Registered charity number: 233688 ## _**ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2023–2024**_ **Patron President Vice-Presidents** **President of the Friends** The Rt. Hon. Lord Patten of Barnes CH Sir Roger Norrington CBE Libby Burgess (appointed 13.05.2024) Nicholas Cleobury Adrian Partington Christopher Robinson CBE CVO Professor Mark Wildman James Gilchrist Roderick Williams OBE Howard Goodall CBE Sir Jonathan Phillips KCB **Music Director Accompanists** Benjamin Nicholas Daniel Greenway, François Cloete ## **MEMBERS OF COUNCIL 2023–2024** ## **Officers and Trustees** Chair Andrew Frawley General Secretary Vanessa Moir Artistic Administrator Lucy Driver Membership Secretary Ruth Fitter Treasurer Tony Blakeborough Marketing Manager Ian Wylie Development Officer _vacant_ Assistant Artistic Administrator Hannah Rabey (resigned 25.09.2024) **Trustee** Chair of Council Isabel Fenton **Officers** Vice-Chair Liz Stock **Other Council Members** Friends' Secretary Stuart Packford Scores Librarian Richard Stone Scores Secretary Camilla Ip Voice Rep: Soprano Diana Reynolds Voice Rep: Alto Claire Jarvis Voice Rep: Tenor Mike Fooks Voice Rep: Bass Robert Aitken Student/U30s Representatives Caroline Harbison (resigned 31.03.2024) and Rebecca Faull Internet Secretary Isabel Fenton 1 Registered charity number: 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| ## **ANNUAL REPORT 2023-2024** ## **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 membership of the choir during the 2023-24 season fluctuated around 165, including 37 members recruited during the season. 138 members took part in the December concert, 72 in ‘Carols for All’, 141 in the March concert and 135 in the June concert. ## **Achievements and Performances** ## **Saturday 2 December 2023** Our 2023-2024 season began at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, on Saturday 2 December 2023. The programme was Leonard Bernstein’s _Chichester Psalms_ (performed with organ, harp and percussion) and Carl Orff’s _Carmina Burana_ (performed with two pianos and percussion). Bernstein made various arrangements of _Chichester Psalms_ including this one for organ, harp and percussion and, likewise, Carl Orff scored _Carmina Burana_ for two pianos and percussion. We were lucky to engage excellent soloists: Libby Burgess (piano), Robert Quinney (piano, organ), Catrin Meek (harp), plus a large number of percussionists who certainly worked extremely hard! We were very pleased to have an amazing line-up of soloists; Ailish Tynan (soprano), Simon Ponsford (countertenor), Jack Lee (bass) and we welcomed Didrik Tarras-Wahlberg, music scholar at Radley College, and Yoav Gal, chorister at New College, to sing the treble solos in _Chichester Psalms_ . For _Carmina Burana_ , we were also joined by students from Europa School and the Swan School. The concert was conducted by our Music Director, Benjamin Nicholas. We were extremely pleased to welcome back Libby Burgess. Libby is a former OBC accompanist and also directed the choir for a term in 2018. In addition, we were delighted to that she has become one of OBC’s Vice Presidents, together with recently appointed Vice President, Howard Goodall. ## **Saturday 16 December 2023** The annual Carols for All concert at the Sheldonian Theatre on Saturday 16 December 2023, 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 OBC choir sang a number of well-known and a few lesser-known carols. 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 for a number of the pieces. 2 Registered charity number: 233688 ## **Saturday 9 March 2024** The concert on 9 March 2024 was again at the Sheldonian Theatre, and consisted of one work; J S Bach’s _St John Passion_ . This performance marked the 300th anniversary of its first performance in Leipzig. This is the tenth time OBC has sung this work, and we were joined for this performance by the period ensemble, Instruments of Time and Truth, as well as by wonderful soloists; Zoë Brookshaw (soprano), Lucy Gibbs (alto), Edmund Saddington (baritone), Tom Herring (bass, Christus) and Ruairi Bowen (tenor, Evangelist); all under the baton of our music director, Benjamin Nicholas. ## **Saturday 11 May 2024** We were thrilled to host a singing day with Sir John Rutter, which took place in the wonderful, new Olivier Hall at St Edward’s School. Sir John is well known as a composer and as a leader of these singing days all over the world. It was attended by over 300 singers from around the UK and abroad, all of whom enjoyed the day enormously, singing through a number of Sir John’s works and enjoying a number of his