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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

Biggest Bloemfontein art project comes to life
2016-07-11

Description: It’s My City Giraffe Tags: It’s My City Giraffe

Three sculptures in different places
in Bloemfontein will form part of
It’s My City, a large-scale public art
project from 8 to 16 July 2016
alongside the Vrystaat Arts Festival.
Photo: Xany Jansen van Vuuren

One of the biggest art projects Bloemfontein has ever seen. That is how Angela de Jesus, curator of the Johannes Stegmann Art Gallery at the University of the Free State (UFS), describes It’s My City. And the large-scale public art project involves the community of Bloemfontein/Mangaung’s participation.

The artwork, conceived by British artist, Alex Rinsler, will be on display from 8 to 16 July 2016, alongside the Vrystaat Arts Festival. Three sculptures, a Baby Giraffe, Mother Tree and Toy Windmill, each about 7.5 metres, will appear in Hoffman Square, Mapikela Square in Batho location, and on the Red Square of the UFS Bloemfontein Campus respectively.

Many from around the city included


Local lead artists – Marius Jansen van Vuuren (Baby Giraffe), Tshiamo Art and Crafts Development (Mother Tree), and Minè Kleynhans (Toy Windmill) – expressed their relationship to the city. According to De Jesus, the project includes “six artists; more than 20 job opportunities were created; and there were skills transfer for many more. Over 50 volunteers, 100 professionals, and hopefully thousands will take part.” It’s My City is the signature 2016 project of the Programme for Innovation in Artform Development, a partnership between the UFS and the festival, supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the municipality of Mangaung.

People can connect in positive way

“What most excites me is that this work will create imagery that loads of people can connect with in a positive way, and write a new story,” says Rinsler. According to the public artist and cultural producer, people are invited to visit the sculptures, write down their wishes for the city and those they love, and add them to complete the artworks.

Sculptures meet each other at ceremony

On 16 July 2016, the sculptures will be led by three processions, convening at the Macufe village (corner of Elizabeth and Markgraaff streets). At 17:30, a short ceremony, free to attend, will follow where they will be dismantled in spectacular fashion, with graceful fire and pyrotechnics, and so bringing together many people’s wishes as one.

Photo Gallery
For more information visit the It's My City website
Click here for a press release about the project



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