BEDFORD MUSIC CLUB
Annual Report for the year ended 30[th] April 2024
Bedford Music Club, a registered charity, was formed to educate the public in the arts and sciences, (in particular the art and science of music), by the presentation of concerts and other activities. Committee members (and trustees) during the year to 30[th] April 2024 were
Dr Ian Rowlands Chairman Miss Moira Maina Treasurer Mr Keith Jones Mr Philip Coggins
Normally the Club promotes an annual cycle of chamber music concerts, usually six in number, and has been for many years the only organisation in Bedford to do so on a regular basis. For the 2023/2024 season the Committee decided to embark on a new venture – a musical festival held over two weeks in April 2024 (15[th] to 27[th] ). The Bella Ciao! Festival was promoted as a celebration of Italian culture, reflecting the fact that Bedford has the UK’s largest population of Italian descent. Admission to the concerts was open both to Club members (through subscription to a season ticket) and to the general public (by purchase of tickets for individual concerts). A particular effort is made to attract children and young adults by offering free junior season tickets, hence encouraging the growth of "the audience of the future". Artists of known standing and high repute are engaged, but care is also taken to encourage promising young players and ensembles at the outset of their careers. Concert seasons are usually built round a core of traditional chamber music ensembles and programme items, but attention is always paid to the need to broaden the experience of the audience by extending the range of the music offered and by varying the type of artist or ensemble engaged.
The concerts staged during the Bella Ciao! Festival featured I Fagiolini, Florilegium and I Musicanti, all chamber ensembles of international stature, and also students of the Royal College of Music and a range of local musicians, both professional and amateur. In addition, a wider audience was attracted through musical talks (relevant to the concerts) and films.
The Festival has been an artistic success; and given the generous support from various charitable organisations, has almost broken even. In general, attendance at the main chamber concerts was in line with previous seasons, i.e. somewhat disappointing, but this was counter-balanced the popularity of other events, not least a jazz concert. Costs have continued to rise, as there is a trend towards higher venue costs and administration fees, although recently interest rates have risen.
The members of the Committee re-elected Dr Ian Rowlands as Chairman for the 2023/24 season.
The Club acknowledges support from a number of organisations: The Wixamtree Trust; The Gale Trust; The Scops Art Trust; the British Italian Society; Motorvogue Ltd; and the Hinrichsen Foundation (for the commission of a new work performed during the Festival). The Club is also grateful for a donation from an anonymous donor.
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BEDFORD MUSIC CLUB (Registered Charity No 262943)
Statement of accounts for the year ended 30[th] April 2024
| Note INCOME AND EXPENDITURE Subscriptions and ticket sales Coffee and wine sales Less: Cost of staging events 3 NET DEFICIT ON CONCERTS Less: Administration costs 4 Less: Bank related costs OPERATING DEFICIT Fund raising 5 CLUB SURPLUS/DEFICIT FOR THE YEAR Support from third parties Bedford Borough Council Sponsorship SURPLUS/DEFICIT FOR THE YEAR FUNDS As at 1stMay 2023 (2022) Surplus/deficit for the year As at 30thApril 2024 (2023) Represented by: Bank balances Less: Received in advance and owing Approved by the committee on 10thJuly 2024 |
2023/2024 £ £ 13,557.55 -15.44 13,542.11 27,189.57 -13,647.46 972.95 -578.83 -1,551.78 -15,199.24 2000.00 -13,199.24 0.00 13,250.00 50.76 11,214.07 50.76 11,264.83 11,264.83 0.00 11,264.83 |
2022/2023 £ £ 7,235 134 7,369 9,528 -2,159 274 -15 -289 -2,447 261 -2,186 0 100 -2,086 13,300 -2,086 11,214 11,214 0 11,214 |
2022/2023 £ £ 7,235 134 7,369 9,528 -2,159 274 -15 -289 -2,447 261 -2,186 0 100 -2,086 13,300 -2,086 11,214 11,214 0 11,214 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 972.95 -578.83 |
274 -15 |
||
| -2,159 -289 |
|||
| -2,447 261 |
|||
| -2,186 0 100 |
|||
| -2,086 | |||
| 13,300 -2,086 |
|||
| 11,214 | |||
| 11,214 0 |
|||
| 11,214 | |||
I Rowlands M Maina Hon Chairman Hon Treasurer
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BEDFORD MUSIC CLUB (Registered Charity No 262943)
Notes to the accounts for the year ended 30[th] April 2024
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1 These accounts have been prepared under the historical costs convention and in accordance with applicable accounting standards and the Charities' Statement of Recommended Practice, 'Accounting by Charities'.
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2 None of the Trustees received any remuneration from the Charity in the year (2023/24: £Nil)
| 3 Cost of staging events Artists' fees and expenses Hall and piano expenses Printing and publicity less programme sales 4 Bank related Bank interest Bank fees TicketSource fees SumUp fees 5 Fund raising Miscellaneous Donations |
2023/2024 £ 19,159.57 2,715.00 5,315.00 27,189.57 306.75 61.50 789.73 34.35 -578.83 0.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 |
2022/2023 £ 8,624 1,262 -358 9,528 78 93 0 0 -15 17 244 261 |
|---|---|---|
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Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees of BEDFORD MUSIC CLUB th For the year ended 30 ApriL 2024 Respective responsibilities of the tiustee and examiner The charity's trustee is responsible for the preparation for the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this ye8r under section 144121 of the Charities Act 2021 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed It is my responsibility to- Examine the account under section 145 of the 2011 Act: Follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions give by the Ch8rity Commission under section 145 151 Ibl of the 2011 Act,. 8nd To state whether particular matters have come to my attention Basis of the Independent Examiners Report My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Chairty Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and 8 comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanation from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be reqLJired in an audit and consequentially no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a.true and fair view" and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent examiner's statement. In connection with my examination, no matter has cometo my attention: 1. Which give me reasonable c8use to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act. and to prep8re accounts which accorcl 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 Carolyn Smith FMAAT Caiolyn Smith is licensed and regu18ted by AAT under licence number 6102