Saturday, 23 February 2013 

Odeion

19:30

OSM Camerata (OSMC) honoured to perform under the baton of German conductor, Jan Moritz Onken

The conductor, Jan Moritz Onken, has been invited to conduct the OSM Camerata (flagship orchestra of the OSM) in the Odeion School of Music’s 2013 Opening Concert.  Top students of the OSM will also perform during this concert. 

Born in 1977 in Wuppertal (Germany), Jan Moritz Onken spent his formative years as a student in orchestral conducting at the Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory under the tutelage of Prof Nikolai Alexeev.  Onken received high praise from notable masters such as Pierre Boulez, Valery Gergiev and Nelson Freire for his “exceptional talent” during internships at the Bayreuther Festspiele, the Mariinsky Theater and the Belcanto Festival in Dordrecht (Netherlands).

In 2003 he worked as assistant to acclaimed maestro Mariss Jansons, whilst gaining international experience by conducting orchestras worldwide.  A DAAD-grant has enabled him to lead the student symphony orchestras of the National Conservatoire of Almaty (Kazakhstan), St. Petersburg (Russia) and Tiblisi (Georgia).  His success with above mentioned ensembles gained him recognition in the New York Times, Verliner Tageszeitung, Spiegel, ZDF-Heute Journal, 3sat Kulturzeit, and Deutsche Welle.  Onken has also received an award at the 10^th International Conducting Competition in Budapest (Hungary) in 2010.  Since 2010 Jan is residing in St. Petersburg where he is working as a musical coach and assistant for German repertoire at the Mariinsky Theater (Valery Gergiev).    In 2011 he was invited as a guest conductor at the Verbier Festival. Onken was elected adjudicator for the final round of the second National Len van Zyl Orchestral Conducting Competition to take place in Cape Town in February 2013.

AUDIO VISUAL MATERIAL:

Euromax Deutsche Welle (“50-4:30”)
Portrait: Der Dirigent Jan Moritz Onken
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UndJV11mSuY 
 
The Student Symphonic Orchestra of the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory  at the Konzerthaus Berlin
Brahms Concert for piano No.2, part 2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRSuq-72HYk

PROGRAMME:

W.A. Mozart: Symphony No. 41 “Jupiter” (Allegro vivace)

F. Schubert: Lieder arrangements for chamber orchestra by Max Reger & Felix Weingartner

with OSM soloists Teresa de Wit (mezzo soprano) and Malefetsane Mofokeng (baritone) as soloists

H. Hofmeyr: Notturno Elegiaco (1996)  Arranged in 2012 for chamber orchestra by Hendrik Hofmeyr)

The arrangement for chamber orchestra has been commissioned by the OSM New Music Initiative.

ADMISSION:

R110 (adults), R70 (pensioners, students and learners)

Tickets available at Computicket or at the door.

ENQUIRIES:   

Ninette Pretorius (tel. 051 401 2504)

MASTER CLASSES:

Conducting master classes and mentor conversations will be presented by Jan Moritz Onken on 19 and 20 February (both days from 14:00 – 16:00) in the Haller Halle of the Odeion School of Music. It is recommended that students/persons planning to participate in or attend these master classes also attend the rehearsals of 18 February (18:00 – 20:00, Odeion) and 19 February (17:00 – 19:00, Haller Halle). Admission is R50 per master class.

OSM Camerata

In 2012 the OSM found it strategically fit to establish a new flagship chamber ensemble – the OSM Camerata (OSMC) – with the main objective to kindle and forge the talents of exceptionally gifted musicians and literally chasing after the highest artistic standards possible. Apart from competencies related to advanced musicianship, ensemble, mentorship, concert etiquette serious thought is given to the demands and roles of the professional orchestral player e.g. concert master, assistant concertmaster and principle player as well as professional procedures with regard to rehearsal procedures.  Another objective is to introduce students and audiences alike to exceptional repertoire hailing from diverse style periods not often heard on South African stages. In future it might also be wise to enlighten students on the practical aspects regarding the professional labour market like knowledge about contracts, taxation, as well as aspects with reference to human resources and labour law.

Special attention will be given to employ dynamic young conductors both internationally and locally. In context of the long term strategy of the OSM the idea is to erect an extended orchestral conducting chair. The OSMC and visiting conductors will be instrumental to facilitate the conducting modules and expose students to state of the art knowledge with regard to conducting technique, repertoire, rehearsal schedules programming and the application of progressive teaching methodologies.  The OSMC gave their first performance on 1 March 2012 as the Opening Concert of the OSM under the baton of Nicholas Nikolaidis. They performed works by Pergolesi, Rautavaara, Bartok, Hendrix and South African composer, Stefans Grové.  The OSMC is anticipated to serve as a feasible incubator to forge full rounded musicians thoroughly prepared for the demands of their trade as orchestral musicians and soloists. The aim for 2013 is to institutionalise the OSMC as a vehicle of excellence.