2025-08-31-accounts

LAWYERS’ MUSIC

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the year ended 31 August 2025

REGISTERED ADDRESS:	49 Croham Road
	South Croydon
	CR2 7HD
COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER:	1952985
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER:	293015
BANKERS:	HSBC
HONORARY PRESIDENT:	H W Ashton
COMMITTEE MEMBERS:	B Cater – Chair
	I Dal Soglio (appointed 21 October 2024)
	S M Gibbons
	W F G Hess – Treasurer and Secretary
	T Le Brocq
	O Robinson
	S Sadoughi
	J Tuppen
	S Webbe

LAWYERS’ MUSIC

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE

The Committee Members submit their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025. The names of those who served on the Committee during the year are given on page 1.

Structure, governance and management

Lawyers’ Music is a company limited by guarantee, constituted in accordance with its Memorandum and Articles of Association. Each of the members has undertaken to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 towards the assets of the company in the event of the same being wound up and the assets being insufficient to cover its liabilities.

The company is managed by the Committee, which is made up of members whose appointment is subject to approval by the membership as a whole in General Meeting.

Objectives and activities

The company is established “to advance the aesthetic education of the public throughout the world in the art and science of music”. It works to achieve this aim:

• by recruiting amateur singers and instrumentalists to form the London Lawyers’ Symphony Orchestra and the London Lawyers’ Chorus, and

• by the Orchestra and Chorus presenting a series of public concerts each year, usually in central London.

The company publicises its activities through its website www.lawyersmusic.org.uk.

The Committee members have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.

Achievements and performance

As a part of the still ongoing process of rebuilding numbers following Covid 19, the committee created a programme of events that balanced the continued need to recruit new members with financial constraints consistent with not overextending ourselves and thus remaining on a sound financial footing. The charity enjoyed a successful year of its musicmaking and charitable activities, putting on the following programme of events:

• On 9[th] November 2024 at St Andrew’s Holborn, the orchestra performed Mahler’s first symphony which is a big work and required many extra players. We took the view that we would be able to recruit the majority of the extra players to play for free since it is an exciting work but seldom performed due to the size of orchestra needed. The hope was that some of those players would stay and join the orchestra on an ongoing basis, or at least we would have a number of new players for our dep list – and this proved to be the case. Mark Prescott conducted this work along with Sospiri by Elgar and Pelleas et Melisande by Faure.

• On 30[th] November 2024, the choir performed Bach’s Christmas Oratorio numbers I, II and III at St Giles Cripplegate, conducted by Chris Oakley and accompanied by 28 members of the LM orchestra. Our four soloists included choir member Sanae Ueda (Soprano Recit.).

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• We held our AGM at the same time as our Christmas party on 9[th] December 2024, which was held at the Blue Posts, London W1.

• On 13[th] March 2025, the choir performed a programme on the theme of singing at St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden, conducted by the Choir’s 2025 bursary conductor (as an opportunity for up and coming conductors), Kwan Ruangtrakool, currently a student on the MA conducting course at the RCM. The concert featured a second performance of our LM commissioned work “The Song Sung True” by Judith Weir, with accompanied and a capella pieces across the ages from Byrd and Monteverdi to McDowell and Gawthrop. Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music featured a virtuoso performance by violin soloist Gwyneth Nelmes (LM Leader). Our regular accompanist and collaborative pianist, Ella O’Neill joined us to perform two piano pieces - “Embraceable You” from 7 Virtuosic Etudes After Gershwin, by Earl Wild and “Rosemary”, No 2 from Three Sketches by Frank Bridge.

• On 22[nd] March 2025, the orchestra performed Tchaikovsky’s 6[th] symphony at St Giles Cripplegate conducted by Seb Marshall. Seb was also selected to conduct after auditions in 2024 in order to give an opportunity to an up and coming conductors, in accordance with our charitable aims. We also performed Weber’s Euryanthe Overture and Beethoven’s 5[th] piano concerto with Andrew Blankfield (ex LLM committee member who kindly played for free) as soloist, which drew in a good audience of 140 people.

