Latest News Archive
Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
18 September 2018
Photo Hanno Otto
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
Student protest against integration of the Main Campus residences
2008-02-21
The management of the University of the Free State (UFS) is extremely concerned about the actions of some of our students who have committed public violence, crimen injuria and damage to property last night (Wednesday, 20 February 2008) on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein.
The management condemns these criminal acts in the strongest terms. We are concerned about what appears to be an orchestrated campaign to frustrate the implementation of the new residence policy on diversity.
We remain committed to ensuring a safe campus for staff and students to engage in the academic activities of the UFS and will take the necessary legal steps to avoid a repeat of these incidents.
Normal academic and other activities are continuing and have not been disrupted. We are appealing to all staff and students to remain calm.
We note the contents of a memorandum that was handed to the management regarding the integration of our student residences.
We remain committed to the implementation of the Council approved policy on increasing diversity in our residences as part of a new institutional culture for the UFS.
We also remain committed to engaging with students on these and other matters. In fact, several meetings have taken place over the past few weeks with the Student Representative Council (SRC) and with primes about student issues.
We would like to appeal to student leaders to follow the established channels to address their concerns.
These channels have been successful in the past in addressing student concerns and we see no reason why they cannot succeed in the current situation.
The management will meet with student leaders as soon as is possible to engage with students on these matters.
However we want to reiterate that criminal behaviour and misconduct will not be tolerated.
Media Release
Issued by: Anton Fisher
Director: Strategic Communication
Tel: 051 401 3422
Cell: 072 207 8334
E-mail: fishera.stg@ufs.ac.za
21 February 2008