About Us

Maruka Music was created in 2003 to publish the works of Skaila Kanga, the celebrated versatile harpist, composer and teacher at the Royal Academy of Music, London.

Skaila studied piano and singing from an early age at the Royal Academy of Music and at 17 years started the harp with Tina Bonifqcio and later with Marisa Robles. She quickly became established freelancing with all the major London orchestras.

Skaila is renowned for her long extensive career in both classical and pop music recording, television series and her amazing list of over 1000 film soundtracks to date. Her credits include four Harry Potter films, the Disney musicals such as Into the Woods, Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins Returns and Aladdin, all the James Bond films since the John Barry days and all the Avengers films. Her album and concert credits include artists such as Elton John, Paul McCartney, Sting, Robbie Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, Michel Legrand, Henry Mancini, John Williams, Pat Metheny, Frank Sinatra, Joan Sutherland, Pavarotti, Domingo, Katherine Jenkins, James Galway and many more.

For 25 years Skaila was the solo harpist of the famous chamber group the Nash Ensemble and since 1971 was the principal harpist of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields under Sir Neville Marriner. For over 20 years Skaila and Tommy Reilly, virtuoso Harmonica player performed, wrote and recorded many new works for their unique duo. Her solo recordings are available on Naxos, Chandos, ASV and Hyperion labels.

Skaila began teaching at the Royal Academy of Music in 1988 and in 2004 was awarded the title of Professor of the University of London. She was Head of Harp from 1999 till 2010. Her former students are globally renowned and many have solo orchestral positions worldwide. She was appointed Professor Emerita of Harp in 2010. In 1993 she established the Academy Harp Ensemble and has commissioned over 25 works for her harp department.

Skaila is regularly invited to sit on juries and in 2019 is President of the Jury of the USA International Harp Competition in Bloomington, Indiana. She has given lecture recitals and masterclasses in Russia, across Europe, Hong Kong and extensively in America.

Parallel to her performing and teaching career Skaila has composed and arranged 21 books of harp music of all levels, many of which are on the ABRSM, Guildhall and Trinity exam syllabus. Skaila has worked closely with the ABRSM as harp consultant for several years. Her publications are available at www.marukamusic.com Skaila’s articles have appeared in the Gramophone, BBC music Magazine, WHC Review, AHS Journal, Harp Column, Harp Today and the UKHA magazine. Skaila was honored to be featured in the Musicians’ Union magazine’s Hall of Fame article in 2010.

My personal website is here https://www.skailakanga.com/