charity reference SC 035974
registered address: An Laimhrig, Broom Place, Pitlochry, Perthshire PH16 5HX
Annual Report for the year 19 June 2024-18 June 2025
Chansons is a chamber choir based in Perth. Its aim is to foster the appreciation of choral music by training the choir’s singers and by performing choral music in a variety of venues.
Chansons is an unincorporated association governed under the terms of a constitution adopted by its membership. Chansons is recognised by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator as a charity.
This annual report and the following accounts have been prepared in accordance with the statement of recommended practice (SORP) for charities following the revised Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities, effective from January 2015.
Management of the choir is vested in a committee consisting of three members elected by the choir membership, together with an appointed Musical Director, plus up to two additional Committee members who are co-opted by the Committee. Chansons does not employ any staff. Committee members are the trustees of the charity:
| Lorraine Trayner | Administrator | Elected |
|---|---|---|
| Areti Lymperopoulou | Music Director | Ex-officio |
| Craig Tomlinson | Treasurer | Elected |
| John Luke | Publicity | Co-opted |
| David Wilson | Singers | Elected |
| David Willington | Secretary | Co-opted |
Chansons continues to enjoy the expertise and enthusiastic guidance of our Music Director, Areti Lymperopoulou who seeks to improve and expand our repertoire so that we can perform more ambitious concerts. We enjoy the challenge of learning new repertoire, producing a high quality performance and creating exciting concerts for our audience.
Entry to Chansons is by audition. A reasonable balance across all 4 voice parts is maintained up to a maximum of 40 singers. If there is no vacancy in a voice part then a successful
applicant will be placed on our waiting list until a suitable vacancy occurs. During the past year there were 4 resignations and 4 new appointees. The membership at the close of the choral year was 37 (11 sopranos, 9 altos, 6 tenors, 11 basses). We are always looking for tenors! We are very grateful for the use of the Chapterhouse in Perth’s St Ninian’s Cathedral for our weekly rehearsals and to our regular talented piano accompanist, Gordon Murch. Chansons performed 3 successful and enjoyable concerts during the year as follows: Concert Programme Chansons : 1. Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) : Three Shakespeare Songs i. Full Fathom Five ii. The Cloud capp’d Towers iii. Over hill, over dale 2. Gustav Holst(1874-1934) : Six Choral Folksongs i. I sowed the sees of love Saturday, 24 August 2024, 7.30pm ii. There was a tree iii. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John St John’s Kirk, Perth iv. Song of the Blacksmith v. I love my love vi. Swansea Town Chansons, Perth’s Chamber Choir Ars Antiqua Jugendchor(Youth Choir) : and 3. Reinis Sejans (1984) : Vindo (J. Hjernoe, arr.) 4. Nils-Eric Foughstedt (1910-1961) : I folksviseton Ars Antiqua Kammerchor and 5. Wilhelm Peterson-Berger (1867-1942) : Vessleblomme Jugendchor. Aschaffenburg 6. Karl-Frederik Jehrlander (1934, arr.) : Michelle (Beatles) 7. Daryl Runswick (1946, arr.) : Blackbird (Beatles) _Areti Lymperopoulou : Music Director Ars Antiqua Kammerchor : 8. Paul Hindemith (1895-1963) : Six Chansons (Rainer Maria Rilke) Katrin Ferenz : Music Director i. La Biche (The Doe) Gordon Murch: Pianist* iii. Puisque tout passe (Since all is passing) iv. En Hiver (In Winter) vi.Verger (Orchard) 9. Joseph Haas (1879-1960) : Es ist so still geworden 10. Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) : i. Nachtwache I ii. Nachtwache II aus op. 104 11. Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809-1847) : i. Der König in Thule, op. 67, Nr. 1 ii. Ungewitter, op. 67, Nr. 4 _Finale : All Choirs sing together 12. Stefan Claas : i. Hab oft im Kreise der Lieben ii. Es fürhrt über den Main eine Brücke von Stein iii. Auld Lang Syne 13. Trad arr. Ken Johnston (1962 -) : The Piper O’Dundee ~~|~~ Chansons Choir: SC 035974 Annual Report 19 June 2024 – 18 June 2025
