Coventry Cathedral CHORUS ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMirrEE YEAR ENDING 31 JULY 2024 THE SOCIETY Coventry Cathedral Chonjs (fomerly Saint Michael's Singers) was established in 1963 soon after the consecration of the new Cathedral Church of Saint Michael at Coventry. The society retains a dose association with the Cathedral, which provides a base for rehearsals and a venue for some ConrtS. The choir also regulady takes part in conrtS in Cirencester. in association with Orchestra Pro Anima. and has occasional opportunities to join with other choirs and orchestras to perfonn at venues further afield around the country. The choiffs current membership of about 65 mixed voices is drawn from a wide region centred on Coventry. Entrance to and continued membership of the choir is subject to regular audition. From January 2022. Rachel Mahon has been the Chorus, Director of Music. following on from Paul Leddington-wright's long tenure. Rachel is also the Director of Music at Coventry Cathedral. The Chorus is run by a voluntary Committee elected at the Annual General Meeting and has no paid offIrS. Although of amateur status, Coventry Cathedral Chorus strives to achieve the highest possible artistic standards, as dedared in its constitution.. The aims and objectives of the choir shall be the study and practice of choral music in order to fosterpublic knoedge and appreciation of such music. both known and newly composed. by means of public perfonnance of the highest possible standard Over the years the Chorus has come to be recognised as among the region's leading choral societies, both in temis of its diversity of music and in the quality of performance.
OFFICERS The OffirS of the society for the season 202312024 were as follows: Chair: Kit Lawry Treasurer: Eve Cooper Membership Secretsry: Olwyn Seal Other elected committee members: Martin Ablitt Hazel Allen Julie Barnes Sally Bradshaw Philippa Rainbird Louise Ransberry Carole Solway Conductor: Assistant Conductor: Emeritus Conductor: Rachel Mahon Luke Filzgerald Paul Leddington-wright Chairnian's Address: Treasurerfs Address= Kit Lawry 19 Lower Ladyes Hills Kenilworth CV8 2GN Mobile: 07774 524352 Email.. chairofccc mail.com Eve C(x)per 36 Beechwcx)d Avenue Coventry CV5 6QG 07760 153566 email: ccctreasurer1963 mail.com Charity Registration Number: 257047
THE SEASON'S ACTivrriES Coventry Cathedrdl Chorus. own promotions In November 2023 the Chorus perfonned Rachmaninoff s Vespers sung in Old Church Slavonic. The Parliament Choir joined us. first in Coventry Cathedral and then in Southwark Cathedral. London. Feedback from audience quotes were very positive: "I never expected to hear that kind of music in this building" Along with that main piece. we sang shorter pieces by Gjeilo. Rheinberger and Barber. In December 2023 the choir presented a Chrtstrnastide Celebration in Coventry Cathedral. We were joined and accompanied by the Brass Band of Central England, Heart of England school choir and the Choristers of Coventry Cathedral, to raise funds for the Coventry & Warwickshire Children's Charity. A decision was taken to merge what had previously been two repeat concerts (aftemoon and evening) into one conrt. This proved successful. The programme comprised a mix of popular sacred and secular pleS for the festive season. Another change instituted in December 2023 was to sing Handel's Messiah once a year. a1 in Coventry only. (fravelling to Cirencester. though enjoyable. was expensive and sometimes difficult in winter weather.) We also discovered that we could get a reasonable audience perfomiing Messiah on a weekday in Coventry, as the Cathedral's Saturday bookings in Dernber needed to be available for other groups. This decision also cut dovm the choir's commitments from five conrtS between mid-November and the end of December to a more manageable three. We perfomied by candlelight. On Good Friday 2024 the choir performed sacred works by Purcell, Bairstow, Sanders and Leighton for Holy Week and Good Friday. Very low advance ticket sales threatened cancellation but. in the end. there was a good, and very appreciative. audience. In May 2024. a new addttion to OUT programme of Chorus-promoted conrtS in Coventry Cathedral was a ct)Ilaboration wtth the Coventry & Warwickshire Youth Orchestra to perfomi a Last Night of the Proms concert. We attempted. without Sucss. to get grant funding for this but it went ahead anyway and was much enjoyed. So much so that C&WYO have already suggested another Last Night concert in May 2025. Joe Davis who conducts the C&WYO shared the conducting with Rachel for this concert. Our final 'concerf in the 202&2024 season lebrated the 601h anniversary of the foundation of Coventry Cathedral Chorus (or St Michael's Singers. as we were initially named). This took the form of a Sung Evensong in June 2024 to which very long list of past and present singers. conductors. patrons, Friends of Coventry Cathedral and our President Pam Rhodes were invited. as well as the Cathedral Choristers, to come and join us. It was a delight to welcome Pam Rhodes to Coventry again. Her presen enhanced the event. FINANCIAL OUTCOME OF CONCERT ACTIVITIES Rachmaninoff s Vespers This was deliberately programmed to be 2n inexpensive concert" sung A cappella, together with the other shorter ple$ of music, without orchestra to keep down costs. It was the only concert in the 202&24 season to bring in a profit. of £763.