anecdotes! OBC was praised for its organisation of the day, and Sir John offered to come back to lead another singing day, which we will organise in due course. Our excellent rehearsal accompanist, Daniel Greenway, accompanied the singing day and was praised by Sir John for his accompanying. ## **Saturday 15 June 2024** The final concert of the season once again took place in the Sheldonian Theatre on 15 June 2024, and, in performing Verdi’s _Messa da Requiem_ , we marked the 150th anniversary of its first performance. This popular work is most theatrical, which is not surprising since its composer was better known for writing operas. we were delighted to be joined by the City of London Sinfonia as well as four great soloists, Katherine Crompton (soprano), Jess Dandy (mezzo-soprano), Alexey Dolgov (tenor) and Thomas Humphreys (bass), again, all under the baton of our music director, Benjamin Nicholas. Once again we were very pleased to see that for this season, all our concerts were sold out! ## **Outreach** The Choir’s Outreach work has continued to go from strength to strength. In 2023-24, our Schools’ Choral Programme worked with four schools: Europa School, Gosford Hill School, The Swan School, Unicorn School. The work has involved three music professionals: Ben Nicholas, Music Director of Oxford Bach Choir, Rachel Bowen our Choral Animateur, and Francois Cloete who accompanied on the piano at the concert. - Unicorn School participated in the Christmas Term but was unable to continue its involvement in the Easter and Summer Terms as they struggled to involve sufficient students. The other three schools were involved throughout. - The work involved running two workshops for music teachers (September 23 and January 24) - Two choral workshops were held which involved all the school choirs rehearsing together (November 23 and March 24) - We held sessions with each school choir separately in the Christmas and Summer terms - 95 students conducted by Rachel sang in a special concert celebrating 100 years of OUP Music and the launch of Carols for Choirs 6 at Merton College in November 2023. They sang a piece by Bob Chilcott in the presence of the composer, as well as other notable figures in British choral music, including Sir John Rutter and David Hill - Musical Director, London Bach Choir. - The students sang with the Oxford Bach Choir at its performance of Carmina Burana in December 2023. It was great to have the students singing with us - A very successful end of season concert was held at the University Church, Oxford on 18 June 2024, in which the students sang to a packed audience of parents and carers. In all some 75 students were involved in the concert. 3 Registered charity number: 233688 We continue to fundraise to provide funds for this outreach work, and particular thanks goes to the choir members who ran the Town and Gown 10k in May and to all those who supported them, as well as the generous individuals and charitable trusts that have donated to the project. ## **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. ## **Andrew Frawley** Chair, on behalf of the Trustees of the Oxford Bach Choir – 28 October 2024 4 Registered Charity number.. 233688 Oxford Bach Choir AGM 2024 Financial Report for year 118123 to 3117124 The choir has had a very successful year. The choir put on a full programme of four concerts in the Sheldonian Theatre. All concerts sold out, which is not only a testament to the success of the publicity team but also provided a healthy income for the choir. Fundraising for our outreach work, The Joy of Singing, has been very successful and there has been substantial progress with the 125 Anniversary Outreach Appeal building an endowment fund to support some of the future costs of our outreach activity. The Appeal is doin8 well but still has some way to 80 to achieve the necessary target. The Pro8rammin8 Committee had proposed the choir perform El8arfs twined works, The Apostles and The Kingdom. In combination these works require signif icantly h i8her resources than are usually allocated to concerts, so it was agreed to initiate the Elgor Project to raise extra funds to perform these works. The fundraising has been extremely successf ul, and both works are in the programme - The Apostles in March 2025 and The Kingdom in 2026. At the beginning of the year, the choir was notified of a signif icant increase in cost of our main concert venue. This provided additional impetus to raise money. Proceeds of this effort have been placed in a newly created Concerts and Development Fund to defray the increased venue costs over the next