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12 May 2023
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Story Mbali Moiketsi
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Photo iStock
Visiting universities and learning more about them is an essential part of prospective students’ journey into higher education. The University of the Free State (UFS) has launched the Kovsie-Connect Virtual Experience.
This is an initiative of the Student Recruitment Services in partnership with the Office for International Affairs to give the modern-day prospective student an experience of what the University of the Free State can offer. The Kovsie-Connect Virtual Experience is an interactive online platform that allows prospective students to engage and learn more about the UFS from the comfort of their own homes.
The Virtual Experience is tailor-made for local and international prospective students with the aim of providing an overview of academic offerings, facilities, and student life through a series of online documents, pre-recorded videos, and virtual tours.
The virtual format allows for easy accessibility and convenience, as potential students can attend the event from anywhere in the world without the need for travel. This experience aims to provide students with the information they need to make an informed decision and Choose the UFS!
Click here to access the tour.
Strydom helps establish SA in international clarinet arena
2016-06-07
Danré Strydom, clarinet lecturer in
the Odeion School of Music at the
University of the Free State, was
named national chairperson to
represent South Africa in the
International Clarinet Association.
Photo: Odeion School of Music.
Her appointment holds international benefits not only for the University of the Free State (UFS), but also for the rest of South Africa’s clarinet community.
This is the view of Danré Strydom, clarinet lecturer in the Odeion School of Music (OSM) at the UFS, on her appointment as South African chairperson of the International Clarinet Association in Columbus (Ohio), America.
It is no coincidence, therefore, that the OSM, with Strydom at the helm as Buffet artist, will present an international clarinet festival on the Bloemfontein Campus from 4 to 8 October 2016. During the International Clarinet Extravaganza, a first for South Africa, world-renowned clarinet players like Eddy Vanoosthuyse of Belgium, Marco Mazinni of Peru, and Sun Zhen of China, will perform.
More contact with overseas representatives
“South Africa’s clarinet community is fairly distanced from the rest of the world,” says Strydom. “In places like Europe and the USA, it is easy to attend a variety of masterclasses, research opportunities, and clarinet festivals.” Her appointment means that she will have more contact with representatives from other countries. “It is also important for composers from South Africa to have their work performed beyond our borders.”
The purpose of the International Clarinet Association is to support projects that benefit clarinet players. She also writes for the association’s journal.
Strydom, who is completing her PhD this year, was honoured some seven months ago with the elite international accomplishment of Buffet artist. She is the first South African to represent Buffet-Crampon.
Clarinet festival offers additional opportunities
Strydom says the clarinet festival hosted by the UFS is “a wonderful opportunity to put the UFS, OSM, and South Africa on the map for clarinet performance, education, and research.”
The purpose of the festival is to expose South African clarinettists and educators to international trends, and to learn from the best in the world. “The festival will prove that the current education, compositional techniques, standard of players, and the quality at academic institutions can compete with the rest of the world. I also believe it will provide opportunities for students to connect with international players and, in that way, open doors for possible postgraduate studies or concert opportunities overseas.”
Watch videos of Strydom:
Video 1
Video 2
Click here to watch other videos of the OSM.