About

FOUNDED in 1987 by late Toronto Symphony Orchestra violinist, Andrea Hansen, Strings Across the Sky (SATS) has been working with youth in indigenous communities throughout Canada.
By teaching a uniquely created, award winning, “play based”, easy  teaching technique combining violin skills and fiddling styles, SATS opens the door to positive musical experiences. After the passing of Ms Hansen, the the work of Strings Across the Sky has continued under the leadership of her niece Executive/ Artistic Director, Deb Misener Jones.

SATS is a registered Canadian charity and funded primarily by private donors and community organizations. It also relies on donated instruments. Tax receipts are provided for both donated funds and instruments.

Fiddling and Music Education Programs
* 1 week (5 day) school teaching visits followed by a community
student performance
* 3 day “Tune Up” teaching workshops
* 1 week Fiddle Workshops & Music Camps
* Weekly teaching “Youth Music Circles” in rural and indigenous centered communities, such as North Bay and Parry Sound.

Partnerships
Since its founding, SATS has created many successful partnerships to help establish and deliver music education to youth. These include:

  • The Royal Conservatory Learning Through the Arts and Music Champions
  • The North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre offered the Traditional Fiddling Program, weekly lessons for children, youth and elders as well as school break fiddle camps from 2013 until Covid,
  • The Parry Sound Friendship Centre. From 2004, a 20 year partnership helped provide youth with year round access to annual fiddle camps and weekly fiddle teaching gatherings.
  • Algoma University to offer Binesi annual summer fiddle camps
  • Moosonee Public School.  Since 2025, SATS is actively teaching and expanding into other James Bay Region schools in Moose Factory, Attawapiskat, Peawanuk. With enthusiastic community support and a vision to revive a once vibrant fiddle music tradition begun in the 1600’s, youth fiddle clubs are now playing and performing regularly in the region
  • Festival of the Sound. 2004 to 2024, SATS students have been invited to perform as feature artists as of this acclaimed annual music festival in Parry Sound

Performance
Strings Across the Sky believes in providing young musicians chances to perform. This is an exciting and positive experience and helps in developing their self confidence and musical skills. The children learn the greater importance of sharing the joy and connectiions that music provides with others. SATS’ fiddle students have been featured with the:

Edmonton Symphony, Thunder Bay Symphony, Regina Symphony, North Bay Symphony and Saskatoon Symphony.  As well, with the acclaimed New Zealand String Quartet. In 1997, SATS students traveled from the Arctic to perform at Roy Thompson Hall with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. In 1999, 34 students traveled to the Orkney Islands to perform for the Orkney Homecoming Festival, experiencing the roots of their 300 year fiddling heritage.