• On 28[th] June 2025 the orchestra and choir performed Handel’s Alexander’s Feast in a joint concert at Holy Sepulchre, Holborn. Chris Oakley conducted and soloists included long-time associates of the choir Fiona Hymns (soprano) and Stuart Orme (baritone).

• On 7th July 2025, in order to engage the full orchestra in the summer term, the orchestra performed at St. Andrew’s Holborn with Mark Prescott conducting Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet overture, 2 movements from Smetana’s Ma Vlast and Grace William’s Penillion, and we accompanied our orchestra leader Gwyneth Nelmes who played the Florence Price’s 2nd violin concerto. The women composer works incurred music hire costs which were covered from the kind bequest of Sylvia Kapp. Sylvia’s sister attended the concert.

The company is, as always, indebted to its many members who give up their time for free and contribute in so many ways to help achieve our objectives. Aside from the members of the committee, particular thanks this year must go to Sarah Webbe, James Collinge, Tom Le Brocq, Gladys Ching, Geoffrey Hunter and Stephanie Rawlins who spent significant amounts of time on producing our high-quality programmes and promotional materials.

Membership

Membership numbers in 2025 remained stable (with 84 members, compared to 85 in 2024). In 2025, the split between paying members in the orchestra and choir was 48 versus 36, which compares to 47 versus 38 in 2024 and 54 versus 54 in 2023. Recruitment and ensuring that all members who are able to pay their subscriptions continues to be a key focus in the 2026 season and the Committee and volunteers within the Organisation have

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begun to take measures to improve membership (for instance by visiting freshers’ fairs and extensive advertising).

Financial review

Whilst still running at a deficit, the 2025 deficit was less than budgeted for. The financial result for the year was an excess of expenditure over income of £3,309 ( 2024: £4,353) . Lawyers’ Music continues to benefit significantly from Orchestra Tax Relief (in 2025, £5,946). In 2025, Lawyers’ Music ran an additional concert in June (with six full concerts during the year compared to the usual five). The deficit on this concert was £5,903. Given the planned concert schedule in 2026 includes the usual five concerts, it is hoped that this will enable 2026 to see a surplus (albeit this is heavily dependent on membership numbers remaining stable or increasing).

As at 31 August 2025 the company had bank deposits totalling £24,469 ( 2024: £24,526). The company also had amounts recoverable under gift aid of £nil ( 2024: £4,018 ). The sums include general reserves which the company aims to maintain at the level of at least half a year’s expenditure and this will continue to be closely monitored. The remainder of the balance of the Helen Sibthorp legacy (£19,622, of which £2,073 remained at the end of 2024) bequeathed to Lawyers’ Music by former member Helen Sibthorp “ in the hope that they will do something truly interesting with it ”, together with a further legacy of (£5,000, of which £553 remained at the end of 2024) bequeathed by former member Sylvia Kapp in October 2014 have now been utilised in full.

This report has been prepared taking advantage of the small companies exemption in accordance with s.415A, Companies Act 2006.

This Report was approved by the Committee on 30 November 2025.

B Cater Committee Chair 30 November 2025

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LAWYERS’ MUSIC

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

For the year ended 31 August 2025

Note Income– Resources arising Income from regular concerts Income from special events Donations and legacies Subscriptions Income Tax recoverable under Gift Aid 6 Interest receivable Orchestra Tax Credit 7 Expenditure– Resources used Direct charitable expenditure: Costs of regular concerts 2 Costs of special events Administration costs 3 Net movement of resources in the year (Deficit)/surplus Reserves brought forward Reserves carried forward	2025 2024 £ £ 6,955 6,332 740 0 2,940 1,112 18,424 18,627 4,994 4,651 0 0 5,946 6,273
	39,999 36,995
	(32,355) (36,125) (6,643) (100) (4,310) (5,124)
	(43,308) (41,349)
	(3,309) (4,354) 31,931 36,285
	28,622 31,931

The notes on page 6 form part of these financial statements.

The above results, which have been calculated on the historical cost basis, are wholly attributable to the continuing activities of the company.

There are no recognised gains or losses for either year, other than those shown above.

