For 80 years, the University of the Free State (UFS) Odeion School of Music (OSM) has been a leader in music education and cultural development in South Africa. In 2026, the school celebrates its artistic excellence with this milestone, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of the renowned Odeion String Quartet.

Together, these anniversaries celebrate a legacy that has shaped generations of musicians, educators, scholars, performers, and cultural leaders. Their influence continues to be felt across the Free State, South Africa, and beyond.

As the only comprehensive tertiary music training institution in the Free State, the OSM occupies a unique place in South Africa’s cultural landscape. Together, the Odeion School of Music and the Odeion String Quartet serve as the principal professional music institutions in the Free State.

For decades, the OSM and the quartet have provided the foundation for musical education, performance, and cultural engagement in the Free State, ensuring that high-level music-making remains accessible to communities across the province.

The school’s impact extends far beyond the concert hall. Through teaching, research, community engagement, outreach initiatives, concerts, and international partnerships, the OSM has built a culture of excellence. Its alumni have distinguished themselves as performers, composers, musicologists, educators, authors, entrepreneurs, and cultural leaders.

The school’s reputation has been strengthened by internationally recognised lecturers and researchers, whose work continues to position the OSM as a leading centre for music education and scholarship.

Celebrating 35 years of the Odeion String Quartet

The 35th anniversary of the Odeion String Quartet marks more than an artistic milestone. Together with the OSM’s 80th anniversary, it celebrates a shared legacy that has shaped music education, performance, and cultural engagement in the Free State for generations.

“These celebrations are particularly significant because the Odeion School of Music and the Odeion String Quartet serve as the principal professional music institutions in the Free State. As the province’s only comprehensive tertiary music training institution and resident professional string quartet, they have provided the foundation upon which musical education, performance, and cultural engagement have been built for decades,” says Dr Jan Beukes, Artistic and Operational Head of the Odeion School of Music. “Their contribution extends beyond the university campus, reaching communities across the province and ensuring that high-level music-making remains accessible in the heart of South Africa.”

The 35-year history of the quartet reflects the University of the Free State's unwavering belief that the arts are essential to education, cultural development, and society. It has embraced both classical and contemporary repertoire and collaborated with leading artists nationally and internationally. The quartet also commissioned and premiered new compositions and engaged audiences through innovative programming.

The quartet remains the only permanently appointed string quartet-in-residence at a South African university, a distinction that reflects its contribution to both performance and music education.

Building the future of music and the arts

While celebrating its rich history, the Odeion School of Music is also focused on the future. The school continues to strengthen its position in the regional, national, continental, and international arts landscape. It does so through innovation, transformation, and academic excellence.

The OSM remains committed to developing graduates who are artistically skilled, academically grounded, and socially engaged. Through music education, research, and community engagement, the school continues to contribute to South Africa’s cultural and creative sectors.

The anniversary concerts reflect the OSM’s vision. They also provide an opportunity to look ahead. As the arts sector evolves, the school remains committed to preparing students for changing industry demands.