Saskia Tomkins (she/her)
Master musician of violin, viola, cello and
Nyckelharpa, an educator, and a
composer. UK born, she is classically trained
with a folk background and a B.A.hons. in
Music (Jazz). She is an All- Britain Champion
Irish Fiddler, and in 2022 received an award
for services to Irish Music in Canada.

Saskia was the official Artist in Residence in
2022 with Folk Alliance International, and is
currently Artist in Residence with
British-based organization The Mixed
Museum, which works to preserve and share
the social history of racial mixing in Britain of
Black and ethnic minorities for future
generations.

Over the years, Saskia has worked with many
musicians, including: The Chieftains, Sultans
of String, Jabbour, Uriah Heep, Ken Whiteley,
Jimmy Bowskill, Ron Korb, David Newland,
Donald Quan, Lotus Wight, her husband
Steáfán Hannigan and son Oisín Hannigan,
and numerous other musicians, actors and
dancers.

Her theater work includes spending two years
working closely with the composer and music
director of the Broadway hit “Come From
Away”, as a special consultant, to ensure the
Celtic roots and traditions were
communicated in an authentic way through
the score. She has also worked with The
English Shakespeare Company and Michael
Bogdanov, 4th Line Theatre in Ontario, and
Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London UK.

Saskia’s current personal projects
include Steáfán & Saskia, MEDUSA, 2ish,
Cáirdeas, and Marsala and the Imports. She
frequently performs and tours with the
JUNO-award-winning band Sultans of String.
Saskia is principal 2nd violin for Quinte
Symphony, and is in demand as an educator,
including at Upbeat! Downtown Peterborough (an El Sistema program), and music camps across
Canada.