Vivace
Chorus
Agenda for the
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
at the Trinity Centre, Holy Trinity Church, Guildford
to be held at on Monday 27" June 2011 at 7.30pm
1.
Apologies for Absence
2.
Minutes of the Previous AGM (28" June 2010)
3.
Matters Arising
4.
Music Director's Report
5.
Chairman's Report
6.
Treasurer's Report and Presentation of Accounts
7.
Election of Officers
8.
Election of Additional Committee Members
9. Appointment of Music Director
10. Appointment of Accompanist
11. Appointment of Independent Examiner of Accounts
12. Any Other Business
Please notify the Secretary at least 48hrs in advance in writing or by email
(secretary@vivacechorus.org) of any matters you wish to be addressed at the meeting
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Minutes of the AGM
held on Monday 27" June 2011
at the Trinity Centre, Guildford
The meeting was called to order at 19.30 with 97 choir members present.
1. Apologies for absence
Sue Fletcher, Geoff Forster, Penny Muray, Lesley Scordellis, Prue Smith, Sally Varley and
Frances Worpe.
2. Minutes of the previous AGM (28 June 2010)
The minutes had been circulated prior to the meeting Geoff Johns proposed that they should
be accepted as a true record of the meeting. This was seconded by Robin Privett.
3. Matters arising
There were no matters arising.
4. Treasurer's Report (Bob Cowell)
statement of financial activities and a balance sheet had been circulated prior to the meeting. A full
version of the accounts and the report to the Charity Commission is available on request.
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This year had been unusual
that, due to the Mahler 8 concert, there was a considerable flow of cash in
and out of the balance sheet but which had no effect on this year's profit and loss account. We had a
deficit for the year of £80 .
The concert programme had a deficit of £12,400 and fundraising activities generated £5,247.
Bob reported that the choir continues to be in a sound financial position having reserves of close to
£59,000. We need this sort of reserve to be confident in committing the choir to projects as large
Mahler concert.
as the
Bob thanked Brian Reed for his work as Independent Examiner of the accounts.
James Garrow thanked Bob Cowell for his work in managing the choir's finances. Jeremy
Johnson proposed and John Trigg seconded acceptance of the accounts which were approved
by the meeting.
5. Music Director's Report (Jeremy Backhouse)
Jeremy reviewed our very busy year which began with the recording of the Todd Te Deum,
followed by our concert in Croydon, the Petite Messe Solonnelle, Christmas concerts in Holy
Trinity and St Martins, The Mozart Requiem at St Martin-in-the-Fields, the Come & Sing, The
Baroque concert (including the amazing singing of Vasari member Joce Somerville in the top
soprano part of the Allegri and the brilliant playing of the BS in the Brandenburg Concerto) and
finally the amazing experience of performing Mahler's Eighth Symphony in the Royal Albert
Hall.
The next season is also taking shape; a concert for the RNLI in Holy Trinity in October, followed
by the Brahms German Requiem and music by Parry in November. Another Come & Sing in
January working on the Monteverdi Vespers and Bob Chilcott's Salisbury Vespers. March sees
us performing 'A Night at the Opera’ in GLive and in May we will put on a Rachmaninov concert
including The Bells and some of the Vespers and Francis Pott will play the 2" Piano Concerto.
We are also looking forward to our 5-day tour to Alsace with concerts in Freiburg, Hedlberg
and Strasbourg.
Jeremy thanked James all the committee and added his personal thanks to Christine Medlow,
Prue Smith, Brenda Moore and other non-committee members involved in the successful
organisation of the choir. Many thanks to Francis as ever for his brilliant playing and finally, a
big thank you to all the members.
6. Chairman's Report (James Garrow)
James praised the commitment of the members in making the choir the success it undoubtedly
is. He particularly thanked Brenda Moore who has for many years produced our programmes
but is now handing over to Lesley Scordellis.
James read out some of the messages he had received praising the Mahler 8 concert and said
that there is not one person in the Vivace Chorus who doesn't appreciate the skills,
professionalism and fun that Jeremy brings to all he does with the choir.
James urged members to publicize our concerts and sell more tickets aiming to spread our
reputation beyond Surrey, and to use the 'Good Ideas’ link on the website.
Gill Perkins has been our acting
Press Officer but we need a volunteer to take on this vital role.
James acknowledged that we need to work on the method of wearing the new scarves and
reported that we are still trying to improve the sound system at Holy Trinity. He thanked the
Committee for their work and particularly thanked Michael Taylor who is standing down after 5
years on the Committee.
7. Election of Officers
Only one nomination had been received for each of the Officers so there was no election.
Chairman - James Garrow
Hon Treasurer — Bob Cowell
Hon Membership Sec — Jane Brooks
Hon Secretary — Isobel Rooth
8. Election of additional Committee Members
Seven members had been duly proposed and seconded for a maximum of eight places so all
were elected unopposed. The members are Jackie Alderton, Liz Durning, Neil Martin, Gill
Perkins, Lesley Scordellis, Barry Sterndale-Bennett and Hilary Trigg.
9. Appointment of Music Director
Jeremy Backhouse was reappointed unanimously.
10. Appoinment of Accompanist
Francis Pott was reappointed unanimously.
11. Appointment of Independent Examiner of Accounts
Brian Reed was reappointed unanimously.
12. Any Other Business
John Britten questioned whether our financial reserves were too high for a charity. Bob Cowell
answered that we aim to keep a year's turnover to allow us to do adventurous things, and
John Trigg commented that provided we are operating and fulfilling our charitable aims the
bank balance is not a problem.
Chris Robinson proposed a vote of thanks to James Garrow and Kate Rayner proposed a vote
of thanks to Christine Medlow.
The meeting closed at 20.30.