Rhona-Mae Arca is a music educator, pianist, writer, amateur photographer, doggie parent, karaoke fanatic and anime, manga and cosplay otaku.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music and Bachelor of Management from the University of Lethbridge (1995). In 2002, she earned her ARCT in Piano Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music.
In 2008, Rhona-Mae took jazz piano lessons and went on to earn First Class Honours on her Level Seven Contemporary Idioms examination through Conservatory Canada. Her current professional development project is singing lessons.
Her career began 1993. What started as a co-op term led to a full-fledged career in arts marketing and fund development. She has worked for the Lethbridge Symphony Association, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and Alberta Ballet. This was followed by four years in the corporate sector, working in administration, corporate communications and special events.
Music pulled her back and Rhona-Mae began teaching piano and music theory in 2001. She maintains a busy private studio in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where her students learn everything from classical to jazz and from Bach's Minuet in G to Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Rhona-Mae also performs as a solo pianist, collaborative pianist and wedding/background musician. As a writer, she has published articles in over six Albertan newsletters, newspaper and magazine publications, including Synchronicity: The Magazine, Music Alberta Magazine and The Iaido Journal.
She is currently the Past President of the Alberta Registered Music Teachers' Association (Calgary Branch).
Her music library is rather diverse, ranging from Palestrina to Philip Glass, from ABBA to Santana and from Michael W. Smith to Do As Infinity.