Annika Johanna Sirkiä (she/her) is a Finnish performer, improviser and composer who is based in Lucerne (CH) and Helsinki (FI). Annika is a versatile musician who actively searches for different styles and formats - from jazz to contemporary, from free improvisation to audiovisual productions. She performs regularly with several improvisation and experimental music groups in Switzerland and Finland. In her own compositions she focuses on interdisciplinary art combining composed and improvised music, visuals, text and movement.
Besides being a musician, Annika works part time at music schools in Lucerne and Dallenwil, teaches Finnish language and culture at the Finnish School in Zug and works as a subtitler at the Luzerner Theater. In addition to this Annika curates concerts in the Kulturbrauerei collective in Lucerne.
Annika holds a Master in Music and Art Performance from Hochschule Luzern – Musik (HSLU), Switzerland, with minor in improvisation. Annika's path to a interdisciplinary artist has not been the typical one. She started her professional career as a trained baker-confectioner, then continued as a educated software designer, and only afterwards chose a musical path with the tuba, graduating with a Bachelor of Music in Music Theatre and Drama (Tampere, FI) and a Bachelor of Music and movement (HSLU, CH).
Photos: Ralph Kuehne (with colours), Ganesh Geymeyer (black and white)