Following the completion of both Bachelor and Master of Musical Arts degrees at the New Zealand School of Music, Arna completed her PhD in Violin Performance at the University of Melbourne.

Using a critical, reflexive approach, Arna's PhD research examines the development of a highly-personal interpretive methodology that aims to create personal authenticity in her musical interpretations and performances, with a significant focus on Britten's Violin Concerto, which she performed with the University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in 2016 as winner of the 2015 MCM Concerto Competition. Arna was also joint-winner of the 2013/14 NZ National Concerto Competition, going on to perform both Szymanowski's First Violin Concerto and Ravel's Tzigane with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.

With over 15 years of global professional experience, in 2021, Arna won the position of Principal 2nd Violin with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, and is a founding member of Morton Trio alongside her horn-playing husband Alex Morton and NZ pianist Liam Wooding.

In her classical work, Arna currently performs on a 1900 Joseph Hel violin, generously on loan from the CSO Foundation.

For her contemporary work, Arna performs on an SA251 Spur Electric Violin.

As a wedding musician and event performer, Arna enjoys the chance to expand beyond her classical roots and explore a vast range of contemporary styles, including pop, jazz, folk, and classic rock.

Arna has performed for the World of WearableArt (WOW) Show and Cabaret Einhundert by Silhouette Studios, and at numerous local weddings including All Black Campbell Johnstone’s recent nuptials to Ben Thomson.

As an award-winning composer in her youth – NZCF-SOUNZ Choral Composition Compeition Winner 2008 and NZSO Todd Young Composer Award 2011 – Arna has recently rekindled her love for the craft after nearly a decade away from the manuscript – her latest work Summer for Horn Trio features on Morton Trio's debut album with a fresh, new style of writing that is markedly different from her previous works.

Arna also enjoys arranging and transcribing existing works for new mediums. Also included on the Morton Trio debut album is Arna’s transcription of Brahms’ B Major Piano Trio op. 8 for Horn Trio and in 2024, her arrangement of Lili Boulanger’s ‘Sous Bois’ for Sextet was performed in the CMNZ Morton Trio & Friends national tour.

Arna is also a renowned music educator through the joint teaching studio she shares with her husband located in The Piano, Christchurch, where she mostly teaches advanced students preparing for tertiary-level examinations and competitions.