Registered Charity Number 275986
Harpenden Choral Society
Annual Report Year Ended 30[th] June 2024
www.harpendenchoralsociety.org Affiliated to the National Federation of Music Societies
Harpenden Choral Society Annual Report for the year ended 30[th] June 2024
This Annual Report is presented to the Charity Commission by the Trustees of Harpenden Choral Society in accordance with their obligations under charity law and regulation.
Reference and Administrative Information
Charity name: Harpenden Choral Society Registered charity number: 275986
Principal office: 52 Derwent Road, Harpenden, Herts. AL5 3NX
Charity’s trustees:
Amanda Evans, Chair David Nye, Secretary Michael Walker, Treasurer Melanie Gaches, Membership Secretary Rosemary White, Concert Manager Sheila Mitchell, Publicity Manager Judith Mayall, Librarian Rosemary Russell, Box Office Manager
Honorary President: David Ireson
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing document
Harpenden Choral Society is an unincorporated association, registered with the Charity Commissioners. It is governed by a constitution dated September 2014 (amended March 2020) which was accepted by the Charity Commission on 8[th] November 2014.
Organisational structure
The Society’s trustees are responsible for the management of the Society. They receive no remuneration or other financial benefit. Expenses reimbursed to the trustees are shown in the accounts, which are appended. The trustees confirm that they have made reference to the guidance of the Charities Commission general guidance on public benefit when reviewing their aims, objectives, and future activities of the society.
The trustees meet regularly and are responsible for all decisions made in relation to the Society’s activities. A sub-committee assists with the selection of the music to be performed by the choir. The sub-committee, some of whose members are not trustees, report back with their recommendations to a full committee meeting of the trustees.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
New trustees are recruited from the Society’s members by the existing trustees.
Consideration is given to personal competence, relevant specialist knowledge and skills, in selecting new trustees, who are elected at the Society’s AGM to serve for a period of three years. Trustees are eligible to stand for re-election at the end of each three-year period.
The Society expects its trustees to work effectively together as members of the committee, devote the necessary time and effort, safeguard the good name and values of the Society, and understand the legal duties, liabilities and responsibilities of trusteeship.
www.harpendenchoralsociety.org Affiliated to the National Federation of Music Societies
Harpenden Choral Society Annual Report for the year ended 30[th] June 2024
New trustees are given a copy of the relevant job description, a ‘Trustee Guide’ which outlines their duties as a trustee, and a copy of the Society’s constitution.
Objectives and Activities
Objects and aims
The objects of the Society are the education of the public in the art and science of choral music by the study, practice and concert performance of choral works and by other activities. The Society intends its activities to contribute to the social and cultural welfare of the community of Harpenden.
The Society achieves its aims through the regular performance of choral music. This is of benefit to the local community by providing opportunities for people of all persuasions to perform, or listen to, choral music in the context of a social gathering. Additionally, it is recognised that significant benefits accrue to people who have the opportunity to sing in a choir through social interaction and the health benefits of singing as a physical activity.
The Society aims to perform an increasing range of choral music in order for the choir to progress and develop musically. The Society performs choral music of all periods, both sacred and secular, often with the help of professional soloists and instrumentalists.
Achievements and Performance
The Society’s concerts promote singing as a social activity. The trustees and members work to attract new choir members and increase audiences at concerts. Retiring collections are regularly made at the Christmas concert and the proceeds are donated to local charities.
Open Rehearsals are organised in order to aid recruitment; anyone interested in finding out about the choir can come and sing at these events. Members are encouraged to develop their abilities in the choir rehearsals, conducted by the musical director and accompanied by a professional rehearsal pianist.
Workshops, directed by a professional conductor, are held as a further aid to recruitment. These events are open to non-members in order to encourage wider community participation and attract new members.
The Society gave four concerts during the 2023-24 season, all at Harpenden High Street Methodist Church.
On 18th November 2023 the choir gave a performance of Handel’s Dixit Dominus and Scarlatti’s St. Cecilia Mass . The concert featured orchestral accompaniment by The King’s Sinfonietta and five professional soloists.
