## **Leicester Bach Choir** ## **Trustees’ Annual Report for Financial Year ending 30 June 2024** ## **Objectives and Activities** ## **Public Benefit** The Leicester Bach Choir aims to educate the public with a wide range of choral music through concert performances, and choral workshops for a wider audience. The choir offers opportunities for all full-time students to join them for free and they charge minimal subscription rates for younger singers who are not students. The choir aims to involve children and young people in singing activities and concerts as participants or soloists where appropriate. Young people aged 16 and under attended concerts for free and sixth formers, full-time students and people with disabilities paid just £5. The Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. ## **Achievements and performance** The **2023-24 concert season** began with an outstanding performance of Handel’s _**Messiah**_ in December 2023 in Leicester where all seats were sold – over 200. The choir was joined by a professional orchestra and highly acclaimed soloists. The performance was warmly received by the audience as the positive reviews indicated e.g. “ _The Leicester Bach Choir’s performance of Handel’s Messiah on 9 December was a triumph – combining passion, intensity, pace and an exquisite interplay of voices within the choir and with the excellent soloists. It provoked a deserved and extended standing ovation from a full hall. This is an excellent choir at the peak of its powers._ Sir Alan Tuckett” In March 2024, the choir mounted a concert, **Exsultate Jubilate** , and was joined by Joanne Lunn, their President, who is an internationally renowned Baroque Soprano, and a small string ensemble. They performed: Mozart – _Exsultate Jubilate_ **;** Scarlatti – _Stabat Mater_ ; Patrick Hawes – _Song of Songs_ ; Mozart – _Laudate Dominum_ ; Mendelssohn – _Wer nur den lieben Gott_ **;** Gounod – _Jerusalem._ Once again, the performance was warmly received by a large audience who provided excellent feedback. For the June 2024 concert, **Summer Awakening,** the choir was joined by a small professional string ensemble led by Shulah Oliver - Smith and they performed Josef Rheinberger - _Stabat Mater_ ; Guillaume Lekeu – _Adagio_ ; J S Bach - _Chorus and Chorale_ from _Wachet Auf;_ Frank Bridge - _A Prayer_ ; John Ireland - _A Downland Suite_ ; George Dyson - _Three Songs of Praise_ . The performance drew these comments from our president Joanne Lunn, who was in the audience: _“My word, what a treat and a joy the concert was on Saturday evening! A great big thank you and well done to all involved. I thought that the programming was stunning by Richard, some really beautiful music with great programme notes and performed so well by you all. Both the choir and the orchestra & organist were on the finest of form. I don’t think I’ve ” heard you better_ . Charity name: Leicester Bach Choir Founded in 1928 Registered Charity number: 501890 www.leicesterbachchoir.org.uk In addition to the regular concerts the choir organised a _**Come and Sing**_ workshop day in January 2024 to work on **Puccini’s** _**Messa di Gloria**_ with their conductor, Richard Laing. This annual event continues to open up the experience of choral singing to a wide audience beyond our members. The workshop attracted more than 100 participants from across the Midlands and further afield, most of whom were not current members of the Leicester Bach Choir. Participants included some who had little previous experience of choral singing but enthusiastically reported having had a very rewarding, enjoyable and educational day. Alongside their concerts, this _Come and Sing_ venture continues to fulfil the choir’s charitable purpose of educating the wider public about choral music, evidenced by the participation, enthusiasm and support of these large numbers of singers from outside the choir. It also proves a welcome means of substantial fundraising which helps to ensure the mounting of future LBC concerts. LBC’s Music Director, Richard Laing, who has just completed his 21st season with the choir, continues to innovate and inspire, as demonstrated by the warm positive reviews and comments the concerts have continued to receive this season. The choir continued to offer free membership to students, which have been taken up, and also a considerably reduced membership fee to other under 25s. The Friends and Patrons continue to support the choir through their generous subscriptions and enthusiastic support at the concerts. The choir has also received generous support from further individual donors