Fr￿ndS A8lund d lax on s￿1*1￿?08 DOPIATIOMS & GIIAIITS mb9r8. Irlgrnls and oth 125 c￿￿e4¢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 *>Al￿d W Chc4r &JFV*t Tluii: Ouirnach 2 378.00 3 951.34 Tothl. +svn•lI￿ a 9r•nt• 44.157.44 D&cÉmb8f C￿￿rt Cwol eoncwt ¢C*lC•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 C￿Cert 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 C￿b lrntl Evwrt Wlig Ta$￿n9 1.204.05 449.00 875.00 7K13 7ee.crfj In2.06 0.00 21.43 560.00 8oatkast TOTAL WCOIIE 120.￿.77 Charity No: 233688 OXFORD BACH CHOIR Charlty number 0223688 ACCOUNTS FOA THE YEAR TO 31 JULY MEANDE PE EXPENDITURE COIKERT8 & AEHEARSAL8 feB5ional expe￿8¥ Ver*Je and stkuirnJ ¢vJti I￿lu[l￿ I￿￿M0n1 hlrn PRS payThrfrts C￿1 of slr•amkng ¢mri Cost of pwamrnes ￿¥•￿￿1￿3, recfuknignt a￿* FAdtty Cost of muy 125 coMnw￿QO 49,709.74 15.485.43 1.470.14 76,319.45 10,722.27 .492.18 1.087.28 4,783.16 2.820.47 I.￿6.94 5.789.42 2.670.98 e.050.Tr) 111.137.24 AWMSTFIATION AND OUTREACH mlntsirAlknn trÈknlnO. Indu(Ing s*• Maklw ￿1c. including inswanc• After pgrfy. Frv4nd$ rgc•pllw & 8•8xm w•vIJw ML%celLqneow, In￿LfjTrJ Zoom tr￿h TrnfY6f•r of ltsrtln P•isrs bgqug8110 08C SuFPOrt T￿t 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 CA*L 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 UA81UT*8 A￿•1$.. Prepahj 04)g￿e% Easy recei¥at4è 2,411.3a 9,422.26 21.43 247.fy) Van Houten grani 2.478.￿) 560.00 1C¥).00 250.00 4.600.69 Gill aKI r￿1Ved aft•v y•ar ornl 4.W3.33 Litibl[t￿.' (Dmbon rne•wid li ISut4cnptlon r•e•p4•J in atharK•i [Pu￿1Thty and prcwaTrme cc*￿1 lE8b"m￿ed PRS duo) IScor91 rwiwo¢J In thancgl (Cornm1•s￿n & muxfi£i*n* Iwsl (Olhw oynthlW• 15.000.001 (362.iTrJl 0.00 1500.001 11.102.001 poo.001 117.33 17,381,331 1616.(Lll IS35.201 1960.501 I450.1￿) 12,640.031 121 n1.22 Are￿iu1*$I FuThJ- Ggwral Fur D•syroled FurKI- Martin Polers. Be¢we•t D•sKJrwi•d Fur*Y- C•Jlreach Fund DeswJr*ied fund- Vlssa Sc4emM Co￿ert 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$1￿al￿a FuThJ- Ouire&n Fund Des￿￿tell lthJ- Ml%8a Sobmrms corK R¢$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 ch￿rMan Charity No: 233688