Skaila Kanga

Skaila studied piano and singing from an early age at the Royal Academy of Music and at 17 years began to study the harp with Tina Bonifacio and Marisa Robles, after which she quickly became established in London working with all the major London orchestras. Skaila is also renowned for her long extensive career in both classical and pop records, television and her amazing list of over 1000 film soundtrack credits to date, including four Harry Potter films, Shrek and all the James Bond films since the John Barry days. She has recorded many albums over the years with artists like Elton John, Paul McCartney, Sting, Robbie Williams, James Galway, Joni Mitchell, Michel Legrand, Henry Mancini, John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, Pat Metheny, Frank Sinatra, Joan Sutherland, Pavarotti, Katherine Jenkins and many, many more.

For 25 years Skaila was the solo harpist with the Nash Ensemble and has been the Principal Harp of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields since 1971. For over twenty years Skaila and Tommy Reilly, virtuoso harmonica player, performed and recorded many works for their unique duo. Skaila’s solo recordings are available on the Chandos, Hyperion, Naxos and ASV labels.

In 2003, Skaila, who was Head of Harp at the Royal Academy of Music from 1999-2010, was awarded Professorship of the University of London in 2004. Her former students are globally renowned and many have solo orchestral positions worldwide.

Skaila is regularly invited to sit on juries of international harp competitions and has given lecture-recitals and masterclasses in Russia, throughout Europe, Hong Kong and across America. Skaila taught regularly as a guest professor at the Amsterdam Conservatory from 2008 till 2016. In 2006 she co-founded the summer International Harp Academy ‘HarpMasters’ in Switzerland with Milda Agazarian. Skaila was appointed the distinguished title of Professor Emerita of Harp at the Royal Academy of Music in 2010.

Skaila has received numerous awards for her contribution to the promotion of the harp, worldwide. Parallel to her performing and teaching career, Skaila is a prolific composer and arranger. She has, so far published 21 books of harp music of all levels from beginners to advanced works many of which are on the ABRSM, Guildhall and Trinity exam syllabus. She has collaborated with a generation of composers in their harp works and has commissioned over 23 new works for her students and for the Academy Harp Ensemble which she founded in 1993.

Last year saw the debut of the London Harp Quartet of which she is Artistic Director.

Skaila has worked closely as Harp Consultant to the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music for several years. All other information on her publications can be found at www.marukamusic.com

Skaila’s articles have appeared in the Gramophone, BBC Music Magazine, WHC’s Review, American Harp Society Journal, Harp Column, Harp Today and the UK Harp Association magazine.

Skaila was honoured to be featured in the Musicians’ Union magazine’s ‘Hall of Fame’ article in March 2010.