2021-22 Henley Choral Society- chair’s annual report
2021-22 represented another unsettled year for Henley Choral Society, with covid-19 still leaving its mark (necessitating that we dip into reserves) and a change in Musical Director. But, as you will hear, I think we are moving into steadier times, allowing us to grow, develop and look forward to our 50[th] anniversary and beyond.
Autumn 2021
The first term of the year was still marked by covid-19 and the associated restrictions. We did not appear to have any outbreaks as a consequence of rehearsing, so precautions taken by members and the choir as a whole, in the form of ventilation, mask wearing, spacing, vaccination and staying away when unwell, all seemed to work.
As reported in last year’s Chair’s report, term started with a ‘Bring and Sing’ workshop of Brahms’ Requiem (the performance having been cancelled from the prior term). Members of local choirs joined us and they especially commented on the skills of our two piano accompanists, Anita d’Attelis and Dave Smith.
Our Christmas concert felt like we were getting back to some normality, although ticket sales were nearer 250, when we might expect 400. We were accompanied by Onyx Brass, giving a wonderful Christmassy feel. Overall, it was a lovely concert, with a mix of favourites like Handel’s Zadok the Priest, many well-known carols, and less well-known works such as Daniel Pinkham’s moving Christmas Cantata and Orlando Lassus’s majestic Omnes De Saba Venient. We were pleased, once again, to sing with HYC.
Spring 2022
This term continued to be hampered by covid-19, notably with our chosen venue. University of Reading announced in January that their great hall had severely restricted numbers, making performing there impossible. Many alternatives were considered and investigated by Jane and Carol, in the end, a recommendation from Toni and subsequent multiple visits by Jane and others led to us choosing the Oratory School. Again, despite strong efforts, we had limited ticket sales and the challenge of last-minute changes in soloists leading to last minute searches for people who knew the work and were available and programme adjustments. But our performance of Mendelsohn’s Elijah, with the Henley Symphonia, was a tremendous success. Here’s what the Henley Standard said:
“As the audience chatted in the interval, one heard either astonished excitement from those who didn’t know the work, or great praise from those who did…Despite the vicissitudes of covid, choir, soloists and orchestra were brought together splendidly by their conductor, Peter Asprey in this bravura production of Elijah: a fitting finale to his six years of work with Henley Choral Society.”
In February, we had an excellent workshop run by voice coach, Liz Toye. It was high energy, enjoyable and educational.
During that same term we completed the search for a new MD, with a stand-out candidate emerging in both interview and auditions. It was wonderful to have input from the whole choir through the audition process. Our accompanists also gave top marks to our final choice. We are fortunate that he accepted, so for Summer 2022 we had a new MD, marking the start of the Harker era.
Summer 2022
Richard quickly settled in and had an excellent first term, showing us what a varied repertoire he was going to introduce us to, and how he wanted to stretch and encourage us. This included the sailors
who appeared more drunken than rambling. Because of diary clashes, we again had late adjustments to the date, the venue and alike. But the concert has probably made a small profit and was great fun. Here again is Henley Standard
“A special mention has to be given to David Smith, a brilliant musician and accompanist who played with authority and musical excellence — bravo. This was a thoroughly enjoyable concert with plenty of variety and musical colour. Both Henley Choral Society and Henley Youth Choir are going from strength to strength.”
Picking up from that, we must remind ourselves how lucky we are to have such talented and committed accompanists, Anita d’Attelis and Dave Smith. They are outstanding.
We had a very enjoyable and educational workshop in the summer term run by Richard, featuring hits from the musicals (favourites of our late Queen).
Sadly, Alex Haigh left HYC in June, after he was offered a prestigious position at the Royal Opera House. The summer concert was his last. But we are fortunate that Richard agreed to combine the two roles of HCS and HYC MD.
Looking ahead
We seem to be in a stable phase regarding covid-19. Our MD has planned a programme of music looking out to 2026, allowing us to plan well in advance. We have a joint HCS and HYC MD allowing for greater synergies and, we hope, growth of HYC. We are looking forward to our fiftieth anniversary with the world anniversary of our commission and other activities. Our finances are healthy, although we do need to get back into balance year on year. The membership has grown, although more tenors are always welcome.
Fees
As you know, the Committee decided to increase fees to £150 this year. Mark will speak about this in the Treasurers report shortly. At the risk of stealing his thunder I thought I would say a few words about the Committees rationale, as I know the cost of living is going up in all realms, so this increase would not have been welcome:
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This is the first increase in three years
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All our expenses are increasing.
