2025-07-31-accounts - The Chiswick Choir

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

THE CHISWICK CHOIR REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES 2024-25

The Chiswick Choir trading as West London Chorus is a registered charity, number 278765, whose objectives are ‘to educate the public in the arts and sciences, and in particular the art and science of music, by the presentation of concerts and other activities’.

The trustees for the year were A Speakman (Chair, appointed October 2016), P Wickstead (Hon Secretary, appointed April 2023) and S Richards (Hon Treasurer, appointed October 2011). Other committee members were C Williams, S Von Bismarck, G Cuming, B Barker, C Dewhurst, P Evans, W Johnson and C Geldart. The rehearsal accompanist was Marija Struckova and the Music Director Hilary Campbell.

Concert Programme

The first concert on 7 December at St Michael & All Angels W4 1TT featured Handel’s Messiah Part1 with soloists Katie Trethewey, Eleanor Minney, James Robinson and Lawrence White. The organist was Liam Dunachie and the orchestra was arranged by Katie Holmes. The second concert on 5 April also at St Michael & All Angels, was Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle , with soloists Harriet Burns, Helen Stanley, Graham Neal and James Hall, pianists Marija Struckova and Krystal Tunnicliffe and harmonium player Michael Butterfield. Our summer concert on 5 July at St Stephen’s Church, Gloucester Road SW7 4RL entitled The Rainbow included the UK premiere of Bob Chilcott’s The Rainbow with other songs based on a colour theme, including solos by our scholars JJ Lam, Clare Sutherland, Arhan Kumar and Nick McMahon. In addition to the three main concerts, the newly formed chamber choir Chorale held a Christmas themed concert at St Nicholas Church on 16 December.

Other Choir Activities

There was a social and singing weekend in Cambridge in September attended by many members. Members of the choir sang at Southwark Cathedral in July to deputise for their regular choir for the weekend services, with music by Mozart, Stamford, Vaughan Williams, Rutter and Howells.

Financial Report

The choir’s bank accounts are held with Santander and Lloyds, with a deposit account with the COIF Charities Deposit Fund.

Scholarship Scheme

Four annual scholarships worth £1100 each and open to singers aged 18-30, or students in full or part time music education were offered. Thanks to sponsorship, we were able to award two bass scholarships.

Friends of the choir are our regular supporters, receiving the benefit of tickets for each concert and an invitation to the annual Chiswick Choir and Friends’ party for paying an annual subscription.

Sponsor in 2024/25 was Fuller Smith & Turner plc.

Members’ subscriptions were increased to £250 if paid once a year, £270 for members paying twice yearly and £300 if subscriptions are paid each term.

The choir finished the year with funds of £15,506. The membership subscription will be held for 2025/26 as will that for the Friends.

We are most grateful for the generosity of all our friends, sponsors and members of the choir.

Sheila Richards, Hon Treasurer

October 2025

The Chiswick Choir (trading as West London Chorus) Summary of Accounts for the year ended 31 July 2025

Income Members subscriptions Gift Aid & Bank Interest Sale of music to members Friends subscriptions & donations Sponsorship & programme advertising Workshop Fundraising Sundry income incl rehearsal refreshments Choir tours/trips Expenditure Musical Director fees Rehearsal Pianist fees Scholarships Rehearsal halls Purchase of music for resale Choir trips/tours Sundry expenditure incl Christmas party Making Music subs, PRS, insurance Website & Fundraising costs Workshop Surplus / (deficit) before concert account CONCERT ACCOUNT Income Ticket sales & refreshments Expenditure Orchestra Soloists Staging & Instrument hire Programmes & Publicity Venue hire Refreshments Sundry expenses Music hire Concert Account Surplus / (deficit) Surplus before concert account Concert account deficit Surplus/(deficit) for year Funds in hand at 1st August Funds in hand at 31st July REPRESENTED BY (Statement of assets and liabilities) Cash at bank (Santander, Lloyds + CCLA) Less deferred income Plus accrued income Plus prepayments Less creditors & accrued expenditure	2025 26,610 6,412 1,510 6,375 750 1,379 211 859 18,261 62,367 16,982 6,685 4,845 3,894 2,101 7,383 897 876 1,093 270 45,026 17,341 17,298 17,298 6,789 5,430 5,904 1,638 2,512 1,908 857 - 25,038 (7,740) 17,341 (7,740) 9,601 15,506 25,107 22,565 (4,629) 3,000 11,543 (7,372) 25,107	2024 19,961 3,903 2,020 8,000 2,300 1,961 2,230 96 2,250
		42,721 15,737 5,655 4,525 2,781 1,935 2,907 475 1,204 856 221
		36,296
		6,426
		13,922
		13,922 11,736 3,950 1,211 1,882 1,046 1,220 123 398
		21,566
		(7,644)
		6,426 (7,644) (1,218) 16,724
		15,506
		18,022 (7,323) 3,000 2,281 (475)
		15,506

The Chiswick Choir

(trading as West London Chorus) CONCERT ACCOUNT for the year ended 31 July 2025

Income Tickets, programmes & refreshments Grants Expenditure Concert orchestra Concert soloists Staging & Instrument hire Programmes & Publicity Venue hire Refreshments Sundry Music hire Total expenditure Surplus/(deficit)	Dec-24 Dec Chorale 7,313 2,286 - - 7,313 2,286 5,189 200 2,000 170 930 80 818 53 805 280 465 135 - - - - 10,207 918 (2,894) 1,368	Apr-25 4,239 - 4,239 1,100 1,600 2,437 285 1,027 390 - - 6,839 (2,600)	Jul-25 3,460 - 3,460 300 1,660 2,457 482 400 918 857 - 7,074 (3,614)	Total 17,298 -
				17,298 6,789 5,430 5,904 1,638 2,512 1,908 857 -
				25,038
				(7,740)

Programme for season 2024-25

Dec-24 Messiah x2 Chorale Christmas programme Apr-25 Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle Jul-25 Over the Rainbow

Note - Other Assets

The choir owns a touch-sensitive Roland electronic keyboard. It is available for hire by responsible persons.

It was purchased as an ex-demonstration model in 1996 for £1200 It is insured for a replacement value of £6000

THE CHISWICK CHOIR (TRADING AS WEST LONDON CHORUS)

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE CHISWICK CHOIR

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Chiswick Choir for the year ended 31" July 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the Charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that, in any material respect:

the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Christopher J Wright

80 Sylvan Road Crystal Palace London SE19 2RZ

26[th] August 2025