CITY OF DERRY INTERNATIONAL CHOIR FESTIVAL LIMITED TRUSTEES. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024 The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 30 April 2024. The financial slatements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set oul in nole 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's goveming document. the Companies Act 2006 and 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practi applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordan with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 102) {effective 1 January 20191" Objectives and activities The City of Derry International Choir Festival Limited is a not for profit organisation. The charity promotes the public performance of classical music. in particular through annual festival the City of Derry Intemational Choral Festival that celebrates music making by choirs and involves local. national and international participants in concerts, competitions, workshops and community perfomances across the aty of Derry. First held in 2013, the City of Derry Intemational Choir Festival is now estsblished as a major event in the musical life of Northem Ireland and as the onw intemalional choir festival of its kind in the UK. Conceived as a joyous celebration of all that choral singing has to offer, its activities include conrtS by world-renowned vocal groups, competitions for choirs. workshops and educational events for singers and conductors, and community concerts and choral trails in landmark locations across Dery and the surrounding area. The festival welcomes more than 60 choirs each year and recent festivals have welcomed groups from Belarus, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia. Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Itaty, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Scolland, Slovenia. Sweden and Wales. Choirs range from local and school groups to vocal ensembles, adult, community and gospel choirs. Intemationalty acclaimed professional groups featuring in our guest concerts have induded The Six1een, The King's Singers, Tenebrae, The Real Group, VOCES8, SLIXS, the Swingle Singer5 and the Marian Consort. The inclusion of such outstanding artist5 is a benchmark of the event's high artistic quality- Mission: We promote and develop choral music in a local, nalional and inlemational contexl, driving excellence, community and audience engagement, and personal fulfilment through singing. Vision- To inspire by our work a love and appreciation for choral singing in present and future generations. Values: Excellence= we deliver Ihe highest qualty experience in everything we do Inlegrity.. we carry out all of our work wth the gatest responsibility and accountabilty Creativity.. we instil our work with imagination and innovation Collegiality= we ensure openness, trust and respect in all our working relationships Diversity.. we capitalise on the richness inherent in differences In association with these events we promote educational programmes for schools and occasionally for adVand level students, programmes to encourage communty music making and concert tours in Northem Ireland, across Ireland and in the UK. The benefil that flows from our purpose is the promotion of enjoyment, better understsnding and apprecialion of the art and science of choral music in all tts many fomis, and including on occasion other musical fonn5 that are related to or are also readily appreciated by audiences. We do this for the general public in Northem Ireland, involving the public as audience members or as aclive participanls in music making. We can evidence the benefits of our work Ihrough regular evaluation and audience sueY of all our events, including qualitative analysis of audience and participant response, through photo, video and recorded documentation, peer review, and regular reporting through annual reports, audit and reports to funders. We can think of no obvious possibilty of ham arising from our activities, which are subject to risk assessment. the necessary safety and protection policies and codes of conduct for staff and volunteers.
CITY OF DERRY INTERNATIONAL CHOIR FESTIVAL LIMITED TRUSTEES. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024 Public benefrt The trustees have paid due regard to guidan issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake. Activities The charity affirms its belief in and comrnttment to.. establishing an annual, 5-day joyous celebration of choral music in a fun. encouraging almosphere, promoting and developing choral music in the cty of Derry, throughout its schools and on a national and internalional level, creating a welcoming. inclusive atrnosphere for participation in choral activities in a competitive and non- competitive environment, encouraging and supporting a love of choral music and crealing inspiring experiences for all involved. providing access to intemationalty renowned choirs and conductors, creating a plalform for the composition and perf0mlan of new choral music, providing performance opportunities across a wide range of ages, encouraging the development of choral singing from primary age and above, providing perfomiance opportuntties for a wde range of musical Styles. ensembles and nationalities, developing the standard of choral singing through high-qualty training of choral directors, broadening participaling choirs and audience's exposure to a wider range of choral music, creating international exchanges and links. establishing the festival on the intemational circuit of choral festivals, establishing a legacy. The City of Deny Intemational Choir Festival aims to invite high-qualty choral groups who are enlhusiaslic about choral music and have a love for sharing perfomiances. singing with others and learning from professional practitioners. The festival aims to inspire choral ensembles to further their singing skills and take away a lasting impression of the cily of Derry with a desire to relurn in Ihe future and participate again. Achievements and perfomian¢e Significant activities and achievefftents against objectives The City of Derry International Choir Festival took place 18th-22nd October 2023, being the 11th edition and the 1 Oth anniversary from Ihe first event held in 2013. The evenl was highly successful, attracting 20,000+ audience, 4,145 participants {80 choirs) bringing 2,500+ bed nights to the city. with 91 events taking place in 44 venues across the cily and region. Our digital programme continued with a broadcast perfonnance of the Cranberries anthem Dreams, performed 8S part of a Derry Gids Ihemed evenl in Guildhall Square by a choir of 100 posl-primary choristers from local schools. Highlights included.. Opening gala cOnrt with Festival Chorus and Ulster Orchestra, featuring Giuseppe Verdi's Messa Da Requiem Guest concerl by The Sixteen in Ihe Guildhall A full programme of schools, national and intemational competitions, with seven intemational choirs from Czech Republic, England, Ireland, Latvia, Notway, Poland and Switzerland compeling for the intemalional Oak Tree of Derry trophy. won by Maska Mixed Choir from Latvia Primary school day with 20 school choirs participating City-wide community programme wilh famity workshops and mass participation event. community concerts, plus choral and sacred trails across the city On-line Symposium lo discuss engagement and social bonds through singing, with an inlernational panel of contributors A new commission by Codetta from Anders Edenroth for mixed choir A conducting workshop. led by the Finnish choral director. Kari Turunen.