Christmastide Concert in aid of Coventy & wal¢kShIr• Children's Charity The Chorus originally committed to paying the commercial rate for the Cathedral venue for this concert each year. so that the Cathedral didn't lose out. Changes in audien numbers and other factors (such as having the Brass Band of Central England playing with us- which is a big draw) meant that the concert made a deficit of £583. The Chair and Vice Chair of CCC met with representatives of the C&WCC in January 2024 and agreed that C&WCC would find sponsorship to cover the cost of hiring the Cathedral venue at its commercial pri1. We hope that both C&WCC and CCC takings from this concert will be positive in future. Handel's Messiah in Coventry Cathedral This concert attracted a reasonably sized audience who were very appreciative. We were working with a professional orchestra. though. so the outcome was a deficit of £2.143. Good Friday Concert Audience numbers were quite low for this event- possibly buse the works are less well known. although they attracted much appreciation. The outcome was a deficit of £311. Last Night of the Proms This event was promoted jointly with the Coventry &Warwickshire Youth Orchestra, hoping to be a crowd-drawer and produ some profrt. It did attract people who clearly enjoyed the music. joining in and waving a variety of flags. but resulted in a deficit of £326. split equally between CCC and C&WYO. Jubilee Choral Evensong This event was aimed as a celebration of the Chorus and its 60 years of music- making. The music. company. and bringing tcgether of a large group of people who care for Coventy Cathedral Chorus was wonderful. However, it made a deficit of £123. FINANCE INCOME SOURCES Members. Contributions Weekly rehearsal costs (see below) are covered by the members, annual subscriptions, which for this season were put up to £130 per person. Subscriptions amounted to £10.325 and Patrons, donations raised £2719. both including Gift Aid which was claimed where appropriate. The 100 dub operated again this year. raising £360 for the Chorus. Non£oncert Activities Royalties are eamed from time-to-time from CD. radio or television recording sessions and also from concerts promoted by other agencies. Such fees totalled £224 in 2023-24.
RESOURCE UTILISA TION Concert Productions The prtncipal resource utilisation of the Chorus is its ncerts. For 2023124 expenditure on concerts was £24.490. Rehearsal Costs Rehearsal costs consist of fees to the nduCtOr and accompanist and costs related to the rehearsal venue. In 2023-24 these totalled £8285. Administrative Costs Having no paid officers, but a very hard-working voluntary committee, the Chorus has very low administration costs- this year totalling £105, just 0.30/0 of expenditure. LOOKING FORWARD Concert Planning Looking forward to the 2024-25 season, we plan a busy concert programme: Senbla.com. a LondorFbased music promotion company. approached CCC to sing with them in a cOnrt in Warwick Arts Centre featuring music from Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. This represents a new venue and audien for CCC and a paid event on 1 Novefflber 2024. A Remembranc£ nrt on 9 November 2024: Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle. A Christmastide Celebration concert in SUPKK)rt of Coventry & Warwickshire Children's Chartty on 7 December 2024 featuring the Brass Band of Centrdl England and Al Saints Primary School choir, in Coventry Cathedral. Two concerts in Compton Veffley (another new venue and audien for CCC) on 13 December. Compton Vemey is a wa1CkShlre stately home art gallery. These two conrts will also be paid. Handel's Messiah with candlelight in Coventry Cathedral on Monday 16 December. A perfomiance of Charles Wood's St Mart's Passion and Finzi's Welcome Sweet and Sacred Feast in Coventry Cathedral on Good Friday. 18 April 2025. Last Night of the Proms with C&W Youth Orchestra on 10 May 2025 in All Saints Church. Leamington Spa. A concert to celebrate the 450th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth 1's visit to Kenilworth in 1575. in St John's Church. Kenilworth on Saturday 12 July 2025. Further ahead we will endeavour to maintain the mix of the 2024-25 season: performing some concerts promoted by CCC. some in collaboration with other orchestras or choirs. some for payment. and singing in several different venues to reach different audiences.
