University of the Free State resident ensemble

Odeion String Quartet

Exceptional chamber music, transformative education and meaningful connection—at the University of the Free State and beyond.

Upcoming concerts Meet the quartet
The four members of the Odeion String Quartet
Established 1991More than three decades of chamber music
UFS resident ensemblePerformance, teaching and mentorship
Local to internationalConnecting the Free State with the world

About the OSQ

A distinguished legacy. A living artistic voice.

Established at the University of the Free State (UFS) in 1991, the Odeion String Quartet is South Africa’s only permanent resident string quartet based at a university. As one of the UFS’s flagship performing ensembles, the OSQ embodies the university’s commitment to artistic excellence, education and meaningful community engagement.

Through performance, teaching and mentorship, the quartet plays an important role in advancing chamber music, orchestral performance and classical music training in the Free State and beyond.

Meet the quartet

Four musicians. One shared artistic vision.

Samantha Durrant, first violinist of the Odeion String Quartet

Samantha Durrant

First violin

Sharon de Kock, second violinist of the Odeion String Quartet

Sharon de Kock

Second violin

Jeanne-Louise Moolman, violist of the Odeion String Quartet

Jeanne-Louise Moolman

Viola

Anmari van der Westhuizen, cellist and Head of the Odeion String Quartet

Anmari van der Westhuizen

Cello and Head of the OSQ

Our story

More than three decades of artistic development

  1. 1991

    The beginning

    The OSQ is established with Derek Ochse, Abrie de Wet, John Wille and Michael Haller as its founding members.

  2. 1990s

    A growing presence

    The quartet performs throughout South Africa and appears at festivals in Norway, Zimbabwe and Botswana. It develops an extensive repertoire, produces recordings and collaborates with artists including Norway’s Vertavo String Quartet.

  3. 1999–2007

    New artistic leadership

    Following Derek Ochse’s retirement, Juan Muñoz leads the ensemble and introduces several innovative projects. Jürgen Schwietering succeeds him in 2004.

  4. 2008

    A new chapter

    The quartet is reconstituted with Denise Sutton as leader, joined by Sharon de Kock, Jeanne-Louise Moolman and Anmari van der Westhuizen. The ensemble performs to critical acclaim across South and Southern Africa.

  5. 2013

    Festivals and European touring

    Samson Diamond joins as leader. The OSQ appears at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival and the Harare International Festival of the Arts, and tours Belgium, Germany and Switzerland with clarinettists Prof Eddy van Oosthuyse and Danré Strydom.

  6. Today

    A living legacy

    The OSQ continues its tradition of artistic renewal, collaboration, education and engagement, bringing chamber music to established and new audiences.

Selected highlights

Performance, recognition and recordings

Artistic collaborations

The OSQ has shared the stage with distinguished artists including Albie van Schalkwyk, Ben Schoeman, Catherine Foxcroft, Eddy van Oosthuyse, Farida Bacharova, James Grace, Leon Bosch, Leslie Howard, Liesl Stoltz, Marian Lewin and Zanta Hofmeyr.

Awards and recognition

  • Kanna Award for Best Classical Production, 2014
  • Vryfees Award for Best Debut Artist
  • UFS Alumni Ambassador’s Award
  • kykNET Fiësta nomination, 2015
  • Birmingham Chamber Music Festival invitation, 2015

Recordings

The quartet recorded the string quartets of acclaimed South African composer Hendrik Hofmeyr in 2011, released in 2013. Its 2014 album, Bits and Pieces, combines shorter works with Karl Jenkins’s String Quartet No. 2.

Members of the Odeion String Quartet working with young musicians

Education and community impact

Developing musicians. Expanding access.

Education and mentorship are central to the work of the Odeion String Quartet. Its members teach at the Odeion School of Music and contribute to the development of young musicians from across South Africa.

  • Supporting the string sections of the Free State Symphony Orchestra
  • Coaching musicians in the Free State Youth Orchestra
  • Mentoring chamber-music ensembles
  • Contributing to the Odeion Sinfonia
  • Supporting music-development and community-engagement initiatives

More than three decades of performance, teaching and artistic collaboration—and a continuing commitment to inspiring new generations of musicians and audiences.


FACULTY CONTACT

T: +27 51 401 2240 or humanities@ufs.ac.za

Postgraduate:
Marizanne Cloete: +27 51 401 2592

Undergraduate:
Neliswa Motebang: +27 51 401 2536
Phyllis Masilo: +27 51 401 9683
Thandeka Deeuw: +27 51 401 5460

Humanities photo next to contact block

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