Strings Across the Sky

1987 to 2026

1987 – The Toronto Symphony Orchestra Odyssey tour of The Canadian North launches Strings Across the Sky, a registered charity
1988 – Strings Across the Sky initiated in Inuvik, Aklavik, Fort McPherson and Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T.
1989 – First summer school program held in Inuvik at Arctic College for children from Inuvik, Aklavik and Tuktoyaktuk
1989 – Students perform their first Christmas concert with their fiddles in the Igloo church in Inuvik
1990 – Second summer school held in Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk
December 1990 – Students perform Christmas music in their own schools for the first time
1991 – Third summer schools held in Tuktoyoktuk, Aklavik, and Inuvik
1992 – Fourth summer schools held in Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk with a total of 48 violins donated to the program
1993 – Tsiigehtchic becomes the 5th community to support the program and adult teacher training program begins
1993 – Fifth summer school program held in 5 communities – 102 students participate with 55 violins in the “lending library”
1994 – Program begins in Fort Good Hope
1994 – 35 SATS students from 5 communities play with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and CBC television airs the performance on the national news
1994 – Norman Wells becomes the 7th community to join SATS
1995 – Tulita  (formerly Fort Norman) is the 8th community to join SATS
1995 – SATS expands into the Eastern Arctic at Iquluit
1996 – Full classes include 80 violins and over 250 students with Deline (formerly Fort Franklin) students joining SATS
1997 – Northern encounters Festival of the Arts includes students from Strings Across the Sky performing with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
1998 – Program begins in Holman
1998 – Brought 5 people from the North for instructor training
1999 – 34 SATS students travel to the Orkneys (Scottish Isles) to perform. Program begins in Yellowknife
1999 – Andrea Hansen receives the Order of Canada in her role as Music Ambassador to the North
2001 – Program begins in Wrigley, Fort Smith, Deh Cho, Fort Simpson, Hay River, Fort Providence
2002 – Andrea Hansen performs and lectures for Adventure Canada, an expedition-style cruising and small-group active outfitter specializing in remote adventures. Inspired by Hansen’s magical story, travelers form The Friends of Strings Across the Sky (FSATS) to make the cross Canada dream a reality
2002 – With over 300 students “touched” by her teaching and 150 donated violins in the North, Andrea Hansen receives The Golden Jubilee Medal
2003 – SATS Instructors participate in The Cole Crook Fiddle Camp in Fort Smith, NWT
2003 – SATS hosts a Fiddle School in Yellowknife for 40 students and teachers
2003 – FSATS launches the Ontario leg of The Cross Canada Fiddle – Moose Factory, White Dog, Kenora, Sioux Lookout, Pelican Falls, Thunder Bay
2003 – Students from the Cross-Canada Fiddle perform with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra
2004 – Students from the Cross-Canada Fiddle perform with the Regina Symphony Orchestra
2004 – Students from the Cross-Canada Fiddle perform with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. Later in the month, SATS launches remote training (Hansen in Toronto – Students in Sioux Lookout) with the National Research Council
2004 – Ontario students 1st performance at the Festival of Sound (FOTS) in Parry Sound
2004 – SATS hosts fiddle schools in Yellowknife and Inuvik
November 2004 – Ontario Arts Council sponsors the development of level two SATS training including a tour to Northern Ontario. Pelican Falls First Nations High School partners with SATS to offer a credit violin course. Greater Cleveland Rotary Association launches a violin acquisitions program for SATS with the first 15 violins going to Pelican Falls. SATS begins remote training to Sioux Lookout with partners: The Glenn Gould School; the National Research Council and the Communications Research Council.
