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UFS lecturer topping the charts

30 April 2021 | Story Dr Cindé Greyling | Photo Supplied

Rene en Richan_web read more — René and Richann as Reën.

In the same week, a lecturer at the University of the Free State graduated with a master’s degree in Political Science and topped the charts with her first single as part of the duo, Reën. Within the first week of its release, Vrystaat Vlaktes was the number one hit on iTunes, got more than 300 000 views, and the duo’s Instagram boasts more than 10 000 followers. Not bad for the shy – as she describes herself – René de Klerk.

An interesting start

After living in Canada for about four years, René’s family moved back to Bloemfontein where she completed the last three years of high school. She decided to return to Canada after matric for a gap year, which “turned out to be nothing like that at all!” she says. Life was much harder on her own without the protection and support of her family. “Eventually I got a job, and part of my duties were to clean the restrooms – seriously. That is where I started.”

After applying for dozens of scholarships, René eventually got a bursary to study abroad. “I’ve always wanted to help people in some way – I really want everyone to be OK, to at least have their basic needs met.” She enrolled for a degree in International Studies, which she later completed at the UFS as a BA majoring in Political Science and Communication. Her academic potential did not go unnoticed, and she pursued further studies in Political Sciences while working and lecturing in the department.

A twist in the tale

René met her partner, Richann Brüssow, during the reality show, Boer Soek ‘n Vrou. “Since I am shy by nature, being so exposed was unnerving, but then again, I got so much out of it.” The two hit it off as a couple, and their shared love for music soon turned into much more than either of them foresaw. “We were honestly just having fun,” René recalls, “and then a production company contacted us!”

Initially, they thought of becoming wedding singers as a hobby, but Select Music found out about their endeavour and offered them an artist development deal. “I’m astonished,” René says, “my music background included school and university choirs. I never even considered becoming a performing artist. But then I met Richann …”

More to come

This is just the beginning of the road for René and for Reën. René will continue to leave a positive footprint wherever she goes, and Reën is soon to release their second single. “I will always be working in the field of Political Sciences and spend time in the music scene as a bonus,” she concludes.

News Archive

Music programme receives a boost

2004-08-20

Back standing fltr: Mr Peter Guy - Founder and coordinator: Mangaung String Program and snr lecturer at the Musicon; Mrs Francine Duvenage, Manager: Human Resources, Wesbank. Middle fltr: Prof Frederick Fourie, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS; Mr Apie Otto, Area Manager: Vehicles, Wesbank Free State and Northern Cape. Front fltr: Mr John Minaar (17), Gr 12 Sand du Plessis Secondary School; Repiloe Olifant (14) Gr 10 Navalsig Secondary School; Moeketsi Khang (16) Gr 11 Tsoseletso Secondary School; Stella Benbooi (12) Gr 7 Bochabela Primary School.

The Mangaung String Programme, a partnership between the University of the Free State (UFS) and the Free State Musicon, an institution that falls under the auspices of the Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, has recently received heartened encouragement when an amount of R342 000,00 was granted to the programme by the Wesbank/First Rand Foundation for the purchasing of a bus.

“Transporting the children who are part of the programme back and forth for tuition and rehearsals has been a major problem as most of them stay in the townships on the outskirts of Bloemfontein ,” said Mr Peter Guy, founder and coordinator of the programme.

“The bus will ensure that those children who have the passion, dedication and commitment can spend every afternoon if they so choose practicing, learning about music and rehearsing with children from all over Bloemfontein,” said Mr Guy.

Mr Guy, a Senior Lecturer at the Musicon, started the programme in 1998 with funding from the Musicon Parents Teachers Association, initially with 15 pupils - today 150 children participate in the programme. In 2002 the UFS formed a partnership with the Free State Musicon in the provisioning of facilities, tuition and musical instruments. “Since the involvement of the UFS, the programme has almost tripled in size and one

fulltime teaching position is now jointly funded by both institutions,” said Mr Guy.

According to Mr Guy the Free State Symphony Orchestra has committed itself to providing opportunities for gifted young players from all backgrounds to perform, develop their talents and to grow musically. Some of the children of the Mangaung String Programme will soon be joining the Free State Symphony Concert in concerts.

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
19 August 2004

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