The choir’s ever-popular Christmas Carol Concert was held on 19 December. Many well-known carols gave our audience the chance to sing, and the choir performed carols both old and new. A retiring collection for local charity Open Door raised £958.38
On 23rd March 2024 the Society performed Haydn’s Nelson Mass and Duruflé’s Requiem with the King’s Sinfonietta, organ, and four professional soloists.
The final concert of the season was held on 22nd June 2024. This concert featured Onyx Brass, with organist George Castle in a programme of choral music including works by Gabrielli, Brahms and Stanford.
www.harpendenchoralsociety.org Affiliated to the National Federation of Music Societies
Harpenden Choral Society Annual Report for the year ended 30[th] June 2024
Financial Review
Policy on reserves
Reserves are needed to bridge the intervals between expenditure and income and to cover risks such as unplanned expenditure and fall in income. The Society’s main source of income is members’ subscriptions; other sources of revenue are variable.
The choir strives to maximise concert attendance and receipts by appropriate publicity and advertising. The Society is fortunate to have several patrons and a sponsor, the Williams Church Music Trust, which generally makes an annual grant to the choir. Concerts are the main item of expenditure, and vary according to the size and complexity of the repertoire. The financial risks to the Society are considered in its reserves policy document, which is reviewed annually. The target range for reserves at the end of the 2023/24 financial year was £12,000 to £15,000.
Subscription policy
The Society’s subscription policy reflects the aim of enabling all within the community, whatever their means, to become members of the Society. A reduced subscription, of no more than one third of the full subscription, is offered to under 30’s, full-time students and those in receipt of incomerelated benefits. The trustees take account of the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance when formulating and reviewing subscription policy.
Pricing policy
The price of admission to the Society’s concerts is kept under review, with the aim of balancing the need to keep prices low, whilst ensuring that concert costs are adequately funded. A discount is given for children and students. The trustees take account of the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance when formulating and reviewing pricing policy.
Details of any fund materially in deficit
The Society has no funds which are materially in deficit.
Statement of financial activities
The accounts are appended together with the independent examiner’s report. They comprise the Receipts & Payments Account, and the Statement of Assets & Liabilities, The accounts show that the Society ended the financial year with a deficit of £1,591.12. Cash and bank balances totalled £13,283.15 held in unrestricted funds.
The Society ended the financial year with total assets of £13,428.08, which compares with £15,020.20 at the end of the previous season. Reserves are within the target range set out above in ‘Policy on reserves’. The budget for the following season, revised in December 2024, indicates that this level of reserves is expected to be preserved during the remainder of the season.
No property is owned by the Society.
Declaration of Approval
This Annual Report was approved by the Trustees on 13 January 2025.
www.harpendenchoralsociety.org Affiliated to the National Federation of Music Societies
Harpenden Choral Society Annual Report for the year ended 30[th] June 2024
Signed on behalf of all the Trustees:
Amanda Evans Chair 13 January 2025
www.harpendenchoralsociety.org Affiliated to the National Federation of Music Societies
HARPENDEN CHORAL SOCIETY
REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2024