 2005 – Annual Fiddle Schools in Yellowknife and Inuvik, 1st annual summer SATS Parry Sound Fiddle Camp, FOTS concert
September 2005 – Andrea Hansen is honoured with The Order of Ontario.
2006 – Andrea Hansen is honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Toronto Musicians Association
2007 – Andrea Hansen is honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award during the Aboriginal Awards.
2008- Shawanaga Kinomaugewgamik School, Wasauksing School
Parry Sound Summer Fiddle Camp, FOTS
2009-Shawanaga Kinomaugewgamik School, Parry Sound Summer Fiddle Camp, FOTS
2010– Shawanaga Kinomaugewgamik School, Parry Sound Summer Fiddle Camp, FOTS
September 2010- Concert with Toronto Finnish Men’s Choir
2011– Shawanaga Kinomaugewgamik School
Royal Conservatory Partnership “Learning through the Arts” Fiddle School in Conklin Alberta
2011- Film documentary released “Strings Across the Sky”
October- SATS Fiddle workshops, Fort MacMurray Alberta
2012– Shawanaga Kinomaugewgamik School, RCC Stilecroft School Toronto, Parry Sound Summer Fiddle Camp, FOTS
August 2012-  Anishnaabe BINESI camps at Alagoma University,
RCC Conklin Alberta School, FOTS
2013– New year round SATS Fiddle teaching program launched at North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre ( NBIFC), Shawanaga Kinomaugewgamik School, RCC Stilecroft School, Koerner Hall concert, Parry Sound Summer Fiddle Camp, FOTS Gala Concrt
Anishnaabe BINESI camps at Alagoma University,
Lee Park Concert, North Bay, Shawanaga Kinomaugewgamik School
2014– 2nd year NBIFC SATS program , Concert North Bay Golden Age Club,  Aboriginal Day Celebration NBIFC
Parry Sound Summer Fiddle Camp, FOTS, 3rd Anishnaabe BINESI camps at Algoma University
December 2014 – passing of Andrea Hansen
2015   SATS & North Bay Symphony Orchestra present Voyage of the Violin Concert, Concert, Deb Jones becomes Director of SATS,
Parry Sound Summer Fiddle Camp, FOTS
September – 3rd year NBIFC SATS fiddle program
2016-Parry Sound Summer Fiddle Camp, FOTS
September – SATS NBIFC Traditional Fiddle program continues into 4th year, French River POW WOW
2017 –Parry Sound Summer Fiddle Camp, FOTS, Temagami Deep Water festival, French River Pow Wow, 5th year NBIFC SATS program
2018 – Parry Sound Summer Fiddle Camp, FOTS, French River Pow Wow, Taste of Muskoka Festival Performance, 2nd Temagami
Deep Water Festival Performance
2019- Wikwemikong 10 monthly teaching visits begin, French River PowWow, Parry Sound Summer Fiddle Camp, FOTS
2020 COVID begins- Parry Sound Summer Fiddle Camp (mini covid session),  Wikwemekong, Sagamok First Nation
2021- Youth Fiddle Circle sessions Naazhaabigehguun begin at Parry Sound Friendship Centre
2022- Youth Fiddle Circle sessions PDFC continue, Nawash First Nation, Sagamok , French River PowWow,
Parry Sound Summer Fiddle Camp, FOTS
2023- Weekly Youth Fiddle Circles Naazhaabigehguun, Nawash, SATS & Natalie McMaster concert and fundraiser, Parry Sound, performances at McKellar 150th Celebration, McKellar Fall Fair, St James United Church Parry Sound Parry, Sound Summer Fiddle Camp, FOTS
2024- Sagamok, Nawash, 20th annual Parry Sound Fiddle Camp and FOTS concert, Moosonee SATS Fiddle program is launched in Moosonee Public School (MPS), MPS Fiddle Club is formed
2025 – Moosonee Public School teaching visit; 70 students are introduced to fiddling, 2nd fiddle club ” Fiddle Heads” is formed
2026 –Youth fiddling programs in James Bay Region communities expand, SATS fiddle programs are introduced to schools in Moose Factory Ministik and Attawapaskat schools,  Moosonee Public School teaching visit, Summer Fiddle Camp, Emsdale

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Andrea Hansen
• Philosophy
• Our Story
• 1987 to 2026
• The Violin