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REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 10571468 (England and Wales)
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1196048









SONORO
(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

SONORO

CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024










Page

Report of the Trustees 1 to 3

Independent Examiner's Report 4

Statement of Financial Activities 5

Balance Sheet 6 to 7

Notes to the Financial Statements 8 to 12

SONORO (REGISTERED NUMBER: 10571468)

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024



The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

This report serves as both the Trustees Annual Report and the Directors' Report under company law for the Company's financial and operating period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. For the purposes of filing with Companies House and the Charity Commission, the financial statements for the Company are appended to this report.

The Trustees confirm that the Trustees Annual Report and the associated financial statements comply with the statutory requirements currently in force, with the charity's own governing document and in accordance with the financial reporting standards (FRS 102) applicable in the UK.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives
a) To advance the education understanding and appreciation of the public in music in general and choral music in particular for the public benefit through the holding of public concerts and events in which people gather to participate in music and by means of broadcasting, producing and/or distributing literature or such other means as the trustees think fit;

b) To promote the education (including social and physical training) of people of all ages but notably those under the age of 25 years through music in such ways as the charity trustees think fit;

c) To promote learning for pleasure by people including those not in full time employment through the continued development of their individual capabilities, competencies, skills and understanding in music in general and choral music in particular;

d) To promote research for the public benefit in all aspects of music education and to publish the useful results relating to that subject.

Significant activities
At the heart of Sonoro, and expressing its prime ethos, is its chamber choir, which has attracted attention for its warm tone, rich blend of colours and vibrancy in performance. Its singers are drawn from the pool of the country's finest professional choral talent, who are also independent soloists in their own right.

The choir's unmistakably rich and full sound has been realised by allowing each singer to be free to use all of their voice, matched with careful blending, creating warmth and resonance. 'Sonoro' in Italian means 'sonorous, voices that are rich and full' and Sonoro lives up to that name as a choir with a distinctive and perfectly blended sound.

The principal activities described in the section Achievement and Performance below highlight how the objectives of the charity are being met, notably this year in the areas of advancing the appreciation of choral music in support of events run by other UK charities.

Public benefit
In planning the activities of the charity the trustees have had due regard for the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit.


SONORO (REGISTERED NUMBER: 10571468)

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024


ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
Activities
Early in the year, Sonoro completed the last part of its second highly successful Choral Inspirations project, finishing with a workshop and joint concert in Newcastle with Voices of Hope. The events were included as part of the Northern Chords Festival. Both Choral Inspirations I & II have been supported financially by Arts Council England, which recognised and understood the importance of how the project achieved its objectives of promoting new choral music composition and educating singers and listeners in this field. As a format, the project has proven its worth by the production of 12 new choral compositions to add to the repertoire. The Artistic Directors will consider the merits, benefits and feasibility of pursuing a third edition in due course.

The Sonoro choir has already earned a reputation as a body that produces a distinct and full sound by letting its singers make full use of their individual voices, whilst resulting in a blended resonance. Independent professional singers are attracted to this opportunity and new ones continue to apply to be added to Sonoro's approved list of partners. There are no singers as permanent members of the choir. Each project and event is resourced from a list of professional singers that has been drawn up following auditions with the Artistic Directors on a regular basis.

It is this characteristic that is one of the reasons composers like to work with the Artistic Directors and facilitate the opportunities for recordings, leaving the Artistic Directors to select the most appropriate singers from Sonoro's list. This year, funded by the Stephen Dodgson Trust and in collaboration with SOMM Recordings, Sonoro was asked to provide the choir for an album dedicated to the choral works of the British composer Stephen Dodgson (1924-2013), whose prolific music output covered multiple genres from BBC drama incidental music to opera. The recording is due for release in mid-2024.

Over a period, Sonoro has been working with the charity Cancer Research UK to develop opportunities for supporting CRUK in its events. Notably, in late 2023, the choir made a recording for CRUK to use in its online Christmas concerts for its principal funders, and later performed live in the charity's main Christmas carol concert in Chelmsford Cathedral. In a similar vein, it was also asked to sing solo items and lead the singing for the Christmas carol concert supporting the charity Wounded Veterans in central London, attended by many well-known names in the entertainment world. Sonoro has been invited back for this second event again in 2024.

