Haslemere Musical Society Trustees’ Annual Report
Charity name Haslemere Musical Society
Registered charity number 262696
For the financial year beginning 1 September 2023
For the financial year ending 31 August 2024
Charity’s principal address c/o Mrs Sue Ecclestone Hon Secretary
The Warren Tilford Road Hindhead GU26 6RA
Names of the charity trustees:
| Name | Office (if any) and dates acted (if not for the full year). |
| Marion Bagshaw | Chairman |
| Patrick Callan | Vice-Chairman |
| Susan Ecclestone | Secretary |
| Simon King | Treasurer |
| Sarah Rogers | Orchestra Librarian |
| Johanna Sainsbury | Orchestra Librarian |
| Elizabeth Kerr | Choir Librarian |
| Sally Falk | |
| Charlotte Fentem | |
| Judith Ingham | |
| Ben Smithies | |
| Trevor Clarkson | |
Governing document
Rules adopted 18 June 1971 as amended 17 October 1983, 8 October 2001, 17 October 2016 and 4 June 2024.
Appointment of trustees
Trustees are elected by and out of the membership at the Annual General Meeting of the Society. They receive no remuneration or other benefits from the charity.
Objects of the charity
To educate the public in the art and science of music, to enable members to make music together at regular rehearsals of choral and orchestral works under the direction of skilled musicians appointed for the purpose, to perform such works at public concerts and offer concertgoers good value for money, and from time to time to commission new works for performance by the Society.
Activities and achievements during the year
In planning our activities we have had regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit.
What joy it is to report on the year 2023 to 2024 and to be able to say we had four professionals who led the orchestra and choir through an amazing 100th year of the Society’s existence. James Ross (Director of Music), Tom Horn (Orchestra Leader), Thomas Lydon (Chorus Master) and Clive Osgood, (Accompanist and Assistant Chorus Master) inspired and energised a season of exciting and enjoyable music
The first concert of the season began with an orchestral concert in St Christopher’s Church on 14th October 2023. A full audience was treated first to the overture to Haydn’s first oratorio Il ritorrno di Tobio, a seldom performed work which has delightful melodies. James Ross explained the following work by Constant Lambert as being inspired when the composer was trapped in the Netherlands at the outbreak of the First World War. Then the evening’s soloist, Ezo Sarici, a young Turkish violinist, excited the audience with her performance of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor. After the interval the orchestra gave a good rendering of Charles Gounod’s seldom played Symphony No 1 in D.
On Saturday 2nd December in the Haslemere Hall the Society started, as it had done in
1923, with a performance of Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony intended originally to be dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte. After the interval the chorus joined the orchestra for Mozart’s Coronation Mass with soloists Clare Loosley (soprano), Charlotte Tetley (alto), Timothy Dutton (tenor) and Thomas Lydon (bass). Finally the 100th Anniversary of the Society was aptly celebrated by a new work composed by Clive Osgood (Composer and Assistant Chorus Master and Accompanist) entitled Sinfonia Cantiones, described by our reviewer as ‘easy on the ear’ and constructed round the melodies and words of three medieval carols. It provided a fitting end to the Society’s 100th Anniversary celebrations.
The new year (2024) began with the Society’s traditional ‘Come & Sing’ on Saturday 3rd February. .The HMS version starts with preparing some choral music accompanied by Clive Osgood and ends with a small orchestra accompanying a scratch performance to an invited audience. Thomas Lydon guided the singers who had signed up for selections from Haydn’s ‘Nelson Mass’ and the renowned tea interval in St Christopher’s Church.
Despite floods, fallen trees and temperatures plummeting the Saturday 2nd March concert went ahead starting excitingly with the Prelude to Act III of Wagner’s Lohengrin. The Chorus sang brightly to match the daffodils on the lapels of their black tops. Janice Watson then demonstrated the power of her singing in Chausson’s Poème de l’amour et de la mer This beautiful piece was brilliantly performed but may have been a challenge for our audience. The second half was a romp through some of the most famous opera choruses by Verdi and Mascagni ending with the triumphal finale of the Easter Hymn.
Thomas Lydon had trained the chorus well, the orchestra seemed exhilarated by all that was required of it and the audience went away happily humming a tune or two.
The Concert on 11th May 2024 was the last in our 100th Anniversary year. Works by Respighi, Stravinsky, Vaughan Williams and Haydn made for a scintillating programme which stretched the orchestra and chorus to pull out all the stops. The highlight of the first half was undoubtedly our Leader, Tom Horn playing magnificently in Vaughan Williams’ masterpiece, The Lark Ascending. With the lark finally escaping into a clear blue sky the audience was sent into the interval feeling an inch taller! The second half was a carefully chosen selection of scenes from Haydn’s dramatic oratorio TheCreation. The Chorus was joined by soprano Clare Loosely, tenor Richard-Thesiger Pratt and bass Thomas Lydon. After the hushed opening, the sudden impact of the word ‘Light’ exploding from the chorus rocked everyone back into their seats. Wearing golden feathers on their lapels the singers showed obvious enjoyment as they told the story of the Glory of God with harps and lyres, rising suns and a new world springing up at God’s command. This was a truly rousing concert which must inspire the orchestra and chorus to keep making music of a high standard to give pleasure both in the preparation and the performance.