few years and to support work to extend the choir's sources of income. The choir also held a Come and Sing day led by Sir John Rutter, whith raised just over £3,600 foi the choir. The choir received many donations over the year. The Trustees offer grateful thanks and appreciation to all those charities, organisations and individuals that contributed to the fundraising. We have had five major donations from charities and organisations, the Middleway Trust, the OBC Support Trust and the University of Oxford's Van Houten Fund. Two other major donors wish to remain anonymous. Signif icant funds were also raised by the sponsorship of OBC members running in the Oxford Iok. We are grateful for the efforts of the runners and their sponsors. Detailed income and expenditure report The attached accounts for the year show that the choir's overall income rose to £168,328 from £129,640 the previous year_ Overall expenditure fell to £89,808 from £132,686, which resulted in a net income of £78,520 compared to last yearfs loss of £3,046. The significant proportion of the income, however, has gone into restricted and designated funds. Choir income Following a period of rapid inflation of costs, membership subscription rates were increased by 5Yo last year. The income from members and Frier)ds (including Gift Aid) has accordinglv risen to £50,518 from £45,901 in the previous year. The choir received several large donations from charitable and commercial organ isations. Donations from the Oxford University Van Houten Fund and the Oxford Bach Choir Support Trust totalling £5,473 were made to fund the Joy of Singing outreach activity alon8 Wlth a Registered Charity number.. 233688 further £8,000 from a charity which wishes to remain anoriymous. There was another charitable transfer lagain with a request of anonymity) of £10,000 which joins the £4,200 raised by the Iok and other events to boost the 125 Outreach Fund si8nificantlv. As a result of excellent publicity and the efforts of members. all concerts sold out. Ticket sales increased to £41,883 f rom £35,644 last year, but all this year's concerts were in the Sheldonian Theatre with its lar8er capacity and ticket income. Fundraisin8 activities were boosted this year by the Come and Sing day making up for a fall in other fundraising areas. Programme sales remained roughly constant, but the advertising income fell. Production costs were reduced. nevertheless the surplus fell to £1,027 from £1,596 the previous year. Choir ExpendAture The concert expenditure over the season of £75,573 was signif icantly higher than last year's £66,282. This was partly due to inflation but also all concerts were at the Sheldonian, which is a more expensive venue than St John the Evangelist's where we held one concert last year. Publicity has been more targeted this year which has reduced costs to £2,082 from £2,820 the previous year. The general running costs of the choir have remained constant, and the cost of the outreach programme slightly reduced as we had to pay lower travel expenses last year. Overall expenditure is much lower at £89,808 compared with £132,686 last year. However, last yearfs figure was 8reatly increased by the transfer of the Martin Peters f und1£50,0001 to the OBC Support Trust. Risks This year we have sold out all our concerts, but this has not always been the case. The Outreach activities have increased the expenditure of the choir in turn increasing the demands on fundraisin8 activity. The choir is aware there will be increased venue costs over the next few years. The Trustees have considered the future f unding of the Joy of Singing activity and have updated the fund target. Through its fundraising efforts this year, the choir has reserves to run the Joy of Singing activity and cover, through the Costs and Development Fund, the effect of concert cost increases for the next three years or so. With this cover in place the choir can now put all its fundraising activities into increasing the 125 Outreach Appeal to the updated level, which it is estimated will take about 3 to 4 years. At the same time the sources of income must be increased so that the concert cost increases can be covered by fundraising when the 125 Appeal Fund has reached the necessary value. Reserve policy The Charity Commission expects trustees to publish their reserve policy to comply with le8islation. This includes stating the level of reserves held and why they are held. Reserves are required to cover the Choir's liabilities if income is insufficient to cover overall costs and to enable the Choii to plan its f uture activities, normally up to two years ahead. However, the fundraising effort needed to build the 125 Appeal fund to the required level means we must look fonvard three to four years. Reserves are also required by way of contin8ency to cover the financial impact of unexpected uninsurable events outside the Choirfs control which might seriously impact on the Choir's revenues. Registered Charity number.. 