28 May: Concert with Duo Avdieieva (violin & piano) at Pianos Kelly, in aid of Ukraine.

We have put together a splendid event for the music lovers of the OUSL.

The Ukrainian violinist Evgenia Avdieieva and pianist Katerina Avdieiva will offer us an hour’s programme of violin virtuoso pieces. And if we are fortunate enough, the music will probably be followed by a glass of crémant kindly offered by Pianos Kelly.
Afterwards those who wish – and have signed up – will go for an informal meal with the artists at Restaurant O.

Event: Charity concert with Ukrainian Duo Avdieieva (violin & piano). A 60 minute program of violin virtuoso pieces.  

Date and time: Thursday 28 May 2026 at 18h30

Venue: Pianos Kelly, 17, rue de Munsbach, L-6941 Niederanven (free parking at the store)

Costs: The concert is free because:
Geoff Piper is covering the musicians, and Simon Kelly is offering his premises for free – and he is offering a glass of crémant to guests after the concert.

Instead: there will be a collection in aid of Ukraine.

🇺🇦🇺🇦 So PLEASE bring along some cash for the evevening’s Ukraine collection 🇺🇦🇺🇦

Optional dinner: Afterwards optional dinner at nearby ‘Brasserie O’, 2A Rue de Munsbach, Niederanven 6941 Luxembourg.

Organisers: concert arranged in collaboration with our member Geoffrey Piper, as well as Simon Kelly, and MA. 

Sign-up: Please send an email to Chair@oxford.lu, cc to Geoffrey Piper, and let us know if you would like to join the artists for a late’ish dinner afterwards (individual ordering at the resto).

The artists:
Evgenia Avdieieva, a Ukrainian refugee living in Luxembourg since late 2022, studied at the M. Lysenko School in Kyiv (2013–2018) and later at the Central Music School attached to the Tchaikovsky Conservatory. She is currently in her second year at the Yehudi Menuhin School, studying with Alex Redington and Roman Mints, and has won prizes in several international competitions including Auer, Lviv, Stankovich and Kogan. Since 2023 she has performed together with her mother Katerina—who teaches piano at a local music school—as Duo Avdieieva. 🎻

Katerina Avdieieva, born in Kyiv, studied for twelve years at the National Music Academy of Ukraine and has worked as a concert pianist, accompanist and teacher in Kyiv, Lviv, Sharm el-Sheikh and Jordan. Now a refugee in Luxembourg, she lives in Echternach with her daughter Evgenia and is currently employed as a piano teacher at the local music school. She has also participated in numerous international competitions and performs with her daughter as Duo Avdieieva. 🎹

6 May 2026: Prof Alan Bowman: Voices of Roman Britain: ‘Reading the Vindolanda Tablets’ & exclusive Dinner

We will be treated to the magic of the story of how Prof Bowman enlisted medical imaging facilities of the Oxford University medical faculty to help in the task of deciphering the Vindolanda Tablets – and they succeeded!

Prof. Bowman is a former Camden Professor of Ancient History and Principal of Brasenose College. Founding Director of Oxford’s Centre for the Study of Ancient Documents, Bowman has published widely on papyri, inscriptions, and the administration of the Roman Empire. A leading authority on the Roman world, Alan Bowman is renowned for his pioneering work in the decipherment of the Vindolanda Tablets. 

The lecture takes place in the museum’s auditorium. While the talk has open access, we Oxonians are so fortunate as to be able to offer a group of maximum 25 alumni the chance to join Professor Bowman afterwards at an:  

Exclusive Dinner with Professor Bowman 
at the nearby restaurant ‘De Feierwon’, at 20h.
Apéro, three-course menu with wine at €110/pp
Sign-up with Mette Ahlefeldt-Laurvig and Bob Kieffer

Only few places so do register as soon as possible!

Event theme: This is the first of a miniseries on Ancient history in cooperation between INRA (Institut national de recherches archéologiques) and Cambridge with Oxford leading this, and Cambridge organising a talk 19 June with Professor Martin Millett at the Gallo-Roman Theatre in Dalheim.   

Date: Wednesday 6 May 2026

Time: TALK : 18.30, DINNER: c. 20h00

Venue for talk: Musée Dräi Eechelen, hosted by the National Museum, 5 Park Drai Eechelen, 1499 Clausen Luxembourg.

Venue for (optional) Dinner: Restaurant ‘de Feierwon’, 6 Rue du Fort Niedergruenewald, 2226 Kirchberg, Luxembourg.

This talk is the first of two talks in a ‘Miniseries on Ancient History’, and whereas Oxford takes the lead on this talk, also keep an eye out for the 19 June Camsoc-organised talk by Professor Martin Millett. 