Sonoro's own Christmas with Sonoro event in 2023 was relocated again to another central London venue, St James' Church, Piccadilly. Once more, this was a very well-received and successful concert artistically and, including a newly-commissioned work by Michael Higgins, several of the composers of the music sung were present in the audience.

Regretfully this year, Sonoro was not able to continue its close association and collaboration with Merton Music Foundation that allowed it to visit primary schools in the London Borough of Merton as part of Sonoro's educational outreach project, Sound Construction. Previously this highly successful project had been supported by a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund distributed by Merton Giving. It would appear that Merton Giving has decided to reallocate most of its funding away from supporting education in music. It is very unfortunate that this appears to be a growing trend amongst some funding sources.

FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial position
A summary of the financial position of the charity is provided on the balance sheet which forms a part of these accounts.

Reserves policy
The charity has no employees. Any professionals engaged are on an ad hoc project by project basis only. The charity therefore aims to hold sufficient reserves to enable it to meet its financial obligations as they fall due over a three-month period, a duration considered sufficient to allow for a controlled closure of the company, should it be required.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is constituted as a company limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006, and its governing document is its Memorandum and Articles of Association adopted by a special resolution on 21st September 2021 and filed with the Charity Commission.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
The trustees have the power to appoint additional trustees, taking into consideration any specialist skills or aptitude that a potential trustee may possess that would benefit or widen the expertise and knowledge area of the trustees.


SONORO (REGISTERED NUMBER: 10571468)

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024


STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Decision making
The Trustees meet regularly to review the Company's operation, plans and financial status as stated and proposed by the operations team, led by the Artistic Directors, to which the day-to-day management of the Company is delegated.

No Trustee receives any fees, remuneration, financial benefit or benefit-in-kind for holding the role of Trustee and can only claim the reimbursement for any authorised expenses incurred subject to the terms defined in the Company's Articles.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Company number
10571468 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number
1196048

Registered office
4th Floor Tuition House
27/37 St George's Road
Wimbledon
London
SW19 4EU

Principal address
18 Bartholomew Close
Haslemere
Surrey
GU27 1EN

Trustees
Peter Hickson (Chair)
Phiroz Dalal
Neil Dennis
Melanie Hancox
Elizabeth Neale
Helen Wills

Independent Examiner
Hartley Fowler LLP
Chartered Accountants
4th Floor Tuition House
27-37 St George's Road
Wimbledon
London
SW19 4EU

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 25 September 2024 and signed on its behalf by:





Peter Hickson - Trustee

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF
SONORO


Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Sonoro ('the Company')
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.








Jonathan Askew

Hartley Fowler LLP
Chartered Accountants
4th Floor Tuition House
27-37 St George's Road
Wimbledon
London
SW19 4EU

18 October 2024

SONORO

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
(INCORPORATING AN INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

2024 2023
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
fund funds funds funds
Notes £    £    £    £   
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Grants and donations 48,531 3,486 52,017 31,873

Charitable activities
Charitable activities 15,622 2,845 18,467 16,723
Total 64,153 6,331 70,484 48,596

EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activities
Charitable activities 67,380 5,132 72,512 56,743

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) (3,227 ) 1,199 (2,028 ) (8,147 )


RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward 4,254 1,688 5,942 14,089

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 1,027 2,887 3,914 5,942

SONORO (REGISTERED NUMBER: 10571468)

BALANCE SHEET
31 MARCH 2024

2024 2023
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
fund funds funds funds
Notes £    £    £    £   
FIXED ASSETS
Intangible assets 6 - - - 29
Tangible assets 7 970 - 970 632
970 - 970 661

CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors 8 1,071 - 1,071 1,088
Cash at bank 5,594 2,887 8,481 12,087
6,665 2,887 9,552 13,175

CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one year 9 (6,608 ) - (6,608 ) (7,894 )

NET CURRENT ASSETS 57 2,887 2,944 5,281

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 1,027 2,887 3,914 5,942

NET ASSETS 1,027 2,887 3,914 5,942
FUNDS 10
Unrestricted funds 1,027 4,254
Restricted funds 2,887 1,688
TOTAL FUNDS 3,914 5,942

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2024.


