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11 April 2019 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Charl Devenish
Odeion Dean
From left; Dr Chitja Twala, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Humanities; Prof Heidi Hudson and Marius Coetzee at the OSM Dean’s Gala Concert.

It was a night where the Odeion School of Music (OSM) had its finest and best talent on the stage. The OSM Dean’s Gala Concert 2019 delivered a spectacular show on Friday 5 April 2019.

“I am deeply honoured to have the dean’s office associated with this concert. The work done by OSM counts amongst the best in the Faculty. The staff and students of the Odeion and the Camerata are known for having received many awards and accolades over the last couple of years,” said Prof Heidi Hudson, Dean of the Faculty of The Humanities. The OSM also ensures that a vibrant concert culture is maintained. 

“I want to recognise the work done by educators not only at school level and tertiary level. Through music education the human soul is developed and preserved, which reminds us why arts and humanities are essential in pursuit of knowledge,” she said.

Heinrich Armer, former lecturer at the OSM was awarded the Order of The Odeion School of Music for his contribution to music.

“The concert is also a benefit concert for potential funders to see the talent the OSM has to offer,” said Marius Coetzee, Innovation Manager at the OSM. The main reasons for the concert is twofold; firstly to create a professional performance for the gifted OSM students and showcase their excellence. For some students it will be their debut performance. Secondly, it is to raise funds for bursaries and funding of future OSM students.”

The programme line-up showcased the best of the OSM with performances from the OSM Camerata conducted by Elsabe Raath, The Free State Wind Ensemble conducted by Danre Strydom, and Naledi Dweba (clarinet) with Anneke Lamont (Piano) among others. 

Steve Reich’s Clapping Music was also amusingly performed by Misumzi Bottoman, Heinrich Lategan and Marlou Strydom. Charity Leburu and Mirriam Bokala were the sopranos and were both accompanied by Margot Viljoen on the piano.

News Archive

Internet Broadcast Project wins at International Enterprise Video Awards
2014-08-11

Video: Internet Broadcast Project

In April this year, the ICTISE (ICT Innovation in School Education) division won the first place at the Enterprise Video Awards held in Madison, Wisconsin, USA. Their Internet Broadcast Project (IBP) was the overall winner in the Innovation category – competing against universities and other training institutions from across the world.

The IBP is a collaborative project between the ICTISE and the Free State Department of Education (FSDoE). Broadcasting from the South Campus studio in Bloemfontein, teachers use specialised web-casting technology to present lessons that reach 68 education centres. Lessons cover a range of subjects and broadcast in real time to teachers and learners from Grades 8 to 12, covering 40 Free State towns, including the most rural areas.

Head of the ICTISE Project, Sarietjie Musgrave said, “Each participating school is equipped with 24/7 uncapped internet access, an all-in-one computer (computer, data projector and sound system), a document camera and a printer – the same equipment used in the studio by the expert teachers.

“The technology provided allows learners to communicate with the expert teacher in the studio during a broadcast to the school or learner at no cost. Lessons can be downloaded on to various devices and re-used during teaching time, shared with neighbouring schools, or taken home by learners to help with homework or for revision.

“To date, the IBP catalogue contains over 2 000 video lessons and during 2013 alone, the 68 schools accessed and used these videos 69 305 times. The project has the potential to reach more than 40 000 learners and 1 765 teachers every week.”

Innovation and sustainability form the backbone of this project. Support is provided to teachers and learners in Mathematics, Maths Literacy, Physical Science, Life Science, Geography, English, Accounting, Economics and Business Studies.


The ICTISE has a dedicated technical team to support schools. During broadcasts there is a dedicated helpline and on-site technical support, even in the remotest areas.

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