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We do need to get back into in-year financial balance, we cannot keep drawing on our reserves, which we had to do during Covid-19
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We get tremendous value from our fees- rehearsals with two outstanding professionals, at least two free workshops a year, the opportunity to perform a wide variety of works with leading soloists, orchestras and other musicians
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We support the important work of Henley Youth Choir
Henley Choral Society
276728
Receipts and payments accounts For the period 1st September 2021 To from
31st August 2022
CC16a
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ £14,760 £1,093 £20,080 £2,200 £5,270 £31 £10,150 £2,332 £2,365 £1,775 £3,234 £63,290 |
Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ £14,760 £1,093 £20,080 £2,200 £5,270 £31 £10,150 £2,332 £2,365 £1,775 £3,234 £63,290 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 14,760 1,093 20,080 2,200 5,270 31 10,150 - 2,332 2,365 1,775 3,234 - - 63,290 - 63,289.92 14,630 7,920 10,982 4,494 6,416 7,617 3,648 - 4,441 1,189 3,716 6,599 - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 14,760 1,093 20,080 2,200 5,270 31 10,150 - 2,332 2,365 1,775 3,234 - - 63,290 - 63,289.92 14,630 7,920 10,982 4,494 6,416 7,617 3,648 - 4,441 1,189 3,716 6,599 - |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ticket Sales | £14,760 | £395 | |||||||
| Programme Sales | £1,093 | ||||||||
| Member Subs | £20,080 | £15,880 | |||||||
| Patron Subs | £2,200 | £4,125 | |||||||
| Gift aid tax relief | £5,270 | £3,705 | |||||||
| Bank interest | £31 | £5 | |||||||
| Donations | £10,150 | £3,300 | |||||||
| Hire of music to members | |||||||||
| Sales of music to members | £2,332 | ||||||||
| Advertisingrevenue | £2,365 | ||||||||
| Bar takings | £1,775 | ||||||||
| Sundry | £3,234 | £177 | |||||||
| PettyCash | |||||||||
| Sub total | £63,290 | 27,587 | |||||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, etc. Total receipts A3 Payments |
|||||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| 63,290 14,630 7,920 10,982 4,494 6,416 7,617 3,648 4,441 1,189 3,716 6,599 |
- - - - - - - - - - - - - |
- - - - - - - - - - - - - |
|||||||
| 27,587 | |||||||||
| Conductors fee | 14,630 | - | - | 14,630 | 9,907 | ||||
| Accompanist's fees | 7,920 | - | - | 7,920 | 4,934 | ||||
| Orchestra Fees | 10,982 | - | - | 10,982 | 3,425 | ||||
| Soloist's Fees | 4,494 | - | - | 4,494 | |||||
| Other fees | 6,416 | - | - | 6,416 | 1,585 | ||||
| Hall hire | 7,617 | - | - | 7,617 | 1,712 | ||||
| Equipment hire | 3,648 | - | - | 3,648 | 531 | ||||
| Music Hire | - | - | - | ||||||
| Music Purchase | 4,441 | - | - | 4,441 | 51 | ||||
| Bar Expenses | 1,189 | - | - | 1,189 | |||||
| Publicity | 3,716 | - | - | 3,716 | 1,515 | ||||
| Sundry | 6,599 | - | - | 6,599 | 2,301 | ||||
| - | |||||||||
| **Sub total ** | 71,652 | - | - | 71,652 | 25,961 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, etc. Total payments CCXX R1 accounts (SS) |
- 71,652 |
||||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| 71,652 | - 1 |
- | |||||||
| 25,961 | |||||||||
| 27/09/2022 |
| Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
- 8,362 | - | - | - 8,362 | 1,626 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - - |
- | - | ||||
| 70,214 | - | 68,588 | ||||||
| 61,852 | - | - | Cross Add Error | 70,214 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
27/09/2022
2
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets |
Signature N/A Details N/A Details CAF CURRENT Details CAF DEPOSIT HSBC Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) N/A Details N/A |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 10,875 - 48,077 - 2,899 - 61,852 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval |
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CCXX R3 accounts (SS)
27/09/2022
3
| I lndependent examiners reporton t accounts |
I lndependent examiners reporton t accounts |
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| SectionA lndependent Examiner's Report |
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| Report to thetrustees/ membersof |
HenleyChoralSociety | |
| $naccountsforthe year | 31stAugusl2022 Gharityno |
276728 |
| ended | (ifany) | |
| Setout onpages | 1 | |
| €espective | Thecharity'strusteesare responsible forthepreparationoftheaccounts. | |
| responsibilitiesof | The charity'strusteesconsiderthatanauditis not required for this year | |
| trustees and examiner | under sectiona3(2)oftheCharitiesAct1993(the1993 | Ac$andthatan |
| independentexaminationisneeded" | ||
| It ismyresponsibilityto: rexaminetheaccounts under section43ofthe1993 |
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