CITY OF DERRY INTERNATIONAL CHOIR FESTIVAL LIMITED TRUSTEES. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024 Financial review Total income for the period was £155.598. of which £95,447 was generated from grant funding, £30.000 was generated from sponsorship agreements, £24,400 generated from tickets, programmes and merchandising sales and £5.751 from donations. Total expenditure was £143.514 all of which was spent on the delivery of the City of Derry Intemational Music Festival programme of events. The charity ha5 a deficit in reserves at the year end in the arnount of £3.378, which is made up of.. £7,500 restricted reserves carried forward in respect of funding to be utilised during 2024125., and deficit in unreslricled reserves in the amount of £10.878. Going concem The Trustees are implementing a strategy to eliminate the deficit in unrestricted reserves and return the charity to surplus over the next three financial years by il reviewing the cost of its core programmes, li} maximising income from current SoUrS {tickets, competition entry fees, merchandising sales), and iiil diversifying income through its fundraising (trusts, corporates, donations)- Based on 2024125 financial performance at the date of approving the accounts, the Trustees expect Ihal the chartty will generate in excess of £15,000 nel income and have committed to set this aside to reserves to address the deficit. Furthemiore. the Trustees are committed to setting aside £15,000 per annum for the next three years to build a level of reserves in accordan with the charity's resetves policy. ReseeS policy The Board of Trustees has examined the chartty's requirements for reserves in light of the main risk5 to the organisation, and have determined that the main risk to the charity would be the loss of funding. Therefore, it is the policy of the charity that unreslricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to allow the charity to supplement funding secured and deliver the Cty of Derry Intemational Choir Festival programme of events. Based on the funding sources of the charity, the Trustees consider an appropriate amount to hold in reserve would be £36,000. The trustees consider Ihal reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity's current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. The charity's free reseNes are in deficit at the reporting date and the Trustees plan to address this deficit as outlined above. Accordingly. the Trustees continue to strive to build a general level of reserves in accordance with their policy so that they will be able to continue the current activities of the charity. Major nsks The Trustees are aware of Ihe major risks to which the charity is exposed. Where appropriale. syslems or procedures have been established to mitigate the risks the charity faces. Intemal control risks are minimised through Ihe procedures for authorisalion of all transactions and projects. Procedures are periodically reviewed lo ensure that they continue to meet the needs of the charity- PrOdureS are also in place to ensure compliance with health and safety of staff, volunteers and clients. The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied Ihal systems are in place to mtligate exposure to the major risks. Plans for future periods A e1fth anniversary edition of the Festival is in preparation for Odober 23rd 27th 2024. The Festival will look to bring Ulsler Orchestra to accompany Ihe Festival Chorus on the opening nighl, to produce high-calibre guest concerts and a full community programme. attract national choirs to a Choir of the Festival event and present an international choir competition with leading intemational groups from around the worfd. It will also present a Symposium on issues of diversity and indusion in choral music, wtlh a leam of inlemational parlicipants, partners and guest speakers. Structure, governance and management Governing document The City of Derry International Choir Festival Limtted is a company limtled by guaranlee. The company was incorporated on 24th March 2017. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the company. and is govemed by its Articles of Association.
CITY OF DERRY INTERNATIONAL CHOIR FESTIVAL LIMITED TRUSTEES. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024 The trustees, who are also the d1CtorS for the purpose of company law. and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were= Donal Doherty Colm Rainey Grainne Stevenson Joy Tennis Martin White Philip Gilliland John Healy Tessa Breslin (Resigned 7 March 2024) Recmitment and appointment of tmstees The Directors of the company are also charrty Trustees for the purposes of charity law. Unless otherwise determined by ordinary resolution, the number of Iruslees shall not be subject to any maximum but shall not be less than one. All members of Ihe Board of Trustees give their time voluntarity and reiVed no benefits from Ihe charity. None of the Trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the Trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in Ihe event of a winding up. Organisational structu The charity is administered by a Board of Trustees who are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the company. Board members are from a variety of professional backgrounds relevanl lo the work of Ihe charity- The Board as a whole was approved by the AGM and continues to monitor its membership. The board has appointed a management team to manage the day to day operations of the charity- Statement of trustees. responsibilities The Iruslees, who are also the directors of cty of Derry Intemational Choir Festival Limtled for Ihe purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Report and the financial slatements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company Law requires the trustees to ppare financial statemenls for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the stste of affairs of the charty and of the incoming reSoUrS and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year. In preparing these financial statements. the trustees are required to= select suitable accounting policies and then appty them consistentty.. observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP- make judgements and estimates thal are reasonable and prudent., state whether applicable UK Accounting Stsndards have been followed, subject lo any material departures disclosed and explained in Ihe financial slatements.. and prepare the financial statements on the going concem basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation. The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose wrth reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
CITY OF DERRY INTERNATIONAL CHOIR FESTIVAL LIMITED TRUSTEES. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024 The trustees, report was approved by the Board of Trustees. Philip Gilliland Trustee 28 February 2025