Chuck van Zyl: 40 Years on the Air, an Intimate Discussion and Q&A (moderated by Jeff Towne of Public Radio's "Echoes")
Star's End host Chuck van Zyl attains 40 years on the air at WXPN, and talks with "Echoes" producer Jeff Towne
In 2020 long-serving Star's End host Chuck van Zyl attains 40 years on the air at public radio station WXPN - and marks this milestone with The Rotunda's live online interview and Q&A session. Moderated by "Echoes" producer Jeff Towne, this virtual online event will take place on Zoom. Registration is required. All registered guests will receive the Zoom link roughly one hour before the event. Please register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chuck-van-zyl-40-yrs-on-air-intimate-discussion-moderated-by-jeff-towne-tickets-131345874045. Please note that this event will also stream live at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheRotundaPhilly/videos but you’ll be able to interact with Chuck and Jeff and ask questions if you join the Zoom session! This event will have closed captioning!
Chuck van Zyl is host of "Star's End", the long-running radio program of spacey soundscapes which first aired on WXPN in 1976. Every weekend from 1:00AM Saturday night until 6:00AM Sunday morning will find him at the FM broadcast studio in West Philadelphia spinning a wealth of Ambient, Ethereal, Innovative Spacemusic. The mix is dreamy, continuous and seamless, with on-air announcements gently delivered so as not to intrude on the sleepers in the audience.
The purpose and meaning behind Star's End is as diverse as its audience. It conjures a sonic state as unique as each individual listener. Some use it to find new music, others for quiet contemplation, or as a soundtrack for sleep and dreams. Star's End is presented live, with many reporting feelings of companionship toward host Chuck van Zyl, due to his intimate, singular style of presentation. The broadcast content attempts to be as diverse as possible, while keeping within the spacey format - and includes music from all over the world, by different generations, from a range of genres, cultures and backgrounds. With each outing Chuck van Zyl pursues the ideal of achieving something larger than the sum of its parts - where all the individual tracks take on greater meaning and effect when mixed together into the five-hour, flowing soundscape of Star's End.
Having originated The Gatherings Concert Series in 1992 initially as a listener get-together, in 2003 Chuck van Zyl founded The Corporation for Innovative Music and Arts of PA - which has continued on as an independently-funded, volunteer-run, IRS recognized non-profit organization. Focusing on Electronic, Ambient, Space and other Innovative music, The Gatherings has presented concerts with dozens of recognized and emerging musicians from around the globe.
Performing Spacemusic in collaborations and solo since the mid-1980s, Chuck van Zyl has performed live at a great range of venues and issued numerous studio albums and live recordings - which all serve an enduring impulse for expression.
Please make plans to help Chuck van Zyl mark a 40 year milestone with Star's End by attending The Rotunda's virtual interview and Q&A - moderated by "Echoes" producer Jeff Towne! This event will take place on Zoom. Registration is required. All registered guests will receive the Zoom link roughly one hour before the event. Please register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chuck-van-zyl-40-yrs-on-air-intimate-discussion-moderated-by-jeff-towne-tickets-131345874045. Please note that this event will also stream live at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheRotundaPhilly/videos but you’ll be able to interact with Chuck and Jeff and ask questions if you join the Zoom session! This event will have closed captioning!