He has conducted a number of choral societies as well as performing with the Halle orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the Manchester Philharmonic Choir. He was educated at Strathallan School in Perthshire and won a scholarship to study at the Royal Northern College of Music, where he completed both BachelorвЂ™s and MasterвЂ™s degrees in performance. Michael has been musical director of the Cupar Choral Society since 2017. The Society has an enthusiastic musical director, Michael Segaud, who вЂњ inspires us to do our best!вЂќ We are a sociable and friendly group and always welcome new members!вЂќ Their main aim is to perform choral works to a high standard, but to achieve this through rehearsals which are fun, enjoyable and supportive of all involved. Everyone is welcome, the ability to read music is helpful but there are no auditions. Sue adds: вЂњ The repertoire is predominantly classical. The choir now takes a well-earned break вЂ“ returning to rehearsals on the 5th September in preparation for their Christmas concert.

That concert вЂ“ where they performed SchubertвЂ™s Mass in G and DurufleвЂ™s Requiem вЂ“ has just taken place. Sue says: вЂњ We meet on Monday evenings from September to April in St Johns Church hall, and perform a Christmas concert in December and a spring concert in April.вЂќ This September, it will celebrate its 55th anniversary as a thriving local choir with members from Cupar and the surrounding area. In 1967, the Cupar Choral Society as we know it today was constituted. What was demanded was, вЂњ a complete knowledge of music, correctness in time and intonation, and some degree of practice in singing both solo and concerted musicвЂњ. New members had to be certified as eligible by at least three ordinary members, and musical qualifications were even more stringent.

There was a reduction in the fee for any member of an associateвЂ™s family who wished to join.вЂќДЄnd there was a type of sponsorship too: the editor of the Fifeshire Journal reported: вЂњ There are many in Cupar, a score at least, who, if they cannot sing themselves can pay to keep others singing and go out and hear them.вЂќ Membership was not set by enthusiasm and the ability to pay. Those who could afford it were invited to become Associate members paying one guinea which would enable them to attend all the meetings and entitle them to associate privileges. The conditions of membership? Sue explains: вЂњ Ordinary memberвЂ™s subscription was ten shillings and sixpence.

Once upon a december sheet music choral