Future Development Working with our long-term friends. the Orchestra Pm Anima. and with the Brass Band of Central England. and re-igniting our partnership with the Warwickshire Symphony Orchestra. we shall look to expand our reputation and build audiences through promoting regular. popular events. Aiming to increase our presen on social media and actively work on inexpensive ways to increase our 'reach' of audiences. We have taken out membership of Culture Central which gives us free aCsS to 2.000 people in WaNick, Leamington. Kenilworth. Birmingham and the West Midlands, through its fortnightly Newsletter where Y can advertise our concerts for tree. Researching how people coming to our nrtS heard about them. and what draws them in. Continuing to seek and create opportunities to involve young people in our concerts, as well as the Choir Choristers. to attract audien (family members etc.) and to encourage children to continue participating in music-making in the future. To SUPF)Ort this. we will work on building relationships with other organisations involved in music education in Ihe area. Actively recruiting new members both for the benefit of the choir and because of the audience members they will brFng with them. Most new members come through word of moulh frorn friends. CONCLUSION The Coventry Cathedral Chorus will continue to use the resources at its disposal to promote conrtS of choral music to the highest standards, VrkIng where possible with professional orchestras and soloists. The choir is always keen to appeal to new audiences. as well as retaining exisb'ng customers, by presenting a wide variety of music induding newly composed works. It also takes every opportunity to encourage the interest and involvement of young people in choral music. In all of these ways Ihe society seeks io fulfil the objectFves of its constitution by bringing awareness and enjoyment of choral Music to as wide a range of the public as possible. On behalf of the management committee". C(orf Kit Lawry Chair Eve Cooper TreaSUr
Independent Examlnerfs Report to the Trustees of Coventry Cathedral Chorus. I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 st July 2024. which are set outon pages8 to 11. Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiners The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 {2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Ad) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to= examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act to follow the procedures laid down in the General Direcb'ons given by the Charity Commission under section 145 (5) (b) of the 2011 Act. and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of Independent Examlnerfs report My examination was carried out in accx)rdancE with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the aCuntIng records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those recorded. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees conceming such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidenc£ that would be required in an audit and ,consequently, no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a "true and fair Vie and the rew)rt is limtted to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent Examinerfs statement In connection with my examination. rKJ matter has come to my allention: 1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that. in any material respect. the requirements.. a. to keep accounb'ng records in accordan wrth section 130 of the 2011 Act, and b. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met, or 2) to which, in my opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Date: David M Phillips, Chartered Management Accountant. Phillips and Becker Ltd, Accountancy House, 4 Priory Road, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 1LL
COVENTRY CATHEDRAL CHORUS Statement of Financial Artivities for the year ending 31 July 2024 Totsl 2023124 Total 202V23 lrttoming resources Concert Income 2L152 633 23.810 Donations Fees earned Net income from recordings/royalties Membership subscriptions Bank interest 224 169 10325 210 8,792 94 Transport Folders/Music Patrons 250 1339 3.089 2.719 660 2.989 650 IWClub Fundraising Other 78 73 37,840 40,462 Resource5 Used Dirert tharitsble empwvlrture Concert costs 24.490 8.285 36,249 7.225 Rehearsal costs Other eMlite Administration costs 105 240 Insurance 79 75 Maknng Music membership PRS 392 365 379 78 Publicty Transport Folderslmusic 100 Club 1.493 720 550 1579 2.678 3C 325 Special event- retirement of musiol director Subs reimbursement 77 165 Other- social events. refreshments etc Donation to Coventry Cathedral Donation to audttorfs chartty 398 25 19,816 200 225 38.940 68.623 Net loutgoing511 incoming resource5 ii.10)I 128,1611 Revaluation of COIF investmentfijnd 1,962 34.760 259 Fund Balances at l August 2023 62.662 Fund Balance at 31 July 2024 35.622 34.760
COVENTRY CATrIEDRAL CHORUS Balance Sheet as at 31 July 2024 2023124 {rest3ted) Current A55ets Debtors & Prepayinents Cash at bank and in hand 2,079 13.040 2,270 15,099 COIF Investment Fund 20,553 18,591 35.960 35,672 Creditors= amounts falling due wthln one year 50 1,2 Net Current Assets 35,622 34,760 Net Assets 35,622 34,760 Fund Balances Unrestricted Funds 35.622 34.760 35,622 34.760 Approved bythe Commwttee Members on 25.11.2024 and signed on its behalf by: Klt Lawry CHAIR Eve Cooper TREASURER
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2024 All activities are classed as continuing. Notes on pages 10 and 11 fomi an integral part of these accounts. Accounting Policies Basis of Accounting These accounts have been prepared under the historic cost convention and in accordance with applicable accounting stsndards and Ststements and Recommended Prartice on Accounting by Charities. In particular. the accounts are prepared using the accruals method with income and expenditure being recognised strirtly in accordance with the dates of the concerts in which the thoir 15 performing. Funds The Society's fvnds generally consist solely of unrestricted arnounts. Unrestricted funds consist of both general and desi8nated amounts whith the Society may use at its discretion. Committee Costs The Society is a totally voluntary organisation. and no member of its Committee of Management is remunerated. £459 was reimbursed during the year to two Committee members in respect of administrative costs incurred by them on behalf of the Chorus. io
COVENTRY CATHEDRAL CHORUS Notes to the Financial Statement for the year ending 31 July 2024 2023124 2022123 l. Net Income from recordlDg5 1 royalites Profr( 224 169 2. Debtor5 Trade & sundry debtor5 2,079 2.270 3. Investments 20.553 18.591 4. CreditOf5 Trade creditors 50 1,2(K) 5. Total Funds The movements duringthe yearwere as follows.. Balance Incomin Fund5 Balance 0110812023 Irestated} funds 3110712024 General Funds Revaluation of COIF imiestynent fund 34,760 37.840 38,940 33,660 1.962 1.962 34.760 39,802 38.940 35,622 6. Patrons The brought forward balance in the Patrons, Fund stood at £14,322. Income from Patrons of £2,719 represents subscriptions and Gift Aid where applicable. The balance in the Patrons, Fund at 31 July 2024 was £17,041. li