London Pro Arte Choir
Trustees' report and accounts Year ended 31 August 2024
Charity number 276361 www.lpac.org.uk
Report of the trustees for the year ended 31 August 2024
The trustees of the London Pro Arte Choir present the annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2024. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities.
Objectives and activities for the public benefit
The objectives of the choir as set out in the constitution are "to educate the public and members of the choir in music by the presentation of concerts and other activities". In addition the choir raises money for charities at concerts. This year we had a retiring collection at our December concert which raised £700 for Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice. The choir has had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
Achievements and performance during the year
The choir promoted four concerts during the year, all at St. Michael’s Church, Mill Hill:
| 8 November 2023 | Haydn | The Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| 9 December 2023 | Carols for choir and audience | |
| 16 March 2024 | Franck | Panis Angelicus |
| Gounod | St Cecilia Mass | |
| Fauré | Requiem | |
| 17 June 2024 | Rutter | The sprig of thyme |
| Chilcott | Little jazz mass | |
| Morley | Now is the month of maying | |
| Gibbons | The silver swan | |
| Vautor | Sweet Suffolk owl | |
| Diemer | Three madrigals |
We had 37 Thursday evening rehearsals to train members in singing and prepare for concerts. We also had social events to raise funds to support the concerts.
Financial review
In 2023-24 our income was £26,057 (2022-23: £27,090) and our expenditure was £25,117 (2022-23: £27,114) giving a surplus of £940 (2022-23: deficit £24).
The choir's income comes primarily from concert tickets, members' subscriptions, sponsorship and donations from choir members. The size of the choir stayed at around 50 of whom some 40 were active. Concessions are available for members who cannot afford the full subscription or are under 25.
We were grateful for sponsorship of £1500 from the Williams Church Music Trust and £1000 from the John Laing Charitable Foundation.
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Risk management
Our principal risk is promoting concerts which make a deficit. We manage this risk by limiting the number of concerts with orchestral accompaniment, budgeting and monitoring our costs closely and seeking sponsorship and other sources of income.
Reserves
We ended the year with reserves of £6,563 (2023: £5,623), which are all unrestricted. The reserves are nearly all in bank deposits and needed to cover concert deficits and ensure we can meet our obligations. Our target reserves are between £5,000 and £10,000.
Plans for the future
We intend to promote a similar pattern of concerts and other activities in 2024-25. We have chosen the musical programme in order to attract audiences and keep costs down. We aim to grow the size of the choir by inviting new singers to join us for Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with a corresponding increase in audiences to increase income in order to avoid a deficit. We have already secured £4000 in sponsorship for our concert in November 2024, which is shown as deferred income
Structure, governance and management
The choir is an unincorporated association operating under a constitution which was adopted on 18 January 1996 and amended on 24 February 2005 and 26 January 2006. The choir is governed by the trustees who form the management committee and are elected at the AGM. Casual vacancies are filled by co-option by the committee. All committee members have specific roles and they are supported by other choir members. Induction and training is provided informally as required by other choir members. No choir members receive any remuneration, but any expenses incurred on behalf of the choir are reimbursed.
The overall programme for the year is decided by the committee and Musical Director. The financial plans and detailed arrangements are decided by the committee and the chairman as appropriate. Detailed musical decisions including rehearsals and selection of performers are taken by the Musical Director, in consultation with the committee. The choir has no employees and the Musical Director, accompanist, soloists and orchestral players are all freelance professionals. The fees of the Musical Director and accompanist are reviewed periodically based on CPI and the remuneration of other performers is negotiated based on market rates.
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Charity registration
London Pro Arte Choir number 276361
Address
The choir does not have an office but can be contacted via St Michael's Church, Flower Lane, London NW7 2JA or at info@lpac.org.uk.
Trustees
Loretta Cox Chairman Shirley Durling Box office Keith Ellen Concert manager Gill Ellen Social events Carole Endersby Publicity Catrin Bradley Minutes secretary Hadley Hunter Treasurer Judy Vicary Librarian
Professional musicians
Tom Winpenny Musical Director Martyn Noble Accompanist (till 16 November 2023) Phoebe Tak Man Chow Accompanist (from 23 November 2023) Independent examiner Will Fyans
Bankers Metro Bank Website www.lpac.org.uk
Approved by the trustees on 8 October 2024
Loretta Cox (Chairman)
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| LONDON PRO ARTE CHOIR RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS Receipts Books Donations Friends income Gift Aid Music hire income Other income Produce Raffle/tombola Rebates Refreshments Social events Sponsorship Subscriptions Tickets Total receipts Payments Accompanist Charity Church/hall hire Conductor Credit card fee Drinks Food Gifts Instrument hire/tuning Insurance Licences and memberships Miscellaneous costs Music costs Orchestra Orchestral parts Printing and publicity Programme printing Soloists Website Total payments Surplus (Deficit) BALANCE SHEET Cash Stock Prepayments Deferred income Creditors Assets Funds |
ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 2023-24 2022-23 30 43 3,004 2,707 210 225 2,549 2,720 51 286 233 - 255 284 406 551 - 18 486 373 1,401 1,563 2,500 3,000 9,280 10,020 5,652 5,300 26,057 27,090 4,585 5,045 700 581 3,616 3,508 7,310 7,310 67 94 192 180 137 220 107 104 480 2,520 151 99 361 263 73 19 328 534 4,235 3,855 182 - 443 184 85 85 1,925 2,400 139 113 25,117 27,114 940 (24) 31 Aug 2024 31 Aug 2023 10,148 8,865 188 177 227 - (4,000) (3,400) - (20) 6,563 5,623 6,563 5,623 |
|---|---|
All receipts, payments and funds are unrestricted
Approved by the trustees on 8 October 2024 Hadley Hunter (Treasurer) Registered charity 276361
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ London Pro Arte Choir members of On accounts for the year 31 August 2024 Charity no 276361 ended (if any) Set out on pages 1-4
Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in responsibilities of trustees accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). and examiner
The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Act and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
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to follow the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Act, and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention
Basis of independent examiner’s statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently 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.
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Independent examiner's In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my statement attention (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
* Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Signed: Date: 3 October 2024 Name: Norman William Fyans Relevant professional Certified Accounting Technician qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 89 Chalet Estate Hammers Lane London NW7 4DL
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of None any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
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