Lisburn Community Choirs Annual Report
For Year Ended 31[st] July 2023
Registered Charity Number NIC 108427
Annual Report
LISBURN COMMMUNITY CHOIRS LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Trustees
Mrs K Webb Mrs Carol Johnston Mrs L Cunningham Mrs P Knowles Mr Paul Snape Mr Richard Thompson Ms Marian Mateer Mr Des Henry
Chair Mrs K Webb Secretary Mrs L Cunningham Treasurer Mr R Thompson Choir Administrator Mrs J Dawson (until 2/3/23) Finance Administrator Mr R Thompson Musical Director Mrs J Harper (until 2/4/23) Deputy Musical Director Mr Tim Reynolds Independent Examiner Mrs F. Jones FCA
Registered Charity Number NIC 108427
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LISBURN COMMUNITY CHOIR ANNUAL REPORT
| CONTENTS | PAGE |
|---|---|
| CHAIR OF TRUSTEES REPORT | 4 |
| TREASURER’S REPORT | 6 |
Registered Charity Number NIC 108427
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LISBURN COMMUNITY CHOIR ANNUAL REPORT
CHAIR’S REPORT
For year ended 31[st] July 2023
Introduction & roundup:
This year, we have managed, with great delight all around, to be back in Lisburn Cathedral for our rehearsals. After over 2 years of uncertainty and lockdown – everyone was pleased to be back.
We started our first night with a Registration evening and a BBQ on Monday 5[th] September 2022. Great time had by all and wonderful to see so many people back together. Julie, of course, doesn’t let the grass grow under her feet, had everyone up singing and getting started on our repertoire for the coming year.
We performed a wonderful Christmas Concert in Lisburn Cathedral on Monday 12[th] December, and as a special treat for the whole choir, we had Pizzas and S’Mores served in the Church Hall afterwards.
We were back into rehearsals in January, preparing for our big night at the Musicals concert on Saturday 25[th] March 2023 at Lisburn Cathedral. Sadly, for all of us, Julie Harper, founder and Director of the Lisburn Community Choirs had announced that she would be stepping down after this concert. As a choir we are so thankful to Julie for 10 years of hard work and inspiring us all to sing, regardless of ability or talent! We all went to the Premier Inn after the concert to spend some quality time together, and to say a proper thanks and farewell to our wonderful leader! There was a special song, thanks and gifts, we miss you, Julie.
However, we are so blessed to have our Deputy Musical Director take up the reins and from Sept 2023, Tim Reynolds is the new Musical Director.
Board of Trustees
Our voluntary committee is made up of 6-8 Trustees. For the past year since the last AGM, the Board members are as follows: Karen Webb (Chair), Liz Cunningham (Secretary), Paul Snape, Des Henry, Pat Knowles, Marian Mateer, Carol Johnston and Richard Thompson. We also have in attendance, our choir administrator, Jane Dawson. We are now in our second year of being a full Charity, and we were sad to see Jane Dawson, after so many years of administrative support, leave the choir. Thank you, Jane for keeping us all right with the intricacies of being a charity. Tim Webb has stepped into the role of administrator at our Board meetings. Paul Snape and Richard Thompson have also decided to step down, and we are so grateful to them both for all hard work and support over the past few years. You will hear from Richard in a moment as he presents his report for the last time.
Media/ IT Sub committee
This group was formed involving interested choir members, to refresh Facebook page; construct a web page; sign up on Instagram. The following choir members are involved in this group - Marian Mateer & Lynsey Davidson. When the group was set up, we had no idea just how important social media would be.
Registered Charity Number NIC 108427
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Thanks and final remarks
Firstly, I want to thank the Board of Trustees for all their support and hard work. Particular thanks go to Jane Dawson, for all her administration and help with setting us up as a Charity, Richard Thompson, for all his work with our finances.
The choir is made up of so many people with so many gifts and skills. Behind the scenes, I am ever amazed and challenged by the commitment of busy people, who support the choir in the background, in places unseen. Special thanks to the following:
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Richard Thompson for the tea/coffee each week.
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Des Henry for supporting us all with backing tracks and parts.
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Pat Knowles for being like a dog with a bone, tracking down funding for our choirs.
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For Natalie Williams, Liz Cunningham, Carol Johnston and team for all they have done last year for the Kid’s choir.
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Carol Johnston, for taking up the reins of the children’s choir and sorting out ticket source!
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Lisa Harper, for taking on the onerous task of providing choir uniform for everyone.
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Ali, John and Marian for being a contact in each of the parts of the choir.
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Media team for keeping our social media fresh and interesting!
Finally, thanks must go to our amazing Musical Directors – Tim Reynolds and Julie Harper – last year has seen a lot of changes, some good – being in the Cathedral again, and some sad – losing Julie as our musical director and Jane and Richard from our administration team and Board. We are delighted that Tim Reynolds has agreed to take up the reins of the choir and we look forward to a new era with Tim and his accompanist, Sharon Hodgins.
So, I would like to finish by saying thank you to all of you. For sticking with the choir each week, for practising your songs, parts and words. For sticking with the choir in good and bad times. Keep on singing!
(Chair of LCC)
Registered Charity Number NIC 108427
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LISBURN COMMUNITY CHOIR ANNUAL REPORT
TREASURER’S REPORT
For year ended 31[st] July 2023
The Choir Year of 2022-2023, saw a tentative return to the beginnings of normal operations and return to buildings, events and 'normal' choir life. As we got going, the Board were keen to keep spirits up and provide additional social opportunities alongside regular choir. To meet this a number of small events with additional catering were run, that incurred some costs. Building slowly over the year only a couple of singing events were run, and these while wholly successful, were accepted as being more about the choir performance, than revenue generation, as such these did not fully cover their costs.
With funds in the bank, this was not a major issue in the context of the year, but it did reduce the reserves slightly. Looking forward to the coming year, some costs have already been incurred in preparation for the planned Spring concert in the Ulster Hall, which is expected to fully cover its costs as a minimum. With careful management of ongoing discretionary costs and some work to secure grants/fundraising to cover some of the essential fixed costs like insurance, music and so on, I fully expect the choir to be in a comfortable position to continue to function in its current form.
Following an increasingly busy year and looking forward to what will be an even busier year to come, I have decided to step down as Treasurer and pass the baton on, at this natural point of the financial year end.
Richard Thompson
Treasurer
Registered Charity Number NIC 108427
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