Rhona Clarke was born in Dublin in 1958. She studied music at University College, Dublin, and at Queen’s University, Belfast obtaining a Ph.D in 1996. 

Her work has been performed and broadcast throughout Ireland, Europe and the USA and includes
choral, chamber, orchestral and electronic works. Many of these have been commissioned by RTÉ, The Cork International Choral Festival, Music Network, The National Concert Hall, among others. and also by festivals and individuals abroad such as Donne in Musica, Italy, Begegnungen, Austria, Neue Musik Winterthur, Switzerland. 

Recent works include The Kiss, a setting of a poem by Ulick O'Connor which was commissioned for the 2008 Cork International Choral Festival's Seminar on Contemporary Choral Music. It was performed at the Festival by The National Chamber Choir directed by Bo Holten. Pas de Quatre for string quartet is a joint commission by The Contemporary Music Centre and Galway Ensemble in Residence which will be given three performances in March 2009 by ConTempo Quartet. The piece includes a visual projection by artist Marie Hanlon.

Rhona Clarke also has a strong background in Education. Having taught for several years at second level, she now teaches in the Music Department at St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, and is a guest lecturer at the National Concert Hall. In 2005 she was elected to Aosdána, Ireland’s state-sponsored academy of creative artists.