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18 September 2018 Photo Hanno Otto
Consecutive international win for OSM Camerata
The OSM Camerata is once again a winner, sharing the first prize in the Ictus International Music Competition with the Oklahoma State University.

If Einstein’s string theory had a musical undertone, one would think it is because of the sweet melodies of the Odeion School of Music Cameratas’ (OSMC) violins and cellos. It should therefore come as no surprise that OSMC won the 2018 International Ictus Music Competition, again. The ensemble has been paving the way to numerous successes since its inception in 2012.

This year, however, the OSMC is sharing the first prize with the Oklahoma State University Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Dr Thomas Dickey. The OSMC’s competition recital for 2018 was conducted by principle conductor, Xavier Cloete. Acclaimed violist Elsabé Raath, joined the OSMC artistic team in 2017 as string clinician.

OSMC the jewel in crown

The OSMC is based at the Odeion School of Music (OSM) at the University of the Free State UFS) and was strategically founded as the OSM’s flagship ensemble with the main objective, creating a catalyst for excellence. “From a pedagogical perspective, it 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,” said Marius Coetzee founder of the OSMC.

“Ms Raath also made her debut as conductor during the 2018 Ictus Music Competition where she conducted O Sacrum Convivium by Olivier Messiaen,” said Coetzee, founder of the OSMC. Elsabé was also conductor during the 2018 Ictus Music competition.

The OSMC’s concert programme for Ictus 2018 also consisted of works by Jacobus Gallus/Lance Phillip, Béla Bartók, Peteris Vasks/Keith Moss, as well as Johann Sebastian Bach.

Ictus an ideal platform

The Ictus International Music Competition is an online music competition for wind bands, orchestras and solo trumpet. It has been described by David Bilger of the Philadelphia Orchestra as “democratising music competitions”. Ictus was founded to make international music competitions more accessible though eliminating prohibitive travel costs, conference fees and visa issues. This was made possible through having the application and adjudication take place online only. 

You can listen to OMSC Ictus submissions here:

Duo Seraphim Jabobus Gallus/Lance Phillip
Romanian Folk Dances/ Román népi táncok Béla Bartók
Kekatu Dziesma (Carnival Song) Peteris Vasks/Keith Moss

News Archive

UFS formalises ties with Murdoch University, Australia
2009-05-20

 

From the left are: Prof. Johan Greyling (Head of the Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences), Ms Lorraine Möller and Ms Darina Bekker (the first two Animal Science students that will participate in the exchange programme) and Prof. Aldo Stroebel (Director International Affairs at the UFS).
Photograph: Supplied.

 

The University of the Free State (UFS) has concluded a student-exchange agreement with Murdoch University, Perth, Australia for a semester abroad programme in Animal Science. This makes it the first exchange agreement of its kind for both institutions with South Africa or Australia respectively.

The agreement was signed during a visit to Murdoch by Prof. Aldo Stroebel, Director International Affairs at the UFS, last week.

The agreement follows two years of negotiation and partnership building with the assistance of Prof. Johan Greyling, Head of the Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences at the UFS, and will extend in future to research and capacity building cooperation. Two third-year Animal Science students will join Murdoch University for the second semester of 2009, and return to complete their final year in South Africa. A reciprocal exchange from Murdoch University will take place in 2010.

Murdoch University is regarded as one of Australia’s leading research universities, and has recently been announced as an animal and veterinary science centre of excellence for Western Australia.

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