| Donations collected for local charity: Perth Autism Support 1. Hodie Christus natus est: Jan P Sweelinck (1562-1621) 2. Adventi ének: Kodály (1882-1967) 3. All in the morning: Trad. Arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) 4. Il est ne, le divin enfant: Trad. Arr. Ben Parry (1965-) 5. Beata es Virgo Maria: Giovanni Gabrieli (c.1555-1612) 6. Quittez, pasteurs: French Trad. Arr. John Rutter (1945-) 7. Pat-a-Pan: Trad. Arr. David Rasbach 8. Es ist ein’ Ros’ entsprungen: Michael Praetorius (1571-1621) 9. Psallite 1609: Michael Praetorius (1571-1621) 10. Duo Seraphim: de Victoria (soprano+alto) 11. Susanni, A little child there is y born: Richard Rodney Bennett (1936- 2012) 12. Coventry Carol: Ola Gjeilo (1978-) 13. Wassail song: Trad. Arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) 14. Pilgrim Jesus: Bob Chilcott (1955-) INTERVAL 15. Bogoroditse Djevo: Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) 16. E la don don Verges Maria: Mateo Flecha (1481-1553) 17. ‘Twas in the moon of winter time’ Arr. John Rutter (1945-) 18. Mary Mother: Words Georgia Way, Music Bob Chilcott (1955-) 19. Carol of the Bells: English words Peter J Wilhousky , Music Mykola Leontovich (1877-1921), Arr. Peter J Wilhousky (1902-1978) 20. A Christmas Blessing: Philip W J Stopford (1977-) 21. The Bells of Christmas: Gordon Murch aansons sor Chr; o? %, > > Lg) ) Areti Lymperopoulou conductor Gordon Murch piano 7.30pm Saturday December7th St Ninian’s Cathedral, Perth |
Donations collected for local charity: Perth Autism Support 1. Hodie Christus natus est: Jan P Sweelinck (1562-1621) 2. Adventi ének: Kodály (1882-1967) 3. All in the morning: Trad. Arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) 4. Il est ne, le divin enfant: Trad. Arr. Ben Parry (1965-) 5. Beata es Virgo Maria: Giovanni Gabrieli (c.1555-1612) 6. Quittez, pasteurs: French Trad. Arr. John Rutter (1945-) 7. Pat-a-Pan: Trad. Arr. David Rasbach 8. Es ist ein’ Ros’ entsprungen: Michael Praetorius (1571-1621) 9. Psallite 1609: Michael Praetorius (1571-1621) 10. Duo Seraphim: de Victoria (soprano+alto) 11. Susanni, A little child there is y born: Richard Rodney Bennett (1936- 2012) 12. Coventry Carol: Ola Gjeilo (1978-) 13. Wassail song: Trad. Arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) 14. Pilgrim Jesus: Bob Chilcott (1955-) INTERVAL 15. Bogoroditse Djevo: Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) 16. E la don don Verges Maria: Mateo Flecha (1481-1553) 17. ‘Twas in the moon of winter time’ Arr. John Rutter (1945-) 18. Mary Mother: Words Georgia Way, Music Bob Chilcott (1955-) 19. Carol of the Bells: English words Peter J Wilhousky , Music Mykola Leontovich (1877-1921), Arr. Peter J Wilhousky (1902-1978) 20. A Christmas Blessing: Philip W J Stopford (1977-) 21. The Bells of Christmas: Gordon Murch aansons sor Chr; o? %, > > Lg) ) Areti Lymperopoulou conductor Gordon Murch piano 7.30pm Saturday December7th St Ninian’s Cathedral, Perth |
|---|---|
| AGiansons " G 2 Perth’s Ghamber Choir — we, E& ) b Z } Seti peropoulou conductors / Howard Duthieorgatt ‘ Jeremy Fletcher cello 7.30pm Saturday April 12'* 2025 St John’s Kirk Perth Chansons_Chamber_Choir Scottish Registered Charity SCO35974 |
