Huntingdonshire Philharmonic (Registered charity: 280451) Report to the Charity Commissioners for the Period 1 August 2021 to 31 July 2022
Charitable objectives:
To educate the public in the arts and sciences, and in particular the arts and science of music, by the presentation of concerts and other activities.
Organisational structure:
The Charity, Huntingdonshire Philharmonic (also referred to as "Hunts Phil"), is governed by its Constitution document and is managed by a committee (the Committee). The Charity employs a Chorus Master and an Orchestral Leader based on a fixed-term agreement and an Orchestral Conductor on an informal basis while the Charity completes the process of making a permanent appointment. Hunts Phil pays their rehearsal fees, concert fees and out-of-pocket expenses (if any) on a sessional basis. The weekly rehearsals provide educational opportunities for all members to learn about the musical pieces and practice the singing and playing techniques required for the performances. Where,
-
soloists are required for specific choral or orchestral repertoires; and
-
additional specialist orchestral players are needed to enhance particular items in a repertoire,
they are employed based on one-off pre-agreed contracts.
The Charity's Honorary President and Vice-President are Christopher Brown and Canon Jonathan Young, respectively.
The Committee for 2021/22 is comprised of six Charity Trustees, including:
Dr Katrina Coope (resigned 31 July 2022) Peter Downes Karen Mason (Honorary Treasurer) Bronwen Rayner (Chairman) Bernadette Wong (Honorary Secretary) Nicholas Sarkies
Hunts Phil members are elected to join the Committee at the Annual General Meeting. The Constitution document governs the appointments. The workload is spread throughout the Committee, with those with specific interests in leading those projects. We are also grateful to nonCommittee members who volunteer on a regular or ad-hoc basis to assist in the smooth running of the Charity.
The work of the Committee is fed back to the members at rehearsals and via emails and the member specific pages of the website. The website (https://www.huntsphil.org.uk) has been updated to improve the ease of communication between members.
The Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) was held virtually on 4 May 2022 for the approval of the revised Constitution. A quorum of members was present at the EGM, and all the attendees agreed unanimously to the revised Constitution.
Review of the year to 31 July 2022
Following the COVID-19 global pandemic and national lockdown, all live concerts and face-to-face rehearsals have resumed for the 2021/22 season.
Page 1 of 4
The Committee decided to continue delivering six concerts over the year (as per pre-pandemic), including:
-
two choral concerts (with a chamber orchestra drawn from orchestral members as far as possible);
-
two orchestral concerts; and
-
two joint choral/orchestral concerts.
This continues to provide opportunities for both the choir and the orchestra to broaden their repertoires.
The 2021/22 season programme has been performed at St Mary’s Church, Godmanchester, for the Choral only concerts and at the Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre, Hinchingbrooke School, Huntingdon, for the remaining concerts.
| Date | Concert type | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 16 October 2021 Autumn term Choral Handel: Messiah Our first choral concert from the return of the pandemic was the well-known piece, Handel Messiah. The choir, the Chamber Orchestra (mainly drawn from our orchestral members) and the soloists performed at the concert, with our Chorus Master, Lee Dunleavy, as the conductor. The soloists for the evening were Judit Felszeghy (Soprano), Mark Hounsell (Tenor), and Jack Holton (Bass). |
||
| 27 November 2021 Autumn term Orchestral Brahms: Tragic Overture Op 81 Lutoslawski: Little Suite Schubert: Symphony No. 8 ‘Unfinished’ This was our first orchestral concert since the return of the pandemic, which was conducted by Chris Ridley. |
||
| 11 December 2021 (Christmas concert) Orchestral and Choral Poulenc: The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant Chappell: Paddington Bear’s First Concert Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Christmas Carols Anderson: Sleigh Ride and a feast of festive carols At Christmas, we presented our popular Family Concert and various traditional and contemporary carols. Our choir member, Richard Walmsley, was the narrator in Chappell’s Paddington Bear’s First Concert. This concert was conducted by guest conductor Richard Laing. |
||
