In the Blink of an Eye

Commissioned by South African composer Arthur Feder, In the Blink of an Eye is a bold, multidisciplinary performance that blends activism and art to confront one of humanity’s most urgent challenges: climate change. Drawing inspiration from Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time, this seven-movement work weaves together a narrative of environmental fragility, human responsibility, and the hope for renewal. Performed by the Odeion String Quartet, alongside clarinettist Danré Strydom, pianist Cezarre Strydom, and dancer/choreographer Jeanette Ziady, each movement explores unique instrumental combinations, creating a dynamic interplay between music and movement. Traditional musical forms are reimagined to reflect contemporary ecological crises, with themes of loss and resilience. Each movement unfolds like a chapter in a story: the urgency of the present, the consequences of inaction, and the possibilities of transformation. More than a performance, In the Blink of an Eye is a call to action.

Jeanette Ziady (Choreographer/dancer) is a member of the International Association of Dance Medicine & Science, is a certified RAD Ballet Teacher since 1999, and is an International Dance Organization adjudicator since 2018. She is currently appointed at Tshwane University of Technology as a Dance Lecturer while completing a doctoral degree with the Department of Performing Arts and the Department of Sport Science and Rehabilitation. She still performs, choreographs and teaches at various dance-related projects. She was appointed as Senior Education Specialist for FET Art subjects and Gauteng Subject Advisor for Dance Studies. Her passion for teaching and expression lies in the forms of contemporary, jazz, pointe work, physical theatre, body conditioning for dance and more. She has performed in works by South Africa choreographers David Matamela, Boyzie Cekwana, Christopher Kindo, Sean Bovim, Ignatius van Heerden, Adele Blank, Kelsey Middleton and many more. Arthur Feder (Composer) holds an MMus in Composition cum laude from Stellenbosch University. He is particularly passionate about composition, pedagogy, and the promotion of new music, and as part of the managerial team for the student initiative KOMPOS, he assisted in premiéring more than 80 orchestral and chamber works. Arthur lectures Music Theory, Composition, and Orchestration at Stellenbosch University. As a composer, his multifaceted output includes work in jazz, film, mixed media and art music idioms. Arthur’s film scores range from feature-length to short films, animations and documentary series. Arthur has had performances by the Axelson Nielsen duo, Sounding Cities project in Birmingham, the Stellenbosch international Chamber music festival, the Stolkholm saxophone quartet, Intoga Reed quintet, Pianist Megan-Geoffrey Prins, the Stellenbosch University Big Band and Windband, the Odeion string quartet, but to name a few. Prof. Danre Strydom (clarinet) has established herself as one of South Africa’s premier solo, chamber music, and orchestra musicians. She completed clarinet studies in the United States, Europe, and South Africa, and played with the Brussels Philharmonic for several years. On her return to South Africa, she was appointed woodwind lecturer at the University of the Free State (UFS) and completed her PhD studies in clarinet performance. Strydom is principal clarinettist of the Free State Symphony Orchestra, continental chairperson of the International Clarinet Association, chairperson of the Free State Eisteddfod, and Vice President of the SASMT. Her clarinet and saxophone students have won numerous awards and scholarships, both nationally and internationally. Danré is a regular adjudicator for national and international competitions and Eisteddfods. Cezarre Strydom (piano) started piano lessons in Namibia at the College of the Arts. During high school, he left for the USA to further his studies at the Interlochen Arts Academy and the University of Michigan. His career has included performances across the USA, Mexico, Germany, Russia, and Belgium. Upon his return to South Africa, C?zarre worked as the staff accompanist at the University of the Free State. He is currently Head of Music at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch. The Odeion String Quartet was established at the University of the Free State (UFS) in 1991 as a permanent full-time, resident string quartet. At present it is the only resident string quartet at a South African university. The Odeion String Quartet is a flagship of the UFS and symbolises the university’s commitment to the arts. It plays an important strategic role in the development of symphony orchestra music and in classical music training in the Free State. The quartet comprises Samantha Durrant (violin), Sharon de Kock (violin), Jeanne-Louise Moolman (viola) and Anmari van der Westhuizen (cello).

PROGRAMME: Newly commissioned work by SA composer Arthur Feder with dancer, instrumentalists and visual projection.