1. Ubi Caritas : Gjeilo (1978) 2. Linden Lea : Vaughan Williams (1872 - 1958) 3. Ave Maria : Busto (1949) 4. Hear, my prayer, O Lord : Purcell (1659 - 1695) 5. Largo, Allegro, Aria & Two Variations -Festing (1705 - 1752) arr. Thalben-Ball (1896 - 1987) -Organ Solo 6. Amazing Grace : Ešenvalds (1977) 7. I want to be ready : Hogan (1957 - 2003) 8. Deep River : Arr. Hogan (1957 -2003) 9. Ride the Chariot : Hogan (1957 - 2003) 10. With a Lily in my Hand : Whitacre (1970)(no.2 from Flower Songs) INTERVAL 11. Richte mich, Gott (Psalm 43) : Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847) 12. Lobet den Herrnalle Heiden : BMV 230 JS Bach (1685 - 1750) 13. Suite No. 4 in E flat major for solo cello : JS Bach (1685 - 1750) 14. Jehova, Quam Multi : Purcell (1659 - 1695) 15. Jubilate, O be joyful in the Lord (Jubilate Deo) : Purcell (1659 - 1695) |
This year’s highlight was the visit to Perth by Ars Antiqua Kammerchor of Aschaffenburg, Germany. Aschaffenburg is twinned with Perth and Chansons has enjoyed a longstanding collaboration and friendship with Ars Antiqua. This was their first visit to Perth since the covid pandemic and since the tragic and untimely death of their choral director, Stefan Claas in 2001. We welcomed back Ars Antiqua members with their new music director, Katrin Ferenz 2 together with members of their youth choir. Our joint concert in St John’s Kirk, Perth was a great joy as they are very talented musicians. We also enjoyed taking our visitors on tours of the area, to a Scottish dance class, to a Scottish folksong session and much more. A very busy and enjoyable time was had by us all.
Chansons Choir: SC 035974
Annual Report 19 June 2024 – 18 June 2025
Instead of our usual annual choir barbecue at the beginning of the choral year we hosted a ‘Ceilidh’ for our visitors from Aschaffenburg – Scottish hospitality at its best! - with folk band and traditional Scottish dancing.
Chansons was very fortunate to receive some welcome financial support for some of the Ars Antiqua visit expenditure from local trust funds, Forteviot and Thompson, as well as from The Perth Common Good Fund. We are most grateful for this additional support.
Ars Antiqua Kammerchor has invited Chansons to Aschaffenburg in April 2026 to perform in a joint concert to celebrate the 70[th] anniversary of our cities’ twinning association.
Other musical highlights for Chansons during the year included singing at the wedding ceremony of one of our members. A very special and joyful experience for us all!
There were also 2 contrasting Christmas events. A small group of Chansons’ singers sang Christmas carols and other seasonal songs at Ballathie House Hotel on Christmas Eve. This has become an enjoyable annual event and we are pleased to accept a welcome fee payment to add to choir funds.
In addition, in December, a group of Chansons singers were once again invited to sing Christmas carols at a special event for some residents and staff at HM Prison in Perth. Our audience certainly enjoyed themselves and enthusiastically joined in with some of the songs. We plan to return next Christmas. We are pleased to offer this seasonal entertainment free of charge.
In financial terms, Chansons aims, as far as possible, to recover the costs of concert performances from ticket sales or performance fees charged. Deficits are met through membership subscriptions, fees charged for performing at weddings and/or other functions, and, for special events, by seeking appropriate grants or sponsorship. Chansons aims to maintain a minimum resting balance of around £4,000 as the amount required to enable concerts to be performed without significant cash flow difficulties.
Chansons opened the year (19 June 2024) with a cash balance of £7,600. of which £2,500 was earmarked funds donated by the Forteviot and Thomson Charitable Trusts for the visit to Perth (August 2024) by Ars Antiqua Kammerchor and Jugendchor of Aschaffenburg, Germany. The year closed (at 18 June 2025) with a balance of £6,316.