Registered Charity Number: 275986
HARPENDEN CHORAL SOCIETY RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR YEAR ENDING 30 JUNE 2024
| Sundry receipts Purchase of equipment Opening bank balances plus cash Website and Performing Rights fee Administrative expenses Publicity Sundries Rehearsal refreshments Williams Trust grant Making Music subscription, insurance TOTAL RECEIPTS Closing bank balances plus cash NET RECEIPTS / PAYMENTS Concert payments (Note 1) TOTAL PAYMENTS PAYMENTS Professional fees Rehearsal accommodation Come & Sing RECEIPTS Members' Subscriptions Concert receipts (Note 1) Patrons Gift Aid Other receipts Interest received Donations_(Note 2)_ Christmas Quiz Sale of folders Sponsorship |
£ £ £ £ 15842.00 14612.00 350.00 350.00 2816.50 2706.75 19008.50 17668.75 7882.68 8741.66 349.33 121.31 579.67 881.58 950.00 0.00 497.76 478.67 48.00 130.00 377.00 363.79 0.00 3.92 0.00 23.82 2000.00 2000.00 4801.76 4003.09 31692.94 30413.50 9757.10 8950.00 2495.00 2233.00 667.74 496.64 0.00 0.00 228.60 99.80 205.11 223.88 203.85 237.43 0.00 144.93 13557.40 12385.68 19726.66 15028.33 33284.06 27414.01 -1591.12 2999.49 14874.27 11874.78 13283.15 14874.27 2022/23 2023/24 |
£ £ £ £ 15842.00 14612.00 350.00 350.00 2816.50 2706.75 19008.50 17668.75 7882.68 8741.66 349.33 121.31 579.67 881.58 950.00 0.00 497.76 478.67 48.00 130.00 377.00 363.79 0.00 3.92 0.00 23.82 2000.00 2000.00 4801.76 4003.09 31692.94 30413.50 9757.10 8950.00 2495.00 2233.00 667.74 496.64 0.00 0.00 228.60 99.80 205.11 223.88 203.85 237.43 0.00 144.93 13557.40 12385.68 19726.66 15028.33 33284.06 27414.01 -1591.12 2999.49 14874.27 11874.78 13283.15 14874.27 2022/23 2023/24 |
|---|---|---|
| 2999.49 11874.78 14874.27 |
1
HARPENDEN CHORAL SOCIETY STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES AT 30 JUNE 2024
| Note Net income for the year Unrestricted fund Brought forward Increase / decrease in cash Change in fixed assets Surplus / deficit for the year Total Assets Piano Noticeboard, banner, urn Fixed assets Lloyds Bank savings accounts music stand & card reader Current assets Cash in hand Lloyds Bank current account |
£ £ £ £ 1.00 1.00 144.93 144.93 145.93 145.93 1,098.21 100.66 11,945.79 14,532.46 239.15 241.15 13,283.15 14,874.27 13,429.08 15,020.20 15,020.20 11,915.73 1,591.12 - 3,104.47 13,429.08 15,020.20 1,591.12 - 2,999.49 - 104.98 - 1,591.12 3,104.47 2023/24 2022/23 |
£ £ £ £ 1.00 1.00 144.93 144.93 145.93 145.93 1,098.21 100.66 11,945.79 14,532.46 239.15 241.15 13,283.15 14,874.27 13,429.08 15,020.20 15,020.20 11,915.73 1,591.12 - 3,104.47 13,429.08 15,020.20 1,591.12 - 2,999.49 - 104.98 - 1,591.12 3,104.47 2023/24 2022/23 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,098.21 11,945.79 239.15 |
||
| 15,020.20 1,591.12 - |
||
| 15,020.20 | ||
| 15,020.20 | ||
| 2,999.49 104.98 |
||
| 3,104.47 |
M J Walker Treasurer July 2024
2
HARPENDEN CHORAL SOCIETY NOTES FORMING AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2024
1
Concerts Details of concerts given during the year are as follows: Concert I Harpenden, 18 November 2023 Handel Dixit Dominus Scarlatti St. Cecila Mass Concert II Harpenden, 19 December 2023 Carol Concert Concert III Harpenden, 23 March 2024 Haydn Nelson Mass Duruflé Requiem
Concert IV Harpenden, 22 June 2024 Voices & Brass
| Concert I | Concert II | Concert III | Concert IV | Total | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | 2023-24 | 2022-23 | |
| Receipts | ||||||
| Ticket sales | 2,001.95 | 2,791.31 | 1,581.21 | 1,508.21 | 7,882.68 | 8741.66 |
| Concert Costs | 6,446.16 | 2,336.58 | 6,481.53 | 4,462.39 | 19,726.66 | 15028.33 |
| Surplus / Deficit | 4,444.21 - |
454.73 | 4,900.32 - |
2,954.18 - |
11,843.98 - |
-6286.67 |
Donations
£310 from choir members;
£269.67 via Easy Fund Raising
3
2
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