and the Helen Jean Cope Charity. ## **Financial Review: Treasurer’s report** Following some final adjustments to the accounts, the position is as follows: Singers’ subscriptions of £11,654 were received, and Gift Aid of £3,747.60 was recovered for the previous year. We also received a very welcome £1,090 from Friends and Patrons. Non-specific donations amounted to £475. Other income during the year, from Music Hire, refreshments and miscellaneous sales, fundraisers including the Chef & Spice meal and Summer Barbecue, plus Come & Sing amounted to £4,203.44. Expenditure for the year for rehearsal venue rental, Conductor’s and Accompanist’s fees, and other non-concert related items amounted to £17,989. The Choir performed in 3 concerts during the year, with total income of £14,108.81 and expenditure of £15,417.64. After allowing for late receipts and expenditure for the July 2023 concert, we finished with an increase in funds of £1,109.62. We now have a bank balance of £17,548.23. The Trustees are to consider writing a Reserves Policy during the coming year. Mike Randle _Treasurer_ Charity name: Leicester Bach Choir Founded in 1928 Registered Charity number: 501890 www.leicesterbachchoir.org.uk ## **Structure, Governance and Management** ## **Governing document** Constitution adopted 13 September 1972. Amended 7 September 1983, 28 August 1990, 2 September 1998, 2nd September 2009, 6th September 2017, 4th September 2019. ## **Recruitment of trustees** Nominations for trustees to be elected are submitted in advance of the Annual General Meeting in September each year. All the trustees are recruited from the choir membership except for the Concert Manager, whose post was originally advertised through local music networks, and the Treasurer, whose post was filled by a highly experienced and recommended volunteer from outside the choir, being a retired local Bank Manager and a former and present Treasurer for other local charities. Voting to appoint all Trustees takes place at the AGM and in September 2023 all current trustees were reappointed by the membership. ## **Reference and Administrative Details** Trustees appointed by the members of the Leicester Bach Choir: Dr Jennifer Clegg Chair (from 14 Sept 2022. Resigned 9 Feb 2024) Nicola Little Vice Chair (from 6 Sept 2017) Acting Chair (from 9 Feb 2024) Gail Hobbs Secretary (from 7 Sept 2016) Michael Randle Treasurer (from 22 Sept 2021) Patricia Taylor Friends’ Representative (from 2 Sept 2020) Elizabeth Jennifer Casboult Concert Manager (from 5 Sept 2018) Jacqueline Burden General Trustee (from 5 Sept 2018) Angela Zemlak General Trustee (from 3 Sept 2014. Resigned 30 Oct 2023) Paul Leonard-Williams General Trustee (from 2 Sept 2020) Dr Jennifer Wilkinson General Trustee (from 14 Sept 2022) Charity name Leicester Bach Choir Charity Commission registered number 501890 Financial year ending 30 June 2024 Charity’s principal address c/o Mrs Gail Hobbs 1 Eynsford Close Oadby LEICESTER LE2 2LN Charity name: Leicester Bach Choir Founded in 1928 Registered Charity number: 501890 www.leicesterbachchoir.org.uk Mr Meirion Thomas John F Mould & Co. 19 – 20 Baxtergate Loughborough LEICESTERSHIRE LE11 1TG Independent examiner ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ## **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** ## **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** Gail Hobbs Gail Hobbs _Secretary, Leicester Bach Choir_ September 5[th] , 2024 Charity name: Leicester Bach Choir Founded in 1928 Registered Charity number: 501890 www.leicesterbachchoir.org.uk 1. ## **THE LEICESTER BACH CHOIR** ## **Registered Charity No. 501890** ## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES YEAR ENDED 30[th] JUNE 2024** ## **INCOME & EXPENDITURE – UNRESTRICTED (INCLUDING DESIGNATED) FUNDS** |Note
INCOME from:
Donations
Singing members subscriptions
2
Friends and patrons subscriptions
Other
2
Charitable activities
- Concert income
5
- Come and Sing
TOTAL INCOME
EXPENDITURE on:
Raising funds
- Come & Sing
- other
Charitable activities
- Concert expenditure
5
- other
3
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
NET INCOME/( EXPENDITURE) AND NET
MOVEMENT IN FUNDS FOR THE YEAR
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward|2024
£
475
14,391
1,090
1,811
14,049
4,042
35,858
1,832
-
16,341
18,010
36,183
( 325)
19,170
18,845|2023
£
3,810
15,172
890
2,278
9,454
3,191| |---|---|---| |||34,795| |||2,036
152
9,483
16,349| |||28,020| |||6,775
