Minutes of Chipping Norton Music Festival Committee Tuesday 20th May 2025
Present: Sarah Cobb (Chair), Richard Wood (Treasurer), Vicki Pike (Secretary), Julia Dyer, Joanna Rigg, Jo
Graves, Edwin Wilson, Margaret and John Braithwaite, Paul Burbidge, Pippa Phillips, Nick Edwards
Agenda item
1 Welcome and introductions
Meeting opened 19.32
2 Apologies
Becky Bignall, Philippa Furlong, Richard Cobb, Doreen Phillips, Peter Hunt, Stuart Rigg, Becky Pearman
3 & 4 Minutes of 2024 AGM & matters arising
The minutes were unanimously approved Proposed Jo Graves
Seconded Paul Burbidge
Matters arising
a) Piano Fund – Not totally conclusive but the AGM minutes from 2007 suggest that it can be used for paying for the hire
of the piano rather than to try to buy one. Suggested to run down the fund and use it to pay for the hire costs until it is
emptied. Move it off the balance sheet and put it into the PNL and point it out to the Friends when the minutes are
sent out. Check whether the initial premise was marketed as purchase or hire in old marketing material such as
programmes from 2007, 2008
b) Official Accompanists – the changes made this year were generally positive. Needs to be made more explicit on the
online entry forms for anyone who hasn’t noticed it in the syllabus.
5 Chairman’s report – full copy to be kept in the minutes book
Marking the sad and untimely death of Martin Davies in February, who contributed so much to the Festival over so many years,
and will be sadly missed. His work was so fantastic that we referred to a document he produced about the piano fund just a few
minutes ago.
We had just over 400 entries and 2500-3000 people taking part – broadly similar to 2024 but still down on 2023. Instrumental
entries were down but there seemed to be more adult entries.
Jazz night – broadened to include all bands but still only had 3 bands and had to subsidise with a professional group. Costs-wise
this needs to have more entries for us to be able to continue with it next year – need to have solid numbers by 1st Oct to confirm
or cancel the Theatre.
Choirs day – total of 18, including 7 Junior ones (the highest since Covid)
Shauni events continued with our third Young Performers recital, considering introducing a similar event for older entrants.
Continued thanks to Tish Nicol for continuing to organize adjudicators and bringing her professional experience to bear.
Brilliant primary school workshops led by Lydia and Lizzie were very well—received and we are very grateful to Cotswold Arts
Through Schools for their financial support. We would trial carrying it out during the envelope of the school day though this will
make it harder for parents to attend the performance, as this will allow more participation from pupils who don’t participate in
after-school activities. This will be repeated for 2026 with the same general format.
The Festival Concert was the traditional end to the Festival. Mikayla Mudekunye spoke very movingly about what winning the
bursary meant to her and was instrumental in her family supporting her dreams of going to drama school. The third winner,
Edwin Lancaster was chosen by adjudicator Craig Ogden who saw huge potential in his playing.
We were fortunate again to have some generous donations and sponsorship this year and we record our thanks for all of these.
Thanks recorded for all of the hard work from committee and volunteers.
Sarah shared an email of thanks from a very grateful parent about the impact attending the Festival had on her two children “In
short you are continuing a long tradition of excellence and I hugely applaud you for it”
6 Treasurer’s report – full copy to be kept in minutes book
The accounts show that in the year ended April 2025 the Festival made a loss of £1675.74
Whilst several of our income streams were slightly positive such as door, Refreshments, Entries, Concert, Friends and
Programme Advertising, others including grants and funding were down including £750 from the Town Council and £750 from
the Aspinwall Trust.
Significant increases in costs for Piano Hire, Adjudicators, Town Hall Hire and the Children’s Workshops (the last being a
committee decision to boost attendance on these events)
Still awaiting Gift Aid claim arriving – should be about £700 which would reduce the loss to less than £1000.
The balance sheet now shows that we have £40, 781.84 in accumulated funds. This is split as below:
CAF Bank Accounts £11531.50
United trust deposit 1: £18748.97
United Trust deposit 2:10501.37
The final accounts have been audited and ratified by local chartered accountants V Murphy & Co and our thanks go to them
once again for their generous voluntary contribution.
The Lizzie and Lydia concert made nearly £1000 for us, the Ben Holder one was less well attended and possibly more should
have been charged for tickets as we went for £15 and he was performing at other events in the local area and charging £25.
Proposer Joanna Rigg
Seconded Sarah Cobb
Approved by all present
7 Friends’ report
Friends thanked for their continuing support – some have been associated for many years, and whether old or new we are lucky
to have you. We have a total of 34 Friends (counting joint membership as one, 48 people in total with 1 new Friend this year.
John Catlign remains as an honorary Friend,
During the year we have tried to simplify the Friends eligibility to allow Friends to pay at any time of the year, which is working
well. Philippa Furlong will be the new Friends’ Secretary for next year and will lead a review of how to revitalize the scheme
from now on.
9 Election of committee and officers
Everyone currently on the committee has agreed to stand again: Sarah Cobb (chair), Richard Wood (Treasurer), Vicki Pike
(Secretary), Julia Dyer, Pippa Phillips, Peter Hunt, Nick Edwards, Philippa Furlong, Abby Davies and Kate Higgins.
Festival advisors: Tish Nicoll, Lizzie Soden, Lydia Tomita
Proposed Paul Burbidge
Seconded John Braithwaite
Approved by all present
9 AOB
1) Jo Graves STILL regards the Festival as “a jewel in the crown of Chipping Norton” and is pleased by the notion of
inclusivity and trying to reach children and others who might not have these things provided otherwise and future
proofing music making in the future and recorded her thanks to the committee for being so magic.
2) Paul Burbidge was impressed by the huge number of adjudicators who had commented on the friendliness of the
festival compared to others.
3) The trial use of backing tracks instead of accompanists was very successful and seamless
4) Discussion of falling instrumental entries - fewer children seem to be learning these days in general. Jo Rigg consulted
local schools about what classes they might like adding that would allow their pupils to participate such as drum classes
or electric guitar and these were included in the syllabus revamp
5) Exciting professional concert planned for next year with Tom Poster and we need to think how to promote this early on
social media and consider advertising on local radio/Radio 3 slot/ boards in Oxford. Release ticket sales as early as
possible – promote locally first (We’d like our local supporters to have the chance before releasing this more widely)
and Nick Edwards to liaise with Tom Poster about releasing it on his social media. Consider targeting Soho
Farmhouse/Daylesford/other local BnBs etc.
6) Would it be useful for committee members to visit other Festivals to see how they run? Sarah attended the BIFF
conference this year and it was interesting hearing ideas from others so other committee members might like to take
advantage of this. Jo Rigg pointed out that we would need to keep an eye on the new National Curriculum when it
comes out.
Next committee meeting To be confirmed
Meeting closed 20.41