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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 triumph in Free State hockey
2014-08-05

During the first weekend of August 2014, the University of the Free State (UFS) was once again crowned as the Free State hockey champions.

In the finals of the Free State championships, the Kovsies’ women’s team beat the Reds (Kovsies 2nd team) by 10-1. This is the ninth consecutive year that our women’s team walk away as champions. It was clear from the start that Kovsies wouldn’t be satisfied by anything less than a win and a courageous Reds team was unable to cover all the gaps.

After being at the helm for three years, the Kovsies’ coach, Jacques du Toit, announced his retirement after the game. During his coaching term, Kovsies had their best performances since the 1984 season – when the Kovsie women won the University Sports South Africa (USSA) tournament.

Since 2012, the Kovsies’ women’s team went from strength to strength. For the first time since 1993, they ended among the top four teams in the USSA tournament that year. In the following year they repeated this performance and also achieved a bronze during the first Varsity Sport Hockey tournament for women.

Kovsies’ men’s hockey team was also crowned as champions in the Free State championships for the 12th consecutive year. We won against the Central University of Technology in the finals by 9-2. This year our team of champions also succeeded in breaking a medal drought of 30 years in the USSA tournament. We defeated the team from the University of Johannesburg to gain a bronze.

This year, Kovsies was also the only university that managed to win two medals at the USSA hockey tournament and can rightfully claim the title as best tertiary hockey club in the country.

 

Kovsies’ men’s team: Back, from the left are: Brad Hensberg, Rogan Jones, Mikhail Mannel, Egon van der Merwe, Stanley de Villiers,
Cheslyn Neethling, Michael Baiden, Richard Copley (physio) and Braam van Wyk (coach). Centre, from the left are: Darryl Sutherland,
Ian Finlay, Gerald van Blerk and Dylan Swanepoel (vice-capt). Front, from the left, are: Jaco Fourie, Qhayiya Jack, Berne Burger, Nazo
Mlakalaka, Kurt Hensberg, Lehan Bloemhoff and Ruan Kleinhans.

Kovsies’ women’s team: Back, from the left are: Madie Wessels, Izelle Lategan, Nisa van Zyl, Timon Botha, Jacques du Toit, Beatrix
Wesstdyk, Jacqie Ras, Jo Nelka Swanepoel and Lisa Hawker. Front, from the left are: Nicole Walraven, Tanya Britz, Line Malan (capt),
Minjon van Tonder (vice-capt), Kim Mentor, Inke Wolmarans and Cornelle Botha.

 

 

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