Our final music–making took place in June with four successful Open Sessions with Orchestra and the Choral Open Session which was called ‘Explore Your Voice’ . The latter involved a new format which invited singers and prospective singers to try out and improve their voices.
Financial review
It is good to see that the funds have increased compared to the previous year and that the efforts taken in 2023/24 were successful to maintain the ongoing survival of the society. We were fortunate to receive increased donations in the Centenary season, though these donation levels will be difficult to repeat in future years.
Reserves policy
The Society’s reserves policy is that we should maintain reserves at 125 - 150% of the prior year’s expenditure on regular professionals and venues.
At 31[st] August 2024, the total reserve of £32,642 is in this region and the Society has done well to increase this from the previous year’s figure of £26,625. The Trustees maintain close scrutiny on the ongoing operating costs, and will make changes as needed.
The Trustees remain dedicated to protect the Society to ensure its survival in its second century.
STATEMENT OF FINANClhl AcnvmES FOR THE YEAR ENOED 31 4UGusf 224 2023124 20WZ3 2021122 2QJ>I21 Z019130 2018119 Patron< and Fri•ndrf Subscriptic< DDnation5 yonts Oth4f fundrai(1& Gitt aid w donaMon5 & fundraisiry Ktf#iMS Lilo 6.1 3,199 2520 I5 20 1.655 5.477 1525 1.632 4.255 1.331 253 1,915 io 1,974 325 311 14.383 12,n2 7.315 1.492 11.2 1.747 6.515 11.>)6 2,D21 9,407 1.178 Grft aid rnernter subxripvw Conc4rt iToIn• 1524 5.145 7.617 in on Sa of fixed a55ets hwchariTabl+ 355 166 329 2S 37JS1 29578 25.778 145 163 612 47 27J55 731 45 37. 410 524 1,024 16.243 14.119 13.195 16.485 11.187 11.8•J 16,210 17.031 14,113 18.C 1.339 3,325 37.727 173 738 977 ala94 29h 1.266 106 1.519 n• NeTif(IMINGAOIITWI) RescK*as 47 -7.9x1 IJ7 R••iiMd on i•1• •f ifr••SDWts VDr•alis•d pin on lo1tm•nts 13 -JAII 1.037 IIET IME[ w4 FVM) 17 .Lon 26.625 26,664 JO.275 31.353 275 38.245 JL353 36.587
BALANCE SHEET at 31st August 2024 2023124 2022123 2021122 2020121 20/20 20181 FIXED ASSErs 736 646 6.(6 6.077 6A80 5.420 19.747 21.665 16.714 12.578 17.265 18.524 10.454 Investrnents Cash at bank Cash in hand COIF Depostt Fund rued Income 5.4X) 5A50 5.450 5A50 5,450 2.685 3,303 I,5 2,( 33.762 30.995 27.909 30.695 31.f 38.387 7A50 CURRE LIABiimES Credrtors Lwerred IrKome ruals 250 1.120 4.310 420 305 108 4,370 745 420 250 142 NET CURRENT ASSETS 32.642 26.625 26.664 30.275 31.353 38.245 NET ASSETS 32.642 26.625 26.664 30.275 3L353 38.245 REPRESENTED . Fund carrfjed for%vard 32.642 26.625 26.664 30.275 3L353 38.245
HASLEMERE MUSICAL SOCIErY ANALYSIS OF RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024- CONCERTS 2,789 2.461 i-l) 1-3351 1-2951 I-31) 20) 25ts) 2.750 Lsg) 4.955 4.915 3.751 8,655 I.L0391 14,616 1-1051 1-1291 1-1631 1-1461 1-1051 1-1291 1-1631 1-1461 1-543 1-5431 1-7991 1-1,1911-1.169I l-Lt91 1.2321 14L1) I_SL1) 14801 1-3201 14101 I-L2701 1-7 1.1.6121 1-2.9 PrDle5JiDn•l lid 1.1.3511 1.2.0791 1.2.8391 1.2.2591 14.52B 1.14sI i_no) i_noi i.no 14.2761 1-1181 1451 1-3601 1-501 1-6131 1-3561 1-511 1-951 I-J) i-un 141n -3141 1.155111.1.2241 I.L0721 14.161 491 414 403 1.1791 148) 1-791 1-1711 1016 621 194 L460
Simon King Treasurer Haslernere Musical Society RE: Annual Accounts 2023-2024 Dale.. 23rd September 2024 Copperfields Weydown Road Haslemere GU27 1DT Dear Simon. I have examined the above accounts as presented lo me on 17th September 2024, and find them to be an accurate representation of the financial position of the Haslemere Musical Society for the accounting period 01 September 2023 lo 31 August 2024. Best wishes, Ge4K IV&th Geoff Martin Retired Accountant