Odeion School of Music Camerata
“Consecutive international win for the OSM Camerata at the Ictus International Music Competition, USA, 2018”
(UFS home page)
"The OSM Camerata is a SA export-ensemble for art music from South Africa” 13th International Conservatory Festival, Rimsky Korskov Conservatoire, St. Petersburg (Russia) Vedomosti
“The OSMC was transformed into an organic entity radiating commitment, musicality, and devotion.” Louis van der Watt, Stellenbosch
“Breath-taking, excellent a truly South African ensemble free from any political hang-ups. This is indeed an international export ensemble for UFS”
“OSM CAMERATA SEALS LOCAL SHORTCOMINGS” Paul Boekkooi http://skrop.co.za/encore/
The OSM CAMERATA (OSMC) was strategically founded as a flagship chamber ensemble at the beginning of the academic year 2012, with the main objective of creating a catalyst for excellence.
From a pedagogical perspective, the OSMC serves as a feasible incubator to nurture fully rounded musicians who are thoroughly prepared for the demands of their trade as orchestral musicians, soloists and conductors.
Artistically, the ensemble cultivates the talents of exceptionally gifted students pursuing the highest artistic standards possible. Parallel to competencies related to advanced musicianship, ensemble skills, encapsulated in a comprehensive mentorship, serious thought is also given to the demands and roles of the professional orchestral player (for example, concert master, assistant concert master and principle player), as well as professional protocol with regard to rehearsal procedures.
Opportunities are also given to young, dynamic, professional conductors both locally and internationally. In context of the long-term OSM strategy, the idea is to found an extended orchestral conducting chair. It is envisaged that both the OSMC and visiting conductors will be instrumental in facilitating the conducting modules and expose students to state-of-the-art knowledge of conducting techniques, repertoire, and programming within the application of progressive teaching methodologies.
Mentorship is applied by acquiring the services of exceptionally talented young international and/or South African musicians as instructors to prepare the OSMC members preceding a concert and/or project in the longer term. The application of junior experts is validated by transversal benefits generated through the transferral of knowledge through the teaching mode of peer-to-peer instruction. Different modus operandi are considered concerning the actual contact intervals between students and mentors from start to finish during the creative process. Complexity levels with reference to repertoire, technical demands of the planned projects and artistic challenges determine at what stage of the creative process mentors will be extracted or whether they will mentor students throughout the creative process.
In the context of the OSM Camerata, mentorship has proved to be not only viable to the growth of musicianship per se but simultaneously, addresses a wide variety of additional music-related professional competencies, apart from valuable generic life experiences such as leadership, co- leadership and teamwork.
Another level of mentorship which should be thoroughly investigated, especially with the South African reality in mind, is the role potential of the ‘grey imminence’. The contribution of emeriti and other senior experts outside of the institution bring with them the benefits of years of accumulated professional experience, complemented by generic wisdom and life experience that have the potential to address other supplementary competencies.
The OSMC recently forged a professional internship with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra to solidify and advance the skills of the young orchestral musicians on an even higher level
Another noteworthy objective is to introduce students and audiences alike to exceptional repertoire not often heard on South African stages. Specialised knowledge about diverse performance practices are being addressed by the choice of repertoire and the application thereof. Since the inception of the OSMC in 2012, several new works have been commissioned from South African composers. The performance and commissioning of music by South African composers is considered a high priority. Historically Informed Performance practice enjoys substantial attention due to the absence of the above mentioned in the undergraduate curriculum.
The performance and commissioning of music by South African composers are considered a priority. Since the inception of the OSMC in 2012, several new works have been commissioned from South African composers
The realisation of excellence (with reference to the recent past), has been solidified by the setting and executing of an ambitious set of goals.
- Early in 2013 the OSMC was selected and invited to participate at the 13th International Conservatoire Festival presented in St Petersburg (Russia). The festival is presented on an annual basis by the Rimsky Korsakov Conservatory. In November 2013 the ensemble received a standing ovation under the baton of Maestro Jan Moritz Onken after their gala performance in the Glazunov Hall at the Rimsky Korsakov Conservatory. During this event the ensemble premiered five new South African works by eminent South African composers specially commissioned for the ensemble;
- In April 2013 the OSMC served as the orchestra for the world première of the Cello Concerto for an African Cellist by South African composer, Hans Huyssen, with SA cellist, Heleen du Plessis as soloist. The CD was released in December 2013 on the New Zealand Classical Music label, ODE RECORDS in Auckland New Zealand and was one of five CDs nominated for the Listeners' Choice Award (New York) in March 2014;
- The OSMC enjoyed numerous successes since its inception in 2012. The ensemble was awarded the first prize at both the 2017 & 2018 International Ictus Music Competition USA as the winners of the category for Conservatory and University Orchestras under the baton of Xavier Cloete. HÄNDEL MASTERPIECES – Orchestral, Choral & Vocal Highlights, a co-production between the NORTH-WEST CONSORT (North-West University School of Music) and the OSM CAMERATA (UFS Odeion School of Music), was nominated for a kykNET FIëSTA AWARD as the best classical music production for 2018.
In future it might also be an astute strategy to enlighten students with the applied aspects of the professional labour market, such as knowledge about contracts and taxation.