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2024-08-31-accounts

Royal Leamington Spa Bach Choir Trustees’ Annual Report, Season 2023 to 2024

Royal Leamington Spa Bach Choir Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 1[st] September 2023 to 31[st] August 2024

Charity registration number: 506586

Season Summary

The choir continues to rehearse once weekly during school term times and performs four concerts and one Come and Sing per year. The choir continues to employ a Musical Director, Lee Dunleavy, and a professional pianist as accompanist, Colin Druce.

Concerts performed:

  1. Mozart Requiem and associated works

  2. Bach Choir Christmas Family Concert

  3. Considering Matthew Shepard – Johnson

  4. Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610

Other Events:

  1. Come and Sing Messiah

  2. Choral Evensong at St Paul’s

Chairman’s Report

On 11th November 2023 we sang Mozart’s Requiem to a full house at All Saints’, Leamington. We were joined by the Beauchamp Sinfonietta for the first time since 2019. At Christmas we returned to Holy Trinity for an afternoon concert including David Bednall’s Make We Merry, and selections from our collection of carols by past musical directors of the choir, accompanied by Colin Druce and ARC Brass. Also singing in the Christmas concert were eight of the nine men who had successfully completed our twelve-week Sing Together Leamington training programme, led by Peter Wilman during the Autumn term. The Mayor of Leamington Spa, Cllr Alan Boad, presented each graduate with a certificate, and we are delighted that five have joined the choir as full members.

In January this year we began rehearsing a very different piece. Considering Matthew Shepard is a modern oratorio by Craig Hella Johnson, exploring themes of intolerance, prejudice and hope in musical styles drawn from Broadway, Arvo Pärt and JS Bach. The concert on 16th March, 2024, was scheduled for King’s High School Hall, but with less than a month to go the school discovered they had double-booked us, so the whole show had to be squeezed into the Bridge House Theatre instead. For a UK premiere of a work with a challenging theme, we were pleased to have a good audience of 180 on the night.

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Royal Leamington Spa Bach Choir Trustees’ Annual Report, Season 2023 to 2024

On 11th May, Lee led a successful Come & Sing Messiah at St Marks, Rugby Road, with Colin Druce accompanying.

A week later, the choir sang the evening service at All Saints, Leamington, and the following day, Monday 20th May, 2024, travelled to London to sing evensong at Saint Paul’s Cathedral, with Lee directing and Colin playing. A large congregation heard music by Herbert Howells and a new anthem written specially by David Bednall. A tremendous occasion for everyone who took part.

The last concert of the season, was Lee’s last concert with us as Musical Director, on 13th July, 2024. Another full house at Saint Mark’s, Rugby Road, heard us sing Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610, with Charivari Agréable accompanying.

We recruited a new MD in the summer after a process which began at Christmas. 24 candidates applied, we interviewed 9 and auditioned 3. James Bate was the very clear winner, and we are delighted that he is joining us in September 2024.

Treasurer’s Report

We welcomed 95 paying members throughout the year, which is fantastic! Member subs are up, reflecting the growth in our choir family. Concert Income is on the rise due to good audience numbers and Concert Expenditure is holding steady.

We delivered another ambitious program without overspending, thanks in large part to some generous grants from the Cadbury Trust and Josephine Baker Trust. Overall, our concert loss was around £7k, well below the anticipated £11k.

This year, we also had some special events like St Paul’s and Lee’s Leaving celebrations, which added a little complexity to the accounts and added about £2.5k going in and out of the account.

Our fundraising efforts paid off. We received £1,000 from hiring out our staging at All Saints, £300 from selling scores to local libraries and £250 from Easy Fundraising and Amazon contributions.

While our net asset position dropped by about £700, we see no need for concern.

Governance

The Choir is governed by a constitution which sets out the Membership, Officers & Committee, Trusteeship, etc. Relevant extracts of the constitution are included here:

3) Membership

a) Patron

c) Vice Presidents

d) Members

ii) The position of Patron may be offered to a suitable person by a resolution of a General Meeting. iii) The position of President shall be reserved for the Mayor of Royal Leamington Spa ex officio.

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Royal Leamington Spa Bach Choir Trustees’ Annual Report, Season 2023 to 2024

iv) Vice Presidents may be elected by a General Meeting in recognition of exceptional service to the Society.

iii) Applications for Member must be made using the prescribed form and are subject to appraisal by the Musical Director as to the applicant’s musical suitability.

iv) Associate Members may be appointed by the committee.

v) The Committee shall ensure that a record is kept of the membership of the Society.

vi) Communications with the membership will be made in electronic form except as the committee may direct otherwise.