The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.


The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for
(a)ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
(b)preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.


SONORO (REGISTERED NUMBER: 10571468)

BALANCE SHEET - continued
31 MARCH 2024

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.


The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 25 September 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:





Peter Hickson - Trustee

SONORO

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024


1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.


Plant and machinery - 25% on cost

Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

2. SUPPORT COSTS
Governance
Finance costs Totals
£    £    £   
Charitable activities 392 4,080 4,472


SONORO

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024


2. SUPPORT COSTS - continued
Support costs, included in the above, are as follows:

Finance
2024 2023
Charitable Total
activities activities
£    £   
Bank charges 392 -
Governance costs
2024 2023
Charitable Total
activities activities
£    £   
Accountancy fees 3,300 3,261
Other professional charges 780 656
4,080 3,917

3. NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):

2024 2023
£    £   
Depreciation - owned assets 636 385
Computer software amortisation 29 28

4. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023.


Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023.


5. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
Unrestricted Restricted Total
fund funds funds
£    £    £   
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Grants and donations 20,082 11,791 31,873

Charitable activities
Charitable activities 6,929 9,794 16,723
Total 27,011 21,585 48,596

EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activities
Charitable activities 23,248 33,495 56,743

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) 3,763 (11,910 ) (8,147 )

SONORO

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024


5. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued
Unrestricted Restricted Total
fund funds funds
£    £    £   


RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward 491 13,598 14,089

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 4,254 1,688 5,942

6. SOFTWARE COSTS
Computer
software
£   
COST
At 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024 2,635
AMORTISATION
At 1 April 2023 2,606
Charge for year 29
At 31 March 2024 2,635
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 March 2024 -
At 31 March 2023 29

7. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Plant and
machinery
£   
COST
At 1 April 2023 3,221
Additions 974
At 31 March 2024 4,195
DEPRECIATION
At 1 April 2023 2,589
Charge for year 636
At 31 March 2024 3,225
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 March 2024 970
At 31 March 2023 632


SONORO

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024


8. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
2024 2023
£    £   
Other debtors 431 -
Prepayments 640 1,088
1,071 1,088

9. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
2024 2023
£    £   
Trade creditors 3,308 1,874
Accrued expenses 3,300 6,020
6,608 7,894

10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
Net
movement At
At 1/4/23 in funds 31/3/24
£    £    £   
Unrestricted funds
General fund 4,254 (3,227 ) 1,027

Restricted funds
Merton Giving 29 - 29
Choral Inspirations 1,659 1,199 2,858
1,688 1,199 2,887
TOTAL FUNDS 5,942 (2,028 ) 3,914

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming Resources Movement
resources expended in funds
£    £    £   
Unrestricted funds
General fund 64,153 (67,380 ) (3,227 )

Restricted funds
Choral Inspirations 6,331 (5,132 ) 1,199

TOTAL FUNDS 70,484 (72,512 ) (2,028 )


SONORO

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024


10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Comparatives for movement in funds

Net
movement At
At 1/4/22 in funds 31/3/23
£    £    £   
Unrestricted funds
General fund 491 3,763 4,254

Restricted funds
Merton Giving 6,665 (6,636 ) 29
Choral Inspirations 6,933 (5,274 ) 1,659
13,598 (11,910 ) 1,688
TOTAL FUNDS 14,089 (8,147 ) 5,942

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming Resources Movement
resources expended in funds
£    £    £   
Unrestricted funds
General fund 27,011 (23,248 ) 3,763

Restricted funds
Merton Giving 750 (7,386 ) (6,636 )
Choral Inspirations 20,835 (26,109 ) (5,274 )
21,585 (33,495 ) (11,910 )
TOTAL FUNDS 48,596 (56,743 ) (8,147 )

11. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2024.