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03 January 2020 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Supplied
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Bence Szepesi will be one of the main attractions at the Clarinet Extravaganza

Some of the biggest names in classical music will be part of the second International Clarinet Extravaganza to be hosted by the Odeion School of Music (OSM) from 28 January 2020 until 1 February 2020. The 2020 festival hopes to build on the success of the inaugural festival held in 2016. 

Some of the artists will include Eddy Vanoosthuyse and Severine Sierens from Belgium, Marco Mazzini from Peru, Feng Mei from the USA, and Bence Szepesi from Hungary.

 “The objective of the festival is to expose South African clarinettists (of all ages and levels) and educators to current international clarinet trends, excellent artistry, and the opportunity to receive masterclasses from top clarinet pedagogues,” says Dr Danré Strydom, OSM lecturer and convener of the festival. 

The festival will consist of various concerts, clarinet workshops, composition competitions for high-school learners and university students, individual and group masterclasses, and an evening concert with the Free State Symphony Orchestra. There is also a special prize to be won by the top participant. The winner will receive a full scholarship to attend the 2020 Clarinets on stage Academy in Belgium.

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Free software a matter of liberty, says computer programming expert
2013-09-03

Dr Richard Matthew Stallman
3 September 2013

“Free software is a matter of the users’ freedom to run, copy, distributes, study, change and improves the software.”   That is according to well-known freedom activist and programmer, Dr Richard Matthew Stallman, founder of the Free Software Foundation and leader of the GNU project.

The computer programming expert visited the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State, where he delivered a guest lecture on “A freeware generation.”

At this lecture, Dr Stallman, referred to by many as ‘the father of programming’ spoke about the threats that non-free software has and how the users are mandatory controlled by the software, instead of the user having complete freedom on the programme itself.

He told the audience in the Albert Wessels Auditorium that free software has advantages for the user, such as:

  • The freedom to run the program, for any purpose.
  • The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs.
  • The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbour.
  • The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits.

Thus, ‘free software’ is a matter of liberty, not price.

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