Odeion School of Music Camerata (OSMC)

Odeion School of Music Camerata (OSMC)

The University of the Free State’s Odeion School of Music Camerata (OSMC) was strategically founded as a flagship chamber ensemble at the beginning of the academic year 2012, with the main objective of creating a catalyst for excellence. 

From a pedagogical perspective, the OSMC serves as a feasible incubator to nurture fully rounded musicians who are thoroughly prepared for the demands of their trade as orchestral musicians, soloists and conductors.

Artistically, the ensemble cultivates the talents of exceptionally gifted students pursuing the highest artistic standards possible. Parallel to competencies related to advanced musicianship, ensemble skills, encapsulated in a comprehensive mentorship, serious thought is also given to the demands and roles of the professional orchestral player (for example, concert master, assistant concert master and principle player), as well as professional protocol with regard to rehearsal procedures. 

Opportunities are also given to young, dynamic, professional conductors both locally and internationally. In context of the long-term OSM strategy, the idea is to found an extended orchestral conducting chair. It is envisaged that both the OSMC and visiting conductors will be instrumental in facilitating the conducting modules and expose students to state-of-the-art knowledge of conducting techniques, repertoire, and programming within the application of progressive teaching methodologies.

Mentorship is applied by acquiring the services of exceptionally talented young international and/or South African musicians as instructors to prepare the OSMC members preceding a concert and/or project in the longer term. The application of junior experts is validated by transversal benefits generated through the transferral of knowledge through the teaching mode of peer-to-peer instruction. Different modus operandi are considered concerning the actual contact intervals between students and mentors from start to finish during the creative process.

In the context of the OSM Camerata, mentorship has proven to be not only viable to the growth of musicianship per se, but, simultaneously, addresses a wide variety of additional music-related professional competencies, apart from valuable generic life experiences.

Another noteworthy objective is to introduce students and audiences alike to exceptional repertoire not often heard on South African stages. Specialised knowledge about diverse performance practices should be addressed by the choice of repertoire and the application thereof. The performance and commissioning of music by South African composers is considered to be a priority. From 2013 and 2014, four new works were specifically commissioned for the OSM Camerata, in which composer tailor-made works to suit the strengths, as well as the specific sound pallet of the ensemble.

The realisation of excellence (with reference to the recent past), has been solidified by the setting and executing of an ambitious set of goals.

• Early in 2013 the OSMC was selected and invited to participate at the 13th International Conservatoire Festival presented in St Petersburg (Russia). The festival is presented on an annual basis by the Rimsky Korsakov Conservatory. In November 2013 the ensemble received a standing ovation under the baton of Maestro Jan Moritz Onken after their gala performance in the Glazunov Hall at the Rimsky Korsakov Conservatory. During this event the ensemble premiered three new South African works by eminent South African composers specially commissioned for the ensemble;

• In April 2013 the OSMC served as the orchestra for the world première of the Cello Concerto for an African Cellist by South African composer, Hans Huyssen, with SA cellist, Heleen du Plessis as soloist. The CD was released in December 2013 on the New Zealand Classical Music label, ODE RECORDS in Auckland New Zealand and was one of five CDs nominated for the Listeners’ Choice Award (New York) in March 2014;

The OSM Camerata performed the complete work “Sewe Liedere op Boesmanverse” (“Seven Songs on Bushmen Verses”; Chamber Orchestra and Soprano) by Stefans Grové in August during the North West School of Music/OSM ‘New Music Week 2014’. Grové rearranged the original work (string quartet & soprano) as a commission by the OSMC and completed the comprehensive composition shortly before his death on 29 May 2014. The work was again performed in September 2014 during the annual OSM Dean’s Concert.

• A new work by Alfred Vorster (OSM Alumnus), “Documentations, Movements and Patterns” for chamber ensemble and electronic sampler received its world premiere at the 2014 New Music Week presented by the North-West School of Music in Potchefstroom, in collaboration with the OSM.

Conductors
The following conductors have been employed since the inception of the OSMC:

2014 Principal Conductor, Xavier Cloete
2013 Principal Conductor & Artistic Director, Jan Moritz Onken
2013 Guest Conductor, Hans Huyssen
2012 Guest Conductor, Nicholas Nicolaides

Listen to the OSM Camerata:

Notturno Elegiaco by Hendrik Hofmeyr
https://youtu.be/-Yh1q0ngjxA

Die Spokewals / The Phatom Waltz by Hendrik Hofmeyr
https://youtu.be/jeUw4pW3qYE

Sterwenslied van die Kraanvoël
from 7 Liedere op Boesman-verse by Stefans Grové

https://youtu.be/24vGH1DAfTI

Reënluiperd
from 7 Liedere op Boesman-verse by Stefans Grové

https://youtu.be/stuYN7vrZ9o

OSM Camerata receives standing ovation in the Glazunov Hall in St Petersburg, Russia
(footage courtesy of kykNET)
https://youtu.be/YiBzDqxRWuU?list=PLMIw_qYG2yRo5udeXMUrrPcyfSlVNCU5B


Published 30 March 2015

Contact Person:
Marius Coetzee
City/Town:
Bloemfontein
Phone:
+27 (0)51 401 2328
Fax:

+27 (0)51 444 5830

Mobile:
+27 (0)72 338 2240
Email:
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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