An entertainer since the early 1990s, Oskar Zybart is best known for his work as a musician. Born and raised in Edmonton, he has performed hundreds of concerts, and continues to work with other artists as a player and mentor.
Following a five-year run hosting a program at the campus station CJSR, Oskar began broadcasting for CKUA. He's worn many hats here over the years, assisting in different departments and filling in as the guest host on countless shows. His own CKUA assignments include Zed Air (2015-2016), The Midway (2016-2019), Roundabout (2020-2021), Saturday Night Surprise (2021-2022), and In Our Neighbourhood (2021-present)
Exploring and collecting international music from the 1950s and 1960s is an ongoing interest for him. Other major influences include British humour, Slavic authors, Modern art, The Beatles, Kraftwerk, Frank Zappa, George Carlin, Victor Borge, Surrealism, the Oxford comma, and lists.
Oskar is the third-generation curator of a private multimedia library called the Zibliothek - a frequent resource for his broadcasts, as well as for his work as a writer and translator. His documentary film Headwind - Last Call was nominated for the 2014 Edmonton Film Prize, and in 2021 he wrote and produced OZ ON FZ - a celebrated four-part radio documentary series on the life and work of Frank Zappa.
What are three go-to songs that inspire Oskar?
"Tonight the Streets Are Ours" by Richard Hawley
"Futureproof Design" by Comaduster
"Life In Mono" by Mono
What is an interesting detail you might not know about Oskar?
English is not his first language.
The Score
The world of orchestral music remains as vibrant and active as ever. Fresh recordings and unique interpretations continue to spring from legacy artists and emerging talents alike. New pieces; new releases; new performances. The Score spotlights recent additions to CKUA's classical music library, along with recordings from related genres boasting similarly ambitious arrangements and orchestral originality. Not limited to recorded music, we'll also present periodic chats with members from our classical-music community for an inside scoop regarding activity on Albertan concert stages.
Maestri
The terms ‘maestro’ and ‘maestra’ have long been applied to great individuals in music – those with a particular gift for composition, performance, and/or conducting. History is rich with such talents, though some are better known than others. Each week on CKUA, we take a detailed dive into the career and catalogue of a single exceptional subject. Some episodes focus on elements of one’s works in isolation, while others might navigate specific themes or compare similar approaches by multiple maestri. From the middle ages to the present day, across boundaries and borders, there’s always more to explore.
In Our Neighbourhood
In Our Neighbourhood is a weekly trip exploring home-grown talent. It's an eclectic all-Albertan playlist, with the best and brightest our province has to offer taking center stage. New releases, familiar favourites, we've got it all. Sidle up to our local jukebox and make yourself at home. The folks are friendly and the music's good in our neighbourhood.