4) Officers & Committee

i) The Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall elect from among the Members of the Society a

committee which shall manage the Society comprised as follows:

a) Chairman

ii) A quorum at a committee meeting shall be not less than half the number of members and must include at least the Chairman or the Secretary or the Treasurer.

iii) Casual vacancies may be filled by the Committee from among the Members of the Society.

iv) The committee may co-opt not more than two additional persons as members at any time.

v) The Chairman shall have a second or casting vote at committee meetings only.

vi) A committee meeting may be called at any appropriate time by the Secretary.

vii) All committee members shall be eligible to stand for re-election except that no Member shall hold the office of Chairman for more than three years in immediate succession.

5) Musical Director

The Society may engage and remunerate a suitably qualified Musical Director whose duties shall include rehearsing the choir, conducting the choir at public concerts, appraising the musical suitability of applicants for membership, proposing for the approval of the committee a programme of music for performance which will advance the objects of the Society, and other duties as may be agreed from time to time.

13) Trusteeship

i) All music or other property purchased by or presented to the Society shall be vested in the committee.

ii) For the purposes of charitable registration, the trustees of the Society shall be the Chairman, the Secretary and the Treasurer.

iii) No trustee or committee member or any connected person shall receive any financial benefit from the Society except that

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Royal Leamington Spa Bach Choir Trustees’ Annual Report, Season 2023 to 2024

a) Out-of-pocket expenses incurred in conducting any approved business of the Society shall be reimbursed.

b) As provided by the Charities Act 2011 Section 185 a financial benefit may be given to a trustee or committee member or connected person in return for services provided under a written contract if the trustees and the committee agree that the best interests of the Society are thereby served and that in no circumstances do a majority of trustees or committee members receive any such benefit.

Adopted 31[st] January 1945 and last amended 2022. Ref: v2

Other Matters

Trustees have been made aware of the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.

Financial Review

Accounts at end August 2024

ROYAL LEAMINGTON SPA BACH CHOIR
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 AUGUST 2024
31.08.24 31.08.23 31.08.22 31.08.21 05.08.20 31.08.19 31.08.18 31.08.17 31.08.16
Equipment
At cost at 1 September 4,482 4,482 4,482 4,482 4,482 4,482 4,482 4,482 4,482
Additions inyear 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Depreciation to date (4,482) (4,482) (4,482) (4,482) (4,482) (4,482) (4,482) (4,151) (3,713)
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 331 769
Working capital
Debtors,advancepayments & cash floats 170 170 170 170 170 824 580 1,201 1,372
COIF charitydeposit 5,790 5,503 5,328 5,310 5,309 5,271 5,251 5,237 7,213
Lloyds current account 18,239 19,228 18,100 18,686 21,881 10,752 4,614 3,900 3,388
24,199 24,900 23,598 24,166 27,360 16,847 10,445 10,669 12,742
Income in advance and creditors 0 0 0 0 1,526 808 296 756 400
Net assetposition £ 24,199 24,900 23,598 24,166 25,834 16,039 10,149 9,913 12,342
Surplus funds asperpreviouspage £ 24,199 24,900 23,598 24,166 25,834 16,040 9,983 10,079 12,342

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Royal Leamington Spa Bach Choir Trustees’ Annual Report, Season 2023 to 2024

