About Arni
Ariana (Arni) McCulloch is a multi-disciplinary practitioner combining the art of music, writing and photography. Her original discipline is in music, where she writes and performs original works, alongside a variety of visual media to create meaning.
Alongside her industry experience as a performer and songwriter, Arni enjoys writing about the music industry. In particular, her focus is on the way in which musicians navigate the music industry while facing challenges of authenticity, identity and interpretation. The following questions guide Arni's writing: How do musicians remain authentic when branding themselves? How are musicians perceived based on their fashion, equipment and personal aesthetic choices in a gendered context? What role does visual identity play in the music industry, and how are musicians unequally subjected to personal branding efforts due to gender presentation, class, ability, sexual orientation and race?
Arni also enjoys teaching students of all ages. While her focus is in teaching music, in particular creative arts through a communications lens, she also has experience teaching music theory in individual and classroom contexts. Arni is also experienced in teaching singing, piano, guitar, bass guitar and artist mentoring.
Work Experience
Singing, Piano and Guitar Teacher
B Sharp Music and St Luke's Catholic Parish School
Since November 2025, I have taught upwards of 30 students each week in singing, piano, guitar and songwriting. My philosophy in teaching is building confidence in each of my students. Music can be incredibly vulnerable, therefore it is essential that students feel supported and safe in lessons. So many students walk in the door with messages ingrained in them that they are not good enough. It’s always the best feeling when I hear a student commend their own abilities, because I know their mindset has changed.
October 2025 - Present
Photographer
Brisbane City Council and Freelance
Since November 2021, I have been working as a photographer with a focus on event and music photography. My portfolio includes collaborations with notable organisations such as Visible Ink, Brisbane City Council and Meanjin Reggae Festival. In addition, I have had the opportunity to work closely with a diverse range of independent musicians across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast, capturing their artistry through creative and dynamic visuals.
December 2023-Present
Playlisting and Distribution Assistant (Internship)
GYRO
November 2025 - February 2026
Over the 2025 - 2026 summer break I completed an internship at GYRO, a music distribution, marketing, publishing and sync company based in Brisbane. Throughout my internship as a playlisting and distribution assistant I created social media content for artist campaigns, content writing, data entry, and worked on the backend of music distribution.
Music Workshop Lead
Imagine Music
In October 2025, I worked in the Harmony Project as a lead facilitator for Imagine Music. I worked with a number of local private schools including St Margarets, St Hilda’s, Hillbrook Anglican College, etc. to deliver music workshops which encouraged students to feel connected, confident and creative. I ran a number of fun music related icebreaker activities, and created a choir with multiple harmonies. The choir performed at St John’s Cathedral later in the day.
October 2025
Social Media Coordinator
Imagine Music
Over a 7-month period, I worked with Imagine Music to create engaging short-form videos designed to boost event participation, workshop attendance, and brand awareness. By utilising SIVA techniques and IMC marketing strategies, I helped grow engagement and followers on Instagram and TikTok. This role involved attending workshops to film content, remotely editing videos, and managing social media accounts. Additionally, I filmed and edited a variety of landscape videos for their website, contributing to their digital presence. My responsibilities included scheduling posts, editing, filming, and supporting workshop activities.
January 2024 - July 2024
Session Musician
Freelance
Since January of 2021 I have worked as a session musician, performing bass guitar, guitar, lead vocals and backing vocals for a range of musical projects. I have experience performing in various bands, often playing gigs in Fortitude Valley, as well as touring as a session musician for solo artists. I also have experience recording music for various artists, performing as a bassist, guitarist and vocalist in music production and vocal toplining contexts. Since 2021, I have also run a solo music project. This has involved leading band rehearsals, organising and planning gigs, liaising with venues, media companies and radio, organising payment and services for other musicians and arranging recording projects.
January 2021 - Present
Education
Bachelor of Creative Industries
Kodály Certificate in Secondary Teaching
Queensland University of Technology
From February 2023 - November 2026, I completed a Bachelor of Creative Industries at QUT, with a major in music and sound and a minor in media and society. I also took a number of fashion, marketing and photography classes as electives. Throughout this degree, I developed a love for academic writing, and hope to continue with research in the future. A number of my pieces written throughout this degree can be viewed in my writing portfolio.
QUT Executive Deans’ Commendation for Academic Excellence in Semester One of 2025.
Cuskelly College of Music
I’m currently studying the Kodály Certificate in Secondary Teaching, which focuses on making music education fun and engaging through the use of games. This is a qualification in teaching secondary music students using the Kodály method, utilising aural based teaching techniques and developing music curriculum. As a part of this qualification, I have participated in over 20 hours of intensive choir conducting, pedagogical and practicum based professional development, in which I received a distinction.