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BALANCE SHEET

As at 31 August 2025 Current assets Debtors and prepayments Cash at bank Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Other creditors and accruals Net assets Reserves Income and expenditure account - Balance brought forward (Deficit)/surplus for the year Balance carried forward Of which: Legacy reserves Sibthorp legacy brought forward Movement in the year Sibthorp legacy carried forward Kapp legacy brought forward Movement in the year Kapp legacy carried forward General reserves Brought forward Movement in the year Carried forward	2025 2024 £ £ 4,153 7,405 24,469 24,526
	28,622 31,931 0 0
	28,622 31,931
	31,932 36,285 (3,309) (4,353)
	28,622 31,931
	2,073 2,073 (2,073) 0
	0 2,073
	553 553 (553) 0
	0 553
	29,305 33,659 (683) (4,354)
	28,622 29,305

The notes on page 6 form part of these financial statements.

For the year ended 31 August 2025 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts.

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to small companies’ regime.

B Cater Committee Chair

Approved by the Committee on 30 November 2025.

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LAWYERS’ MUSIC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the year ended 31 August 2025

1. Accounting policy

Basis of Accounting

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention in accordance with applicable accounting standards.

2.

3.

Concert expenses Soloists’ and instrumentalists’ fees and expenses Conductors’ fees and expenses Hire of venues Hire and carriage of music Publicity and programmes Hire of equipment and instruments Other concert expenses Administration costs Society website and membership platform Registrar of Companies Making Music (National Federation of Music Societies) PRS for Music fees Account fees Advertising Sundry expenses	2025 £ 14,439 3,490 11,298 1,522 370 1,092 144 32,355 2025 2,134 34 566 59 60 1,057 400 4,310	2024 £ 14,605 5,905 13,209 892 294 1,050 170
		36,125
		2024 2,704 13 596 0 60 1,300 451
		5,124

4. Committee members’ emoluments

The Committee Members receive no emoluments in respect of their services on the Committee. The Charity has no employees.

5. Income

Income is accounted for on the basis of amounts received or receivable in respect of activities in the financial year.

6. Tax status

Due to the charitable status of the company, no taxation arises on the results for the year. Income tax recoverable on subscriptions and donations paid under Gift Aid is accrued and amounted to £4,994 (2024: £4,651).

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7. Orchestra Tax Credit

Due to the orchestral productions undertaken by Lawyers’ Music, Orchestra Tax Credit is available with respect to the production cost of Orchestral events. After expenses, the Orchestra Tax Credit accrued in the current year was £5,946 (2024: £6,273).

8. Related Party Transactions

There were no related party transactions in the period.

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CHARITY COMMISSION I FOR ENGLAND AND WALES ••• Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesldirectorsl mèmbers of Lawyers. Music On accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 Charlty no.: 293015 Company no.: 1952985 Set out on pages I report to the chartty trustees on rny examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 3110812025 Responsibilities and basis of report A5 the charity's trustees of the Company {who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law), you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Ccwnpanies Act 2CK16 (Ihe 2006 Al￿). Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited for this year under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as caffied out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ("tPE 2011 Acf). In carrying out my examination, I have followed the Directions given by the Chanty Commission (under seth.on 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. Independent 8xaminerfs statement I have Gompleted my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ') which gives me ause to believe that". ' accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.. or . the accounts do not accord with such records; or • the accounts do not comply with relevant accounting requirements under section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requiremenl that the accounts give a Irue and fairf view which is not a matter Gonsidered as part of an independent examination., or •the accounts have not been prepared in a¢cordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102). IER October 2018

I have no COn￿mS and have come across no other matters in connection Wlth the examination to whith attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proFer understarmjing of the acC￿untS to be reached. . Please delete the ￿ in the brackets rf they do not appty. Signed: Date: 15. 11. 2al Name: Geofftey Matthew Hunter Relevant professional qualificationls) or body (rfany): FCA (ICAEW) Address: Flat 34 DarMn Court Gloucester Avenue London NW17BG Section B Disclosure Only Gomplete rf the examiner needs to highlight material matters of GOn￿M (see CC32. Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. NIA IER October 2018