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, theatre, visuals and movement.
Annika worked as an assistant director and stage manager on Mad King and Medea, a co-production between the Lucerne Theater and the Lucerne Festival, in the fall of 2026. Her directorial debut Especially not out loud will premiere at the Performing Arts Center Südpol in Lucerne on December 12, 2026.
Besides her artistic work, 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 surtitler 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)