| 19 March 2022 Spring term Choral A Bohemian Rhapsody Dvořák: Mass in D Janáček: Otčenáš Eben: Pražské Te Deum Smetana: Vltava from Má Vlast (tr. Adrian Self) This was the last choral concert conductor by our Chorus Master, Lee Dunleavy, with “A Bohemian Rhapsody” theme. It was around January last year that the choir began zooming the Mass in D by Dvořák and Janáček’s setting of The Lord’s Prayer (Otčenáš). This concert finally gave a chance to bring this programme together to a public audience, plus a new piece– Petr Eben’s Prague Te Deum. Our four vocal soloists were Imogen Russell (Soprano), Rachel Coombs (Alto), Mark Darling (Tenor) and Krishnan Ram-Prasad (Baritone). The organist for the evening was Andrew Parnell. |
Page 2 of 4
| Date | Concert type | Programme |
|---|---|---|
| 26 March 2022 Spring term Orchestra Stravinsky: Firebird Suite Brahms: Symphony No.4 in E minor Op 98 Sibelius: Karelia Suite Op 11 The Orchestra members spent the Spring term of 2020 before the national lockdown rehearsing Brahms Symphony No.4. This concert finally gave them a chance to perform to a live audience, plus new pieces, Firebird Suite by Stravinsky, and Karelia Suite Op 11 by Sibelius. This concert was conducted by Andrew Morris. |
||
| 2 July 2022 Summer term Orchestral and Choral Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor Op 156 Mendelssohn: Symphony No 2 ‘Hymn of Praise’ This concert was conducted by Andrew Morris. The piano soloist was George Todica for Grieg’s Piano Concerto. Our three vocal soloists were Laura Moretto (1stSoprano), Hannah Littleton (2ndSoprano) and Sam Madden (Tenor). |
Financial matters
The Committee regularly reviews the Charity's finances. The Committee's primary focus has been on protecting our members and closely monitoring the impact of Charity's financial position, particularly with the uncertainty to the membership and audience level; and the increase in costs of holding concerts after the pandemic.
Total spending during the twelve months to 31 July 2022 of £35,347 (2021: £8,715) was significantly higher than the total income of £28,650 (2021: £8,549), giving a reduction of £6,697 (2021: £166 loss) to the reserves. As a result, our reserves have decreased from £22,863 (2021) to £16,166 (2022). The reduced income was mainly due to low audience attendance at the live concerts. The main contribution to our increased spending is that our regular concert venue, Hinchingbrooke Performing Art Centre, has significantly increased the venue hire fees compared to pre-pandemic.
The Charity has a cash reserves policy and aims to maintain a minimum of £16,000, which is monitored by the Committee. As a result of the loss for the year, the year-end reserve of £16,166 is very close to the Charity’s cash reserve policy minimum and as a result the Committee are considering additional sources of funding.
The Charity holds a bank account with Barclays Bank UK PLC (Market Hill Branch, Huntingdon, PE29 3AE) for the day-to-day running of the Charity.
The Charity also invests in two funds with CCLA Investment Management Limited (Registered Address: One Angel Lane, London EC4R 3AB):
-
COIF Charities Deposit Fund (£9,258 as of 31 July 2022) aims to provide a high level of capital security and a competitive rate of interest while retaining reasonable access for reserves purposes.
-
COIF Charities Investment Fund (£3,681 as of 31 July 2022) aims to provide a long-term total return comprising growth in capital and income distributions.
Page 3 of 4
In addition to our musical performances, we support the Huntingdonshire Children's Charity "Dreamdrops" (http://dreamdropschildrenscharity.org/). This local charity raises funds to provide services and equipment (not covered by NHS public funds) for sick children and their families. We continue to support this charity by encouraging attendance from Dreamdrops members at the concerts to make a 'bucket collection' at the end of the concerts, publishing and selling items and helping the Hunts Phil by selling programmes.
Due to continuing increases in cost, particularly the venue hire fees, the subscription rates were set at an increased level for the 2022/23 season. The Committee proposed increasing the annual full membership fee from £140 to £160, which members approved at the 2022 AGM. Additional donations are encouraged due to the increase in costs. As always, members' circumstances would be considered if necessary.
We thank our Chorus Master, Lee Dunleavy, for this challenging season. We also thank Chris Ridley, Andrew Morris, and Richard Laing for their outstanding contribution towards maintaining the orchestra in the absence of a full-time orchestra conductor. We sadly had to say farewell to Lee, who resigned at the end of the Spring term of 2022, and his presence will be sorely missed. Following this, the Trustees completed a process to fill the vacancies for Chorus Master and Orchestra Conductor and this led to the appointment of our new Musical Director, Michael KarcherYoung, whom we welcome for the forthcoming season. Michael will be both the choral and orchestral conductors for Hunts Phil.