233688 It is the policy of the Choir to hold general funds, the f ree reserves of the choir. The General Fund on 31 July 2024 stands at £95,699, increased from £79,394 in 2023. A general rule is that these must be maintained at a level which equates to no less than six months expenditure, but the choir has at times in the past taken the view it should be 12 months. Following the recent period of high inflation, it would be wise to be cautious and err towards the higher figure. The budgeted expenditure for the current year is £87k. The choir holds considerable amounts in its designated funds. To preserve their valLJe these have been held in high interest accounts and the interest added to the f unds. In the longer term the Trustees will continue to maintain the va lue of its reserves through prudent f inancial management. It is currently considering the options on how and where to set up the endowment for the 125 Outreach Appeal fund. Risk monagement The reserves in the General Fund exceed the planned expenditure in the 2024-25 season and so meet the Charity Commission recommendation. The Trustees continue to monitor the adequacy of the reserves. The Trustees insure against most unexpected events that could result in concert cancellations. The Trustees will continue to ensure that any contracts for f uture 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 24 April 2025 Registered charity number: 233688 ## **Financial Statements** **Oxford Bach Choir Charity number: 0233688 For the Year Ended 31 July 2024** 8 Registered charity number: 233688 ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF OXFORD BACH CHOIR** I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 July 2024 which are set out on pages 10 to 12. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. ## **Independent examiner's statement** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or 3. the accounts do 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 to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Caroline Webster FCA UHY Ross Brooke Suite I Windrush Court Abingdon Business Park Abingdon OX14 1SY Date…………… 02/05/2025 9 Registered charity number.. 233688 OXFORD BACH CHOIR Charity number 0233688 ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 JULY 2024 2023 OM SUBSCRIPTIONS 39,4Q. 3,1440D 7.91117 35.9￿. 2 S￿.[￿) 74SB. DONATIONS a GRANTS 413.5D 24.W 12,193 40 Ehjarwqect (Wegrh 125 lo,(￿ 00 5,340.44 8,311.44 t4.tm.00 2 473.10 69 284.39 10.478. COTrKERTS 11.034. 8.483. 11.148.t¥J 11218.9) 10 549 63 815221 5 889.95 ,644. 41.&%3. 11.403.111 li.D42.￿l 11.404.841 11.362 741 11.046 841 11.419 6D 15,246.141 14.525 591 4%.24 T23.70 1￿.(1) 1 1*.24 2.01&70 7.00 39 510.06 1484. 33 601.67 Toral. coMÉrtg OTHER IIK(AIE icEalEsw* 2.￿755 2.934 L¥J 1.340.83 415.55 1.145.44 1Q04.r 449.rii 875. Come & S¥y{r 3.L)9.37 39 9,01558 1￿.[0 5.719 Tow. otlJgTimJmg TQTAL IFKQME io Registered charity number.. 233688 OXFORD BACH CHOIR Charity number 0233688 ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 JULY 2024 EXPENDITURE X12) CONCERTS & RE1￿1$*L9 53,222 $1 21,712.36 I9.7￿.7￿ 15.185.43 VOr￿￿d In*mThnth Ctht of Pmgfdmm•è PLOI1c4y&￿ c￿1 Ctht of nvAIc ).91 3,856 10 2,LW13 82 Sl8.24 1.087.28 4.783.18 2.820.47 7S 3S6.22 L%TrAnoN AND OUTREACM Athnin15traTIOTr IT3inifig I￿luding A*fr MÈkiw mu&K. ￿kUr￿lt• •.S83.U 1.011.33 2.216.91 3L1Q 70.OQ 3.891.87 s).oth).00 57 329 52 JI0.20 3,916.7a C*AtrèaCh TIBnsfoT of PBt¥l WL*èI tc+0￿ 7,289 98 TOTAL EXPENofTURE 132 61&74 MET ￿0*￿£ FOR ThEYE4R IJ.04S.•D CASH. BANK BALAMCES AIID OTHÈAMET ￿$£13 OROUaHT FOWIIAAD 11B.6&5 26 CASH. BAI4( BALAIICES AIID OTHER MET ASSETS C*X4YQEDFOAWNSID 1•7.2tsS.24 li Registered charity number.. 233688 OXFORD BACH CHOIR Charity number 0233688 ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31 JULY 2024 20t4 CASH AT LINK.. ¢AFC49 CAJ•I IT SOCIEn. SNJPTOII CASHAT 8•RCiAYS IJ 24.Yl465 ¥J YS>Z> ASSETS .&ra 1.411 Ja 2,414 IW 4.¥4J J3 1i62.CQl I61&￿> (¢MIi 15¢¢1H ". thant*) ICwré*w S*)91 & MV￿￿¢ 1••11 tsJ•i 1535 Ibl485:. .'4S0,CQi 169.JB 145JCQ> 42.Zl4 XJ 4lb4D.O>r 11168S. 1•24 X2J NO lknesmec Fyr¥J 19.JW I 1r.'.62.i 25.221, Y,1S'..42 1•7.205.21 PUKJ (Él •41•rt• tytffllffj '.1.162 r*InC￿ F.Y. E¥ai ￿.*Cl 12 I¥J4D J4 11•.56S.16 40•21 b¢ AfyJyJLCL) I. 12