Chansons is a member of Making Music, the National Federation of Music Societies.
The independent examiner appointed to examine the accounts is currently Ms Cara McLean.
Lorraine Trayner Choir Administrator 23rd November 2025
Chansons Choir: SC 035974
Annual Report 19 June 2024 – 18 June 2025
Charity reference SC 035974
Registered address: An Laimhrig, Broom Place, Pitlochry, Perthshire PH16 5HX
Accounts for the year 19[th] June 2024 – 18[th] June 2025
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Independent Examiner Report
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Receipts and payments account
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Statement of balances
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Notes to the accounts
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of ‘Chansons’
| report on the accounts of the charity CHANSONS, Scottish Charity SC035974, for the year 19th June 2024 to 18th June 2025, which are set out in the ‘Annual Report and Accounts’
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner:
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the account in accordance with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. The charity trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1)(a) to (c) of the Accounts Regulations does not apply. itis my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under Section 44(1)(c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s statement:
My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. An examination inctudes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeks explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently, | do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examinet’s statement:
in the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention
{i} which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
have not been met
- to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44(1)(a) of the 2005 Act and
Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 8 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations
or
(ii) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
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Name: Cara MacLean
Relevant professional qualification : % years
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Chansons Receipts and payments account for the year ended 18 June 2025 Receipts
NB figures are rounded to the nearest £ for rep
| Receipts Donations Members' subscriptions including gift aid Donations Charitable activities Concert income Friends' membership Fundraising activities Other fundraising Other income Sponsorship & grants Other income Total receipts Payments Charitable activities Concert costs Rehearsal costs Support costs Fundraising activities Functions & sales Total payments Surpus/deficit for the year |
2024-25 2024-25 2024-25 £ £ £ Unrestricted Restricted Total 5,788 - 5788 100 - 100 5,888 0 5,888 6,605 - 6605 158 - 158 6,762 0 6,762 1,835 - 1835 1,835 0 1,835 900 - 900 547 - 547 1,447 0 1,447 15,932 0 15,932 4,395 - 4395 8,348 - 8348 337 - 337 13,080 0 13080 4,135 4135 4,135 0 4135 17,215 0 17215 -1,283 0 -1283 |
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Chansons Statement of balances at 18 June 2025
| Statement of balances at 18 June 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 2024-25 | 2024-25 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Cash and bank | Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | |
| Opening cash & bank | 7,600 | - | 7600 | |
| Surplus/deficit for year | -1,283 | - | -1283 | |
| Closing cash & bank | 6316.7 | 0 | 6316.7 | |
| Other assets | ||||
| Gift aid due | ||||
| Other income | ||||
| Liabiliites | ||||
| Other expenses | ||||
| Signed | Dated: 9 March 2026 | Dated: 9 March 2026 |
Administrator Lorraine A Trayner
Chansons Notes to the accounts
| Year ended 18 June 2025 Concert income - notes Ticket sales Donations Other income Concert costs - notes Professional performers Venue hire Publicity costs Other costs Rehearsal costs - notes Musical director Venue hire Accompanists Music hire, purchase & donations Support costs Insurance Making Music Subscription Other costs |
2024-25 2023-24 2022-23 Restated £ £ £ 5,786 6,817 5,542 184 626 571 0 117 387 5,970 7,561 6,501 766 3,088 3,262 1,414 1,696 1,322 271 652 1,013 493 975 730 2,945 6,411 6,326 4,500 3,985 3,985 910 900 810 1,460 1,375 920 1,478 284 1,386 8,348 6,544 7,101 107 104 99 230 219 140 0 625 115 337 948 354 |
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Notes to the Accounts:
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The accounts are prepared on a cash basis for 2024-25.
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The format of the accounts follows the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP 2015) guidance for smaller charities (in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities).
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Areti Lymperopoulou was the only Committee member to receive remuneration, specifically for her role as Musical Director for which she received £4500.00, agreed by committee.