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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

Enough is enough, says students
2013-02-15

A student writes the name of a friend who has been a victim of rape, on the T-shirt worn by Mody Motholo – Former SRC interim president.
Photo: Jerry Mokoroane
14 February 2013



I am morally tied to stop rape”, students say

Kovsie student and former SRC Interim President Mody Motholo is creating awareness about rape with a campaign called “I am morally tied to stop rape”.

As part of the campaign Mody chained herself to a tree on the Bloemfontein Campus to show how many of our students and women are living in bondage as a result of this type of crime. Students walking past the campaign station interacted with Mody, who informed them about the rape issues affecting students across our country and how we can join hands to stop the increasing cases of rape, both reported and not reported.

Students could also write down the names of victims on her T-shirt, which will later be used as an indication of this terrible crime in our country. “The first name written on this T-shirt was that of the latest reported rape case, namely Anene Booysen who was brutally gang raped.

"Within an hour this T-shirt was covered in names, which was an indication to me of the seriousness of the problems some students who are victims of rape are struggling with around our campus,” said Mody.

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