12,395| |||19,170| All activities of The Leicester Bach Choir are intended to be continuing. The statement of financial activities reflects all gains and losses recognised in the year. 2. ## **THE LEICESTER BACH CHOIR** ## **BALANCE SHEET – 30[th] JUNE 2024** |CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors - gift aid tax recoverable
- concert income
- other ( income receivable and prepayments)
Cash at bank - Co-operative Bank Community Directplus account
Total current assets
LIABILITIES – falling due within one year
Creditors - concert expenses
- other
NET ASSETS
THE FUNDS OF THE CHARITY
Unrestricted income funds
Signed on behalf of the Managing Committee|2024
£
2,677
-
339
17,548
20,564
652
1,067
1,719
18,845
18,845|2023
£
3,747
1,448
266
16,439| |---|---|---| |||21,900| |||1,818
912| |||2,730| |||19,170| |||19,170| |||| M. Randle – Treasurer 9[th] September 2024 3. **THE LEICESTER BACH CHOIR** ## **NOTES ON THE ACCOUNTS – YEAR ENDED 30[th] JUNE 2024** ## 1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP): Accounting and reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011. The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern in the foreseeable future. The Choir is an unincorporated charity, governed by its rules, registered in England and Wales as charity number 501890 |2.|SINGING MEMBERS SUBSCRIPTIONS/OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES||| |---|---|---|---| |||2024|2023| |||£|£| ||Singers subscriptions|11,714|11,461| ||Income tax recoverable|2,677|3,711| |||14,391|15,172| ||Other trading activities||| ||General fund raising events and refreshments sales|1,501|1,895| ||Music sales and hire|310|383| |||1,811|2,278| |3.|OTHER EXPENDITURE||| ||Conductors fees – retainer and additional fees|10,359|9,291| ||St. James the Greater rehearsal room hire|2,810|1,634| ||Accompanists|2,830|2,800| ||Subscriptions and performing rights|641|400| ||Stationery, photocopying and postage|-|379| ||Website and advertising|1,197|1,782| ||Bank charges|116|63| ||Miscellaneous|57|-| |||18,010|16,349| ## 4. TRUSTEES REMUNERATION AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS No members of the management committee have received any remuneration for the year from the charity’s funds (2023 – nil). There were no related party transactions during the year (2023 – none). 4. **THE LEICESTER BACH CHOIR NOTES ON THE ACCOUNTS – YEAR ENDED 30[th] JUNE 2024** ## 5. CONCERT ACTIVITIES – 2023/24 SEASON |Winter
Concert
£
INCOME
Tickets, programmes,
refreshments sales
8,712
EXPENDITURE
Soloists and musicians
5,645
Posters, programmes & tickets
454
Venue, fees, lighting
Music hire
869
367
Event licence
21
Travel expenses
146
Refreshments
84
Flowers
Organ hire
-
-
7,586
SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) ON EVENTS
1,126
CONCERT ACTIVITIES – 2022/23 SEASON
Winter
Concert
£
INCOME
Tickets, programmes,
refreshments sales
5,339
EXPENDITURE
Soloists and musicians
2,960
Posters, programmes & tickets
219
Venue, fees, lighting
684
Music hire
828
Event licence
21
Travel expenses
36
Refreshments
121
Flowers
28
4,897
SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) ON EVENTS
442|Easter
Concert
£
3,445
1,190
367
922
1,120
21
36
136
42
380
4,214
( 769)
Easter
Concert
£
2,087
600
163
814
407
21
60
30
-
2,095
( 8)|Summer
Concert
£
1,892
2,750
477
652
557
21
84
-
-
-
4,541
(2,649)
Summer
Concert
£
2,028
950
370
690
347
21
40
73
-
2,491
( 463)|Total
£
14,049
9,585
1,298
2,443
2,044
63
266
220
42
380
16,341
( 2,292)
Total
£
9,454
4,510
752
2,188
1,582
63
136
224
28
9,483
( 29)| |---|---|---|---| 5. ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE LEICESTER BACH CHOIR (THE CHOIR)** I report on the accounts of The Leicester Bach Choir for the year ended 30[th] June 2024 which are set out on pages 1 to 4. ## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner** The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for the year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: - examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; - to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and - to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of independent examiner’s report** My examination was carried out in accordance 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 with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as 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. ## **Independent examiner’s statement** In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: - 1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and - to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or 2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. M. THOMAS FCA ICAEW 8 Angus Close Thurnby Leicester LE7 9QG 9[th] September 2024