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An ode to the Odeion String Quartet

30 January 2025 | Story Jacky Tshokwe | Photo Supplied

In the world of music, certain instruments resonate not just with sound, but with profound emotion and history. For Samantha Durrant, her journey with the violin began at the tender age of seven, inspired by the heartfelt story of Music of the Heart. This film, coupled with her exposure to the harmonious symphonies of the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, planted seeds that grew into a lifelong devotion to the violin and classical music.

Now, as part of the Odeion String Quartet – the only quartet in residence at a South African university – Durrant stands at the forefront of a mission that transcends performance. She sees her role not only as a performer, but as a steward of South Africa’s string-playing legacy. Her vision is bold yet grounded: to make the Odeion String Quartet the centrepiece of string training and performance in the country.

Reflecting on her journey, Durrant emphasises the critical role of mentorship, exposure, and perseverance. "There wasn’t one pivotal moment in my career," she shares. "It was the culmination of experiences with colleagues, mentors, and friends, all encouraging me to push my boundaries."

The Odeion String Quartet is bridging South African talent with global excellence, performing works by masters such as Haydn and Beethoven while celebrating contemporary compositions, including those from South Africa's rich tapestry of composers. For Durrant, the opportunity to collaborate with living composers is an unparalleled gift, offering insights into their inspirations and musical intentions.

Education and community are at the heart of the quartet's mission. Through school concerts, youth orchestra engagements, and performances at prestigious events such as the Vice-Chancellor’s Concert and the Rector’s Farewell, the quartet inspires audiences of all ages. "Youth orchestras represent unity," Durrant notes. "They bring people together, showcasing our shared humanity."

To those stepping into the challenging world of music, Durrant offers sage advice: "Be patient with yourself. Understand that this field is not easy, but the journey of self-discovery it offers is unparalleled."

With a packed performance calendar and ambitious goals for the quartet’s future, Durrant remains hopeful about music's place in society. "Music has the power to heal, inspire, and unite," she says. "In these challenging times, it is balm for the soul – an essential part of our humanity."

As the Odeion String Quartet continues its journey, its melodies remind us of the transformative power of music, resonating with hope and possibility across generations.

News Archive

Chemistry gets substantial grants

2013-06-10

At the experimental setup of the high temperature reduction oven for research in heterogeneous catalysis are, front from left: Maretha Serdyn (MNS Cluster prestige PhD bursar), Nceba Magqi (Sasol employee busy with his MSc in Chemistry) and Dr Alice Brink (Formal MNS Cluster postdoctoral fellow and lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry); back Profs Jannie Swarts (Head: Physical Chemistry), André Roodt, and Ben Bezuidenhoudt (Sasol Professor in Organic and Process Chemistry).
10 June 2013

Three research groups in the Department of Chemistry received substantial grants to the value of R4,55 million. The funding includes bursaries for students and post-doctoral fellows, mobility grants, running costs and equipment support, as well as dedicated funds for two young scientists in the UFS Prestige Scholar Programme, Drs Lizette Erasmus and Alice Brink.

The funding comes from Sasol, the THRIP programme of the National Research Foundation (NRF) and PetLabs Pharmaceuticals for the overarching thrust in Organic Synthesis, Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Catalysis. The programme has a broad focuse on different fundamental and applied aspects of process chemistry. Research groups of Profs Andreas Roodt (Inorganic), Jannie Swarts (Physical) and Ben Bezuidenhoudt (Organic / Process), principal members of the focus area of (Green) Petrochemicals in the Materials and Nanosciences Strategic Research Cluster (MNS Cluster) will benefit from the grant.

This funding was granted based on the continued and high-level outputs by the groups, which resulted in more than 40 papers featuring in international chemistry publications in merely the past year. A few papers also appeared in the top experimental inorganic chemistry journal from the American Chemical Society, Inorganic Chemistry. These high-impact papers address important issues in catalysis under the UFS Material and Nanosciences Research Cluster initiative, as well as other aspects of fundamental chemistry, but with an applied approach and focus.

Prof Andreas Roodt, Distinguished Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Chemistry, said the grants will enable the three research groups to move forward in their respective research areas associated with petrochemicals and other projects, and enable additional students in the department to benefit from it. It will also ensure that these groups can continue and maintain their research on different molecular and nano-scale materials. Current experiments include conversions under extremely high gas pressures (typical 100 times that in motor car tyres). This takes place at the molecular level and at preselected nano-surfaces, to convert cheaper feed-stream starting materials into higher value-added products for use as special additives in gasoline and other speciality chemicals.

The funding support forms part of the Hub-and-Spoke initiative at Sasol under which certain universities and specifically the UFS Department of Chemistry have been identified for strategic support for research and development. The department and the UFS gratefully acknowledge this continued and generous support from all parties concerned.

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