Medusa is one of the most misunderstood figures in ancient mythology. She was wrongfully punished and cast out for being the victim of a violent act, but is remembered solely for her frightful ugliness and lithifying gaze. The Medusa Quartet aims to retell this story through music by reviving near-forgotten string instruments and showing their charm and beauty.
The four musicians resurrect the Suka, the Płock fidel, and the Nyckelharpa, traditional folk fiddles with disreputable connotations that were rejected for centuries in their home countries of Poland and Sweden. Wielding a sound that would turn classical music scholars to stone, these four folk innovators are reimagining the Western string quartet. By inviting back voices previously regarded as too ugly for “polite society,” Medusa tempts us to redefine what is beautiful. https://medusaquartet.com/
Marta Sołek
Suka, Płock fiddle, Lyra, Cello
Multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire, Marta is the first person to hold a Master’s Degree in the Suka, which in English means “B*tch”. After traveling to Pakistan to learn fiddle techniques that were forgotten in her home country Poland, she effortlessly blends many folk traditions with her own virtuosic solos.
Saskia Tomkins
Nyckelharpa, Fiddle
Capable of making you stomp your feet and cry in the same set, Saskia is responsible for Celt-ifying the hit musical “Come From Away.” She is passionate about passing along folk traditions and injecting them with new life, and is currently composing a fiddle tune for an 80-piece symphony
Georgia Hathaway
Fiddle, Viola, Nyckelharpa
Taking audiences to outer space with her improvisations, Georgia is a master-learner and emoter of music. After traveling to Zanzibar to learn Middle Eastern modes, Georgia continues to study different traditions and find connections between them.
Lea Kirstein
Cello, Viola
A powerhouse groover and innovative educator, Lea is the founder of “World on a String” - a Toronto fiddle community that values inclusivity and celebrates different learning styles. She is
a master musical arranger, and is currently creating a Fiddle Workbook for students of all brains and abilities.
“Unravelling the velvet rope that can keep classical music precious… Medusa invites listeners to be fearless but open-minded. Come closer, close your eyes, and hear the beauty…”
-Chantal Vitalis, Calgary Folk Festival
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