CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Trustees, Annual Report for the period
From
1 January 2023
To 31 December 2023
Charlty name: York Opera
Charity registration number 700279
Objectives and Activities
SORP rofwW￿•
Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
goveming document
Pwa 1.17
The presentstion of opera perfonmances in
North Yorkshire... and to promote and
encourage the love of opera in North
Yorkshire
During the year the company gave threo
performances of Yhe Elixir of Love.
(Donizetti} at the Joseph Rowntree
Theatre, York and three perfomiances of
Macbeth (Verdi) al the York Theatre Royal.
The company also gave two Chrisknas
concerts including William Lloyd Webberfs
cantats "Bom a Ki
The Trustees have reviewed the guidance
on public issued (PB1) by the charity
commission and is satisfied that it meets
the requirements
Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposas for the public
benefit. in particular, the
activities. projects or
services identffied in the
accounts.
Pwa I.17￿1
1.19
Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Chanty
Commission on public
benefit
P•• 1.18
Addltlonal Inforniatlon (optlonal)
You ma
choose to indude further ststements where relevant about
SORP releren
The company does not give grants.
although on occasion it may waive or
reduce membership fees - especially for
young musicians. Our aim is that no•one
who wishes to sing opera is prevented from
doin
so because of membershi
fees.
Not applicable
P•rn ljl
Policy on grant making
Parn 1.38
Policy on social imiestrnent
including program related
investment
Almost all the activities of York Opera are
undertaken by volunteers. This includes
our Musical and Stage Directors, all our
principals, and members of the chorus. In
a(Joition, we have very aciive teams
involved in the design and build of sets.
and in the desi
n and maki
of costumes.
P•rn 1.38
Contribution made by
volunteers

Finally, we have active social and fvrKI-
raising groups arKI volunteers are also
involved in the business side of the
fX)rn
an
Other
Achievements and Perfonnance
As described above. the company gave
th￿e perf0M￿nceS of "The Elixir of Love"
{Donizetti) al the Joseph Rowntree
Theatre. York and three perf0M￿nceS of
Macbeth (Verdi) at the York Theatre Royal.
The company also gave a Christrnas
concert including William Lloyd Webberfs
seldom perfonned cantats "Bom a KiThJ".
Summary of the main
achievements of the charity.
identsfying the drffe￿nce the
charity's work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to Society as a
whole.
P** 120
Both Elixir and Mathth were perfonned
with full orchestra in a professional theatre.
We do rK)t require our chorus to audition -
and this long held policy is core to our
purpose of bringing people inlo opera.
We do competitively auditi￿ for prinapal
roles and require a h￿h standard. We offer
roles to recent graduates wishing to
develop careers in music, and those wlx)
wish lo deepen their musical knowledge
and experience. In the year we also
provided opportunities to new d1￿CtOrS -
working under the ￿ntOrShIp of more
experienced directors.
We sing in English and our goal is to bring
well designed, directed arKI performed
opera to York audiences in an accessible
wa
Addltlonal Infornwtlon ¢optlonal>
You rna
cho)ose to include fvrther statements where relevant about:
We set ourselves a very thallenging
programme for the year. requiring
substsntial musical resources and complex
staging and wardrobe. This was all
achieved from our resources. The works
were very well received and with reviewers
commenting on the quality of music and the
visually compelling sets.
Achievements against
objectives set
P¥a 1.41
We are now also exploring outreath
OPKK)rtuniues to scncds and ways In Vthlch
we can fvrther en￿rage the musical lrfe of
York.

The substantial loss experienced during the
year has led us to undertake a review of
budgeting procedures. and we are
exploring opportunities to change both
timing and venues of our perfOrman￿S.
without reducing our (x)mmitrnent to
musical qualty.
Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set
1.41
We are actively reorientsting our sales and
marketing approach towards social media
and seeking opporttjnities to raise further
venue from
rants and s
nsorshi
Not applicable
Investment performan
against ¢)bjectives
P•x• 1.41
Other

Financial Review
Review of the charitls
financial position at the erKI
Para 1.21
In the year. York Opera made a loss of
£6,362 and finished the year with net
assets of £20,786. The loss would have
been significantly higher but for a timdy
and unbudgeted legacy. The Trustees have
tsken steps to ensu￿ that this loss is not
eated in 2024.
We hold sufficient funds to manage our
very uneven cash tlows comknbly. (￿r
membership fees a￿ set to pay for
everyday expenses such as rehearsal
space and rent on our wardrobe and set
stores. However, we do not typically
receive ticket Income from the theatres until
after we have had lo pay costs - especially
those relating to orchestral expense and we
keep reserves to manage this. Our
reserv8s also allow us to manage
unforeseen losses like that ￿lch we
suffered this
ear.
£20.786
nla
Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held
122
Amount of reserves held
Reasons for holding zero
reserves
Detsils of fund materially in
defidt
Explanation of any
uncertaintles about the
charity conts'nuir¥J as a going
Ptn 1.22
P•r• 1.22
P•r• 1.24
nla
P•M 1.23
nla
Addltlonal informatlon (optlonal)
You ma
choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity's prin(#pal
S￿rceS of fvnds (induding
any fundralsing)
P¥• 1A7
Investment policy and
objectives induding any
social invesknent policy
adopted
P¥• 1.46
A description of the principal
risks faciThJ the chaiity
Parl 1.46
Other

