Toccata Musical Productions Annual Report & Statement of Accounts For the year to March 2024 Toccata Musical Productions Rogisterod Charity in Northem Ireland
The trustees of Toccata Musical Productions are pleased to produce their Annual Report and Statement of Accounts for the year 2023. Years in service of the community- 2 years. Community outreach programmes- 1 year. Number of outreach programmes- 10 Number of people who benefrted from the outreach programmes - 8000 Guest artists for the year- 50. The principle activity of the organisation is to support charities through music and perfonnance and to promote intercultural leaming and interaction and understanding through exchange of artistic excellence. One of the core pillars of the organisation to encourage young talent in the world of music. To this end several important musical partnerships were established culmination in a multination tour to India in February 2024. In the beginning of April 2024 the core members of Toccata Musical productions began an interaction with the Dutch Nightingales, a Youth choir based in Oostehout, Netherlands. The choir has more than 50 singing members. The age groups range from 12-27 years. The initial interaction culminated in some of the core members of Toccata visiting the country. A partnership was established at the meeting. It was decided that a joint musical project would be established with a view to produce a concert tour in India. Concerts in Norther Ireland: Toccata Musical productions along with members of the orchestra from London performed two concerts in Northern Ireland in October 2023 in preparation for the tour to India. 1. Concert performed forthe Dementia Choir. Hosted by the Mayor of Lame, this concert featured the Toccata soloists choir and orchestra alone. One of the highlights of the concert was the guest appearance of the Dementia choir and the finale which involved all the musicians, audience and the dementia choir. 2. Concert perfomiance for Christ the Redeemer Church which was extremely well patronised. Interaction and rehearsals with the Dutch Ni htin ales: In mid January 2024 Toccata soloists conductor and pianists travelled over to Oosterhaut in the Netherlands. This was in preparation for the large concert tour to India. After wonderful welcome the team buckled down to serious rehearsals and after an arduous day of rehearsals the group perfomied for the first time along with the Dutch choir. A brilliant after concert interaction with the Dutch choir, their board and the families, this was to set the tone for the tour to India in February.
Tour to India: The first team to land in India We the Dutch choir. With a flash mob performance at the Kempegowda International Airport, the musical that held the passengers in awe set the tone for the musical extravaganza that was to follow. Concert number 1: The Dutch Nightingales perfomed for the Mysore Literary Forum, a charity based in Mysore. Attended by over 500 people. Members ofthe Royalty attended the concert. Several young children enjoyed the fabulous accapella singing of the choir. Concert number 2: One ofthe largest concerts attended by over 5000, this cOnrt was hosted by The Mysore Music Association, one of the oldest musical associations in India. This combined concert included the Toccata Orchestra, Soloists, the DLrtch Nightingales. Widely publicised this was the second time that Toccata as performed in this historic city. Concert number 3.. The combined body of musicians performed for the Christ CMI Public school. Thls rural school had never seen western musicians or westem instruments and this was a time of brilliant interaction between the students of the school, teachers, principal and the musicians. Strict adherence to safety and child protection ensured that the young people were always chaperoned as per guidelines. Concert number 4: Hosted by the Iconic Pondichery Medical College in the old French colony just a 100 kms from the city of Chennai, this coastal city formed the venue for our next concert. The audience were doctors and nursing students from the college along with special guests from the city. Concert Number 5: Concert for the children of The Lady Andal School, the concert was performed at the famous Sir Murtha Venkatasubba Rao auditorium. Many of these children were from extremely low income groups. Concert Number 6: Concert for the public of Chennai. This concert had the Prince of Travancore as the chief guest along with several excellent musicians from Chennai and movie celebrities. The very positive feedback from these legends of music were very welcome and was a great source of encouragement to the team. Concert Number 7: Final concert in Chennai for the second successive night, it was a sad and emotional finale to a wonderful tour. As the team said goodbye to India, many friendships had been forged, many great experiences to be carried away to homes, stories which would enthral listeners and tears shed that the tour and the experience was over in short nine days. Benefits to the community: 1. Enabling people to listen to world class musicians perform. 2. Enabling charities to gain vital financial resources for their day to day activities. 3. Exposure of young children and young musicians to the professionalism and expertise of world class musicians and perfonners. 4. Excellent educational opportunities for budding musicians.
- Young musicians exposed to large audiences, the press and the experience of being welcomed a celebrities.
- Experience of interacting with press and publicity bodies.
- Superb cultural exposure including visits to palas, world famous heritage sites, exposure to food an travel experiences that few have experienced. The cultural experience included a visit to the Bandipur national game reserve. Walking through forests where elephants. leopards and tigers roam, swimming in the Bay of Bengal, visits to the shore temples of Mahaballipuram and the Auroville ashram. These were some of the highlights of the tour. Two activities which stood out was the convoy of tuk-tuks roaming around the city of Chennai filled with musicians escorted by the local police and performing spontaneously to the villagers on the highway. Medical Activities: Work in progress for the neonatal conference tour in 2026. Interactions are ongoing to build a nursing and doctorfs team to speak at the neonatology forum in India. Administrative u date." Toccata has been having regular meetings. These meetings are generally on Zoom. The meetings include many of the senior members of Toccata. Over the year, two of our board members have decided to step down. Ms Kavitha Prasad and Mr David Robinson have stepped down from the board due to family and business commitments. The entire team of Toccata would like to record their appreciation for the invaluable service to the charity. Although they continue to be very much part of the organisations, we wish them the very best as they move on to other ventures. Toccata also welcomes two new board members, Ms Hilary McKee and Ms Deidre Ishar Wright. Both our new members will be formally inducted to the board in the next year. This concludes the annual report of Toccata Musical Productions. The board and its members wish to record their thanks to the patrons, sponsors and various volunteers who have ensured the good achievements over the last year.