ROYAL LEAMINGTON SPA BACH CHOIR
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR TH E YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
2023/24 2022/23 2021/22 2020/21 2019/20 2018/19 2017/18 2016/17 2015/16
Total concert income asper attached schedule 21,711 16,133 12,141 571 12,283 14,022 9,991 10,320 12,515
Members' subscriptions incl Gift Aid recovery 22,092 21,772 10,630 5,155 15,014 14,804 11,364 9,459 8,825
Friends' subscriptions 677 683 1,179 710 1,240 1,028 1,060 1,220 900
Performance Fees & Special Events 2,678 16 1,200 480 - - - - -
Grants,donations,fundraising& bequest 3,319 4,041 2,773 2,199 1,979 56 0 570
Refreshments and raffles 1,248 1,044 1,127 72 1,361 1824 1495 1232 1,126
Bank deposit interest received 288 175 18 39 38 20 15 24 32
Miscellaneous income/Advance on next season 146 5 2,450 347 395 -1,349 204 218 0
Total income
52,159		 43,869 31,518 9,572 32,310 30,405 24,129 22,473 23,968
Total concert expenditure asper attached sche d
26,105		 27,630 19,297 2,248 11,144 15,772 15,647 16,246 17,997
Rehearsal venue 3,748 2,423 2,343 172 1,586 577 1573 1240 1,490
Conductor/accompanist 12,126 7,678 7,174 6,076 5,955 6458 5571 5265 5,787
Printing/publicity/website 559 499 577 393 2,626 307 68 172 350
Special Events 2,340
Stock Purchases,Equipment,Asset Maintenanc e
815
Miscellaneous(incprepayments) 6,143 3,490 2,118 1,634 639 648 453 803 305
Insurance,PRS & MakingMusic 1,025 846 578 718 567 586 583 572 600
Depreciation of equipment 0 0 0 0 0 0 331 438 438
Total expenditure
52,860		 42,566 32,086 11,241 22,515 24,348 24,225 24,736 26,967
Surplus/deficit for theyear
(701)		 1,302 (569) (1,668) 9,795 6,057 (96) (2,263) (2,999)
Funds brought forward at 1 September
24,900		 23,598 24,167 25,835 16,040 9,983 10,079 12,342 15,341
Funds carried forward at 31 August
24,199		 24,900 23,598 24,167 25,835 16,040 9,983 10,079 12,342
ANALYSIS OF CONCERT INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ANALYSIS OF CONCERT INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ANALYSIS OF CONCERT INCOME AND EXPENDITURE
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Autumn Xmas Workshop Spring Summer Total
Ticket sales 4,831 2,366 1,550 3,057 4,195 15,998
Programme sales 346 0 0 247 294 888
Programme advertising 60 0 0 60 60 180
Sponsorship /Grants 0 1,000 0 0 990 1,990
Music sale/hire 520 212 0 435 549 1,715
Other concert income 212 203 270 0 254 940
Total income £ 5,969 3,780 1,820 3,799 6,343 21,711
Orchestra/instrumentalists 2,270 1,670 420 2,060 4,930 11,350
Soloists/conductor 1,680 480 390 1,781 2,555 6,886
Music/instrument hire 129 1,252 100 610 687 2,778
Venue hire/stagingcosts 715 625 326 815 319 2,800
Concertprinting/advertising 491 225 108 546 506 1,875
Other concert expenses 82 93 0 122 120 417
Total expenditure £ 5,367 4,345 1,344 5,933 9,117 26,105
Concert surplus/deficit £ 603 (565) 476 (2,134) (2,774) (4,395)

The accounts were independently reviewed by Ms Yasmi Roberts of 40 Priorsfield Road, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 1DB on x 2024.

Reserves

It is the policy of the choir to maintain a balance of funds in the current account of £12,000, which equates to the typical level of professional fees for an average concert. This level was

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Royal Leamington Spa Bach Choir Trustees’ Annual Report, Season 2023 to 2024

recently re-established during the period of the pandemic when no concerts and very limited rehearsals were held. The below line of balance shows future years as estimates.

The choir also maintains an emergency COIF Charities Deposit Fund with CCLA Investment Management. The balance of this fund at 1[st] September 2024 was £5,790.45.

Choir Officers

Chairman Richard Taulbut Autumn 2021 to October 2024 Secretary Jude Robinson Autumn 2019 to October 2024 Treasurer Nicola Deards Autumn 2019 to present

Note that Chairman and Secretary have stood down from their posts and are handing over to new members currently.

