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Famed string instruments at home with Odeion String Quartet

16 February 2023 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Anja Aucamp

Quarter of Peace_web read more — Samson Diamond, Jeanne-Louise Moolman, Prof Anmari van der Westhuizen-Joubert, and Sharon de Kock with the QoP instruments created by luthier Brian Lisus to honour SA’s Nobel peace laureates.

Hope, the viola; Freedom, the first violin; Peace, the second violin; and Reconciliation, the cello, collectively known as the Quartet of Peace (QoP), have found their home at the UFS. The Odeion String Quartet (OSQ) has been made the custodians of this world-famous quartet created by Brian Lisus. The instruments were created by Lisus in 2010 to commemorate the four Nobel peace laureates of South Africa, namely Albert Luthuli, Nelson Mandela, FW de Klerk, and Desmond Tutu. In March 2022, Lisus presented a lecture in the Odeion Theatre to officially present these instruments to the UFS.

Many new performing opportunities

“The trustees found that justice will be done by making the Odeion String Quartet the new custodians, since they are the only quartet-in-residence at a South African university,” says Prof Anmari van der Westhuizen-Joubert, cellist and Head of the OSQ.

As the custodians of the QoP, it brought many new performing opportunities, both nationally and internationally. “It can also be used in presentations of lectures on all subjects and not only of a political nature. In this way, string quartet music reaches more people than just those who go to concert halls,” Prof Van der Westhuizen-Joubert says. The OSQ consists of Prof Van der Westhuizen-Joubert (cellist), Samson Diamond (violinist and leader of the string quartet), Sharon de Kock (violinist), and Jeanne-Louise Moolman (violinist).

Unique part of UFS identity

The uniqueness of the QoP instruments will be an important element of the OSQ, the Odeion School of Music, the Faculty of the Humanities, as well as the entire UFS community. “One of the plans is to raise money to enable students to come and study with the Odeion String Quartet members at the UFS,” Prof Van der Westhuizen-Joubert says. Another historic moment with these instruments took place in October 2022, when the instruments took centre stage at a concert hosted by Prof Francis Petersen, UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor, at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg. At this event, the QoP instruments were introduced to the public, important stakeholders, and to guests of the UFS. Other plans include trips to international festivals such as the Ojai Music Festival in the USA in 2023 and the String Quartet Biennale in Amsterdam in 2024.

*This article first appeared in the Bult Magazine.

News Archive

UFS implements B Ed degree on Qwaqwa campus

2006-11-09

The University of the Free State has taken a step to address the need of black teachers in the country by offering a B Ed degree in the further education and training (FET) phase at its Qwaqwa Campus as from January 2007.

“The accredited B Ed qualification provides the opportunity to students to empower themselves to become professional teachers in secondary schools. It is also suitable for the training of expertise for education-related careers such as instructors and trainers,” said Dr Elias Malete, acting principal of the UFS Qwaqwa Campus.

According to Dr Malete, education in South Africa is heading for a disaster owing to the large-scale exodus of teachers combined with the low enrolment figures of prospective teachers.

“Approximately 19 000 teachers leave the teaching profession annually, while all the training institutions in the country only manage to produce 4 800 new entrants to the profession,” said Dr Malete.

“Indications are that a considerable number of students, especially from KwaZulu-Natal, want to study education at the Qwaqwa Campus. The implementation of the course will also address the need for qualified teachers in the country and contribute to the sustainability of the campus,” said Dr Malete.

“The duration of the B Ed is four years. Prospective students who do not meet the admission requirements may enroll for a one-year career preparation programme and successful completion will provide them with admission to the degree the following year. Prospective students with an M-score of 24-27 may enroll for an extended B Ed programme over a period of five years,” said Dr Malete.

Other education programmes that are offered at the Qwaqwa Campus include a B Ed Honors degree in Curriculum Studies, a B Ed Honors degree in Education Management and Leadership and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

Prospective students may call (058) 718-5000 or visit the UFS web site at www.ufs.ac.za for more information. Applications for admission to this programme close on 30 November 2006.

Media release

Issued by: Lacea Loader

Media Representative

Tel: (051) 401-2584

Cell: 083 645 2454

E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za

8 November 2006

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