Skaila Kanga is renowned for her extensive harp career, in both classical and pop music recording, television series and films, including her catalogue of over 1,000 film soundtracks. Her credits include four Harry Potter films, the Disney musicals Into the Woods, Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins Returns and Aladdin, several James Bond films and all the Avengers films. Her album and concert credits include artists such as Elton John, Paul McCartney, Sting, Robbie Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams, Frank Sinatra, Pavarotti and Katherine Jenkins.
For 25 years, Kanga was the solo harpist of the Nash Ensemble, and since 1971 has been the Principal Harpist of the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields under Sir Neville Marriner.
Kanga began teaching at the Royal Academy of Music in 1988, and in 2004 was awarded the title of Professor of the University of London. In 1993, she established the Academy Harp Ensemble and has commissioned 36 works for the Harp Department itself. She was Head of Harp from 1999 to 2010, and was appointed Professor Emerita of Harp in 2010.
Parallel to her performing and teaching career, Kanga has composed and arranged 24 books of harp music at all levels, many of which are on the ABRSM, Guildhall and Trinity exam syllabus. She has worked closely with the ABRSM as harp consultant for several years.