Structure, Governance and Management
Description of d￿rityS
trusts..
Type of govemiThJ d(Kument
Not Applicable
Para 1.25
Constitution
How is the chanty
constituted?
Para 1.25
Unincorporated association
c)rated
Trustee selecti¢)n methods
induding detsils of any
consts'tutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entided
to appoint one or mo
trustees
P¥• 125
Trustees induding officers (Chair.
Treasurer, S￿￿tary) a￿ elecled by
members at the annual general meeting.
Addltlonal Inforniatlon (optlonal)
You rna
(knse to include further statements where relevanl ab(xtr.
Poliaes and procedures
adopted for the induth'on
and training of trustees
P•rn 1.51
The charfty's organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works
Pwa 1.61
RelatiC￿hiP with any related
parties
P•r• 1.51
Olher
Reference and Administrative details
Chari
name
Other name the cha '
uses
istered chari
number
Charity's principal address
Yotho
nla
700279
2 St Roberts Gardens. Knaresl)orough, North Yorkshire HG5
8EH

Names of the charlty trustees who manage the charlty
Tru8t•e name
Olfice (If any)
Chair
Secretsry
Treasurer
Name of person lor boty) entttled
lan Thomson-smith
David Hartley
Adrian Cook
Hamish Brown
nla
nla
nla
nla
nla
Hannah Cahill
Margaret Soper
Pauline Marshall
Wendy Jackson
nla
nla
nla
la
nla
nla
la
rda
10
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
rate trustees- names of the directors at the date Ihe re
DirKtor nam•
nla
rtwasa
Name of trustees holding litle to propety be1￿Ing to the chaiity
Trusts• nam•
nla
D•t•• rf not for v•hol•

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets
nla
held in Ihis capacity
Name and objects of
charity on whose behalf the
assets are held arKI how Ihis
falls within the custodian
charitys objects
nla
Details of arrangements for
safe custody and
segregation of such assets
from the charity's own
assets
nla
Addltlonal InfOrn￿10n (optlonal)
Names and addresses of advlsers (Optlonal Irrforniatlon)
Type of Namo
Address
adviser
Name of chlof exocutlve or names of senlor staff m•mbars (Optional Inforn)ation)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of ke
rsonnel details
Other o
tlonal information

Declarations
The Irust•e$ declare that they have approved the trustees, report above.
Sign•d on bahalf of tho charltys trustees
Slgnature(s)
Full namels)
Posltlon (09 Secretary,
Chalr, Otc)
It5)R,knJ CS2>(
Chair
Treasurer
Date

YORK OPERA
In¢om•
615.c•)
Tkk•t S
4422.00
iJJ.so
Ghl I￿9
OD)
iio_ii
4J45.Cll
I.5￿X*
Heheorul r￿M$hM•￿1
SttnLN
Muskb
681.12
3.659.15
lJ,7n.51
¢hestr
PLth*v
5W59
115.65
Tr•nswt
i*).thJ
9.ns.
244.10
l40.
3,6SS.
45.C
•rs41 rthwlm•nii
Pwr•mm•
Trk•t SI￿¥
786.
S¢*nery rtv•
Stcrvx
J.lfyJ.41
o.
7,737.41
I￿lA1
Tvl•l Ixp•ndlturn
7.511.95
ikeKe and
IA32.XI
JIO.27
Musk hkn
OffhMtr•
?,610.￿)
I,115.
592.
Tk*et
946.xl
ProkntknT••m
Refr•sl¥fj•n
Prf4rwrrt
Pubk*v
Tr•nwt
To¢￿ In¢•iN
461.20
Muskl*e
2.017.55
al.so
Th••lr•
16391.74
LkeK•
21.Lb)
PRS •lty*•Dce
T¢*•1 EmpiTrlkn•
115.99

59 Woodwarde Road,
London
SE22 8UN
7 JULY 2025
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of York Opera
I report to the trustees on my 8xamination of the accounts of York Opera for the year ended 31
December 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charitytrustees ofthe Trust you are responsibleforthe preparation ofthe accounts in
accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2Qll ('the Act'l.I ieport in respectof niy
examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the2011 Act and in carrying
out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity
Commission under section 14515llb} of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matter8 have come to my
attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material
respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the
Act;
or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records.
or
3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concern"Ing the torm and
content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regu18tions 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 ex8mination
to which attention should be dr8wn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of
the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Name:
Slephen Waters ACA
Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Address:
59 Woodwarde Road, London SE22 8UN