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16 February 2023 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Anja Aucamp
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

Prospective Kovsies advised to respect themselves
2015-05-22

Thousands of prospective Kovsies had a brief but unforgettable experience of being a Kovsie when they descended on the Qwaqwa Campus for the Open Day on 16 May 2015.

They came from all over the Thabo Mofutsanyana District, and from as far as Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal.

“You are special,” was the message from Dr Choice Makhetha, Vice-Rector: External Relations.

“Each one of you is very special, and don’t allow anyone to tell you otherwise,” said Dr Makhetha.

“Each one has a brilliant mind and you can achieve anything you set your mind to. This can only happen if your thoughts and whatever you say to yourself are positive all time.”

The learners were also reminded to take themselves seriously, and to always respect themselves.

“It is important that you must have respect for yourself, for others, and for the environment. When you respect yourself, you respect time. You must make it your business to know and read extensively,” she said.

After the formal programme, learners were exposed to different study programmes and student services by visiting various faculties and departments.

The programme included messages of support from the Campus Management and the SRC. Entertainment was provided by a South African hip-hop group, Skwatta Kamp, a student ensemble called Unspoken, and a breathtaking laser show.

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