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ROYAL LEAMINGTON SPA BACH CHOIR ROYAL LEAMINGTON SPA BACH CHOIR
ANALYSIS OF CONCERT INCOME AND EXPENDITURE
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Autumn Xmas Workshop Spring Summer Total
Ticket sales 4,831 2,366 1,550 3,057 4,195 15,998
Programme sales 346 0 0 247 294 888
Programme advertising 60 0 0 60 60 180
Sponsorship /Grants 0 1,000 0 0 990 1,990
Music sale/hire 520 212 0 435 549 1,715
Other concert income 212 203 270 0 254 940
Total income £ 5,969 3,780 1,820 3,799 6,343 21,711
Orchestra/instrumentalists 2,270 1,670 420 2,060 4,930 11,350
Soloists/conductor 1,680 480 390 1,781 2,555 6,886
Music/instrument hire 129 1,252 100 610 687 2,778
Venue hire/stagingcosts 715 625 326 815 319 2,800
Concertprinting/advertising 491 225 108 546 506 1,875
Other concert expenses 82 93 0 122 120 417
Total expenditure £ 5,367 4,345 1,344 5,933 9,117 26,105
Concert surplus/deficit £ 603 (565) 476 (2,134) (2,774) (4,395)
2023/24 2022/23 2021/22 2020/21 2019/20 2018/19 2017/18 2016/17 2015/16
Total concert income asper attached schedule 21,711 16,133 12,141 571 12,283 14,022 9,991 10,320 12,515
Members' subscriptions incl Gift Aid recovery 22,092 21,772 10,630 5,155 15,014 14,804 11,364 9,459 8,825
Friends' subscriptions 677 683 1,179 710 1,240 1,028 1,060 1,220 900
Performance Fees & Special Events 2,678 16 1,200 480 - - - - -
Grants,donations,fundraising& bequest 3,319 4,041 2,773 2,199 1,979 56 0 570
Refreshments and raffles 1,248 1,044 1,127 72 1,361 1824 1495 1232 1,126
Bank deposit interest received 288 175 18 39 38 20 15 24 32
Miscellaneous income/Advance on next season 146 5 2,450 347 395 -1,349 204 218 0
Total income
52,159		 43,869 31,518 9,572 32,310 30,405 24,129 22,473 23,968
Total concert expenditure asper attached sche d
26,105		 27,630 19,297 2,248 11,144 15,772 15,647 16,246 17,997
Rehearsal venue 3,748 2,423 2,343 172 1,586 577 1573 1240 1,490
Conductor/accompanist 12,126 7,678 7,174 6,076 5,955 6458 5571 5265 5,787
Printing/publicity/website 259 499 577 393 2,626 307 68 172 350
Special Events 2,340
Stock Purchases,Equipment,Asset Maintenanc e
815
Miscellaneous(incprepayments) 6,443 3,490 2,118 1,634 639 648 453 803 305
Insurance,PRS & MakingMusic 1,025 846 578 718 567 586 583 572 600
Depreciation of equipment 0 0 0 0 0 0 331 438 438
Total expenditure
52,860		 42,566 32,086 11,241 22,515 24,348 24,225 24,736 26,967
Surplus/deficit for theyear
(701)		 1,302 (569) (1,668) 9,795 6,057 (96) (2,263) (2,999)
Funds brought forward at 1 September
24,900		 23,598 24,167 25,835 16,040 9,983 10,079 12,342 15,341
Funds carried forward at 31 August
24,199		 24,900 23,598 24,167 25,835 16,040 9,983 10,079 12,342
ROYAL LEAMINGTON SPA BACH CHOIR
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 AUGUST 2024
31.08.24 31.08.23 31.08.22 31.08.21 05.08.20 31.08.19 31.08.18 31.08.17 31.08.16
Equipment
At cost at 1 September 4,482 4,482 4,482 4,482 4,482 4,482 4,482 4,482 4,482
Additions inyear 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Depreciation to date (4,482) (4,482) (4,482) (4,482) (4,482) (4,482) (4,482) (4,151) (3,713)
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 331 769
Working capital
Debtors,advancepayments & cash floats 170 170 170 170 170 824 580 1,201 1,372
COIF charitydeposit 5,790 5,503 5,328 5,310 5,309 5,271 5,251 5,237 7,213
Lloyds current account 18,239 19,228 18,100 18,686 21,881 10,752 4,614 3,900 3,388
24,199 24,900 23,598 24,166 27,360 16,847 10,445 10,669 12,742
Income in advance and creditors 0 0 0 0 1,526 808 296 756 400
Net assetposition £ 24,199 24,900 23,598 24,166 25,834 16,039 10,149 9,913 12,342
Surplus funds asperpreviouspage £ 24,199 24,900 23,598 24,166 25,834 16,040 9,983 10,079 12,342
166 -166
Approved on ........................................
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Chairman
.............................................................
Secretary
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Royal Leamington Spa Bach Choir On accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 Charity no (if any) 506586 Set out on pages See below I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ('the Trust") for the year ended Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordan￿ 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 I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives 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 fomi 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. Signed: J_ Date: 23rd November 2024 Name: Yasmi Roberts Relevant professional qualification{s> or body (if any): Retired bank manager with experience of reviewing audited accounts for lending purposes. Address: 40 Priorsfield Road, Kenilworth, WanNickshire, CV8 1 DB