Bernadette Bo Yee Wong Secretary to the Charity Trustees 31 May 2023
Page 4 of 4
Huntingdonshire Philharmontc Society Registered charity: 280451 Independent Examinerfs Report Ind•p•ndent Examlnerfs Report to the Truste¢s of Huntlngdonshire Philharnionlc Socioty l port on the accounts ofthe charity for the year ended 31 Juty 2022 which are set out on pages 2 to 4. RoSPOCtivo ra•pon$ibllitiM of trnstw and oxaminer The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the a¢coLSnts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not qUired for this year under sectKtrn 144{21 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibilty to.. examine the accounts under SeOn 145 of the 2011 kt.. follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions gNen by the Charity Commission under seelion 14515}{bl of the 2011 Act. and state whether particular matters have ce to my attention. Basls of Indendent examln•rfs roport My examination was carried out in accordantr with the 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 wtth those records. It also includes cOnseration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees conming any such matters. The produres undertaken do not provide all the eviden* that woukl 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 lo those matters set out in the statement below. Independent examinorfs Statement In nnectIOn with my examination, no matter has come to my attentr"on: which gives me reasonable cause to believe that. in any material respect, the requirements.. to keep a¢Gounting records in xcordance with section130 of the 2011 Act", and to prepare accounts whi¢h accord with the accounting records and compty with the accounting requir8m•nts of the 2011 Act have not been met or 2. to Whh, in my opinion, attenlion should be drawn in order to enab a proper ursderslanding of the a¢counls to be reached. Bruce Gentles 37 High Street Bramplon PE28 4TG 1 October 2022
Huntingdonshire Philharmonic Society Registered charity." 280451 Statement of Receipts and Payments For the Year Ended 31 July 2022 Yoar onded 31 July 2022 Year endod 31 July 2021 Notss Recelpts Voluntary Income sourc88 Members, subscriptions Donations Gift aid FUrraisIng income 11.980 3.731 3,194 299 19,204 4,971 1,424 1,049 173 7,617 Investment income 126 102 Roeolpts from ¢harltsble tradlng Concert income Sales to patronsl season tickets Sundry income 8,686 830 830 9.320 Total recelpts 28,650 8,549 Payments Direct charitable exwlturn Concert expenses Hire of rehearsal room Rehearsal fees Covid-19 cancellation fees Making Music subscription and insurance Purchases 21.544 1,920 10,640 855 1,163 2,890 1.728 235 589 34.928 971 8.201 Otr •xndItuTe Publi¢ty Administration 110 404 514 335 419 Total payments Not payments 6.697 166 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 22.863 23,029
Huntingdonshire Philharmonic Society Registered charity: 280451 Statement of Assets and Liabilities As at 31 July 2022 Notss At 31 Juty 2022 At 31 Juty 2021 Cash ndS Deposit account Bank account 9,258 9.132 13.731 Total cash funds 16,166 Investm8nt as80ts COIF Investment fund 3.722 Assots rots1n for own u Timpani Ele¢tronic keyboard Liabllltios Instrument hire 15 Total 15 Approved by the committee on 12 September 2022 and signed on their behalf by Bronwen Rayner. Chair Karen Mag)n. Honorary Treasurer
Huntingdonshire Philharmonic Society Registered charity: 280451 Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 July 2022 1. Ba818 of proparatlon These accounts have been prepared usirKJ the receipts and payments convention as pemiitted undèr section 133 of the 2011 A¢L Quoted investrnents have been stated at bid market value at 31 July 2022. 2. Cash fvnds Cash funds a unr8Strict*J funds vthich are availabk for use at the discretion of the trustees in the furtherartt of the general objectives of the charity and wthich have not been desKJnated for other purposes. 3. Assets retain for own us• Additional infomiation lating to assets retained for use is set out below. Current valuations are not Carried out Doscrlpllon of asset Year of purchase Timpani Electronic keyboard 1987 2CI13 3,660 2,694 4. Related party transactlons There have been no related party transactions during period that require dk%closure {2021.' £NII).