Organisers: INRA (organiser), /MNAHA(host)/OUSL(organiser)/University of Luxembourg (co-host) OUSL in cooperation with INRA (Institut national de recherches archéologiques).

Sign-up, Talk: The talk needs no sign-up as there is free entrance

Sign-up: Dinner: This is an exclusive c. 20 person dinner with Professor Bowman. Tickets are in high demand, so sign-up early with

20 April 2026, 10am: Guided Tour & Talk of the European Court of Justice (ECJ), followed by Lunch at exclusive ECJ Restaurant, 27th floor, with Judge Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger

You are cordially invited to a visit to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg on Monday, 20 April, at 10:00 a.ma regular working day, we know, but this is because the ECJ only offers a visitor service at such times.

Please note that we are only allowed a limited group of around 20 participants. Places are on a first come, first served bases, so do not hesitate to sign up.

We will be taken on a guided tour of the ECJ, and enjoy a short talk on the institution including a Q&A session, before gathering for a delicious lunch.

Lunch: Following the tour & talk, we will have the privilege of enjoying lunch in the Judges’ Restaurant of the European Court of Justice. This is kindly arranged by ECJ Judge Dr. Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger, who – unless called away at the last minute – will also do us the honour of joining us for the lunch. (Menu to follow).

The OUSL extends its sincere thanks to Dr. Tichy-Fisslberger for making this possible!
The Judges’ Restaurant is not just an exclusive venue, located on the 27th floor, as it is, it offers a stunning view of the city!

Ticket price for lunch, and choice of lunch menu: to follow shortly
Sign-up: with Mette Ahlefeldt-Laurvig , and cc to Bob Kieffer.

Deadline: We will need to give a list of attendees to the ECJ, so RSVP by 10 April 2026.

ECJ security measures: The tour begins at 10:00 a.m. sharp. Please arrive on time and bring your passport or other ID.

18 April 2026: Birds and Buffaloes

Birds & Buffaloes at Menster Brill Nature Reserve

This event is still being finalised, but this is the working plan :

Louise Benjamin (Cambridge) and Philip Birget (Oxford) have teamed up to make us a great outdoor day in the Menser Brill Nature Reserve. 

We will meet in the morning and have the chance to observe at close quarters the careful work of monitoring and recording local birdlife including bird ringing. Afterwards we will make our way to the nearby buffalo hide to see whether the herd is in residence which is always a memorable sight.

To round off the morning, Louise Benjamin is kindly inviting us to her nearby home for coffee and croissants will be served nearby.☕🥐

Please note: The main walking trail in the nature reserve is officially closed for repairs, so unfortunately we cannot include the full reserve walk in the programme for the time being. However, the buffalo hide remains accessible from the road, and refreshments are only 10–15 minutes’ walk from the bird-ringing area (or about 2 minutes by car).

More info to follow

4 April 2026: Yes – it’s the Boat Races!

Once again we are in the fortunate position to be invited to watch the Boat Races together with Camsoc in front of the multiplex home cinema at the home of Laurent and Cathy Frideres.

Date: 4 April 2026
Timings:
Cathy and Laurent will welcome people from 14:30. The television coverage, this year on Channel 4, will start at 14:30 CET with the first Race, the 80th Women’s Race scheduled to start at 15:21. for those who do not wish to miss the pre-race action!

John Speed from Camsoc informs that: ‘The procedure will “be the same as last year”. Punters will be encouraged to bring cakes or other goodies, and there will be some wine etc.

Invitation: For further info, please refer to the Camsoc invitation below.

Sign-up: : John Speed with cc to Laurent Friederes and Mette Ahlefeldt-Laurvig.

And may we Oxonians add: May the Dark Blues have it!

24 March: New Members Welcome Drink at Atmos Bar & Restaurant in mid-town

We follow up on last year’s success of introducing a New Members’ Drink. We meet at the 1st. floor of Atmos Bar, to enjoy a glass of wine and some amuses bouches. This convivial setting will be ideal for old and new members to mingle and to get to know each other. New Members go for free, while we ‘Older’ members have to pay a small payment of €35 to OUSL to join the fun.

Do come for this fun event which is totally relaxed and convivial.

For more info, see the invitation below:

12 March 2026: come to ‘La Réserve’ and have a great time mingling at the Oxbridge Drinks!

We will meet again for our monthly drink with ‘the other place’. These evenings are totally informal and a great way to enjoy a chat over a drink – or even with a small meal on the side.

Date: Thursday 12 March at 19h.

Venue: La Reserve., 23, Avenue Pasteur, 2311 Limpertsberg, Luxembourg.

Sign-Up: Kindly register with Norry Welch with cc to Mette Ahlefeldt-Laurvig.