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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

Kovsies shine at USSA Cross Country Championships
2009-10-15

Thandi Malindi (far left) from the UFS and two Matie athletes, Elene Lourens and Mia Pienaar.
Photo: Supplied

Kovsie cross-country athletes Boy Soke and Thandi Malindi were included in the USSA squad for 2010 at the World Student Cross-Country Championships in Canada. The final team will be announced after the SA Cross-Country Championships. They recently participated in the USSA Cross-Country Championships that were held at the University of Johannesburg. According to Mr DB Prinsloo from KovsieSport at the University of the Free State, the UFS team did extremely well at the recent USSA Cross-Country Championships.

Kovsies won the women long-race team competition (8 km), while the men came second in the men’s long-race team (10 km) competition. In the short-race team competitions (4 km for men and women) the UFS men finished fourth and women ended in fifth place respectively.

Thandi Malindi, the UFS Women Cross-Country captain, was the first Kovsie over the line (third place), followed by Nelmarie Loubser (4th) and Maryna Swanepoel (6th), who also won the team competition in the 8 km (long race) with 13 penalty points against the 14 penalty points of the Maties who finished second.

Mr DB Prinsloo from KovsieSport at the UFS praised the Kovsie athletes for the manner in which they ran the race. “Thandi gave her all; so much so that she had to be admitted to hospital due to dehydration. Nelmaré ran the hills with a smile on her face and Maryna, who suffered from low blood sugar, persevered until the end so that a Matie athlete could not pass her. You all showed to us what ‘vasbyt’ really means,” Mr Prinsloo said.

Kovsies performed above expectation in the short race (4 km) for women. “Our women finished fifth in the team competition. If one takes into consideration that the Kovsies were represented by 400/800 athletes, i.e. Elri Richter (400/800), who came seventh, Anneri Ebersohn (400/400 hurdles), who ended in sixteenth place and Yvonne Eyssen (heptathlon) who ended in twentieth place, it makes this performance even better,” Mr Prinsloo commented.

In the men’s short race (4 km) where the Kovsies were represented by young first-year 800 m athletes, the UFS did excellently by finishing in fourth place. Hanne Naudé (18th), Lebohang Mpure (19th), Abri Horak (26th) and Gerrit Viljoen (34st) ran their hearts out!

The long race (10 km) for men, which was run on an extremely difficult course, was another highlight – also for the Kovsies. The Kovsies finished second in the team competition. Boy Soke (4th), Windy Jonas (8th), Schadrach Mochelenyane (10th) en Michael Tlhoro (21st) represented the Kovsies with honours. Unfortunately Johan Cronjé and Dumisane Hlaselo had to withdraw from the race due to injuries.

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