Romina Arena was born and raised in Palermo, Sicily, to a Sicilian mother, Rita Arena, and her Roman father, Renato.
Career
Romina's career started at the age of 4, being cast as a Disney Mouseketeer, as a performer representing Disney Italy. In 2001, Arena covered the classic Japanese song, "Subaru", originally written and recorded by Shinji Tanimura. In 2003, winning a BAFTA as Microsoft used her first rock opera single "Satellite (Italian version)", recorded in both English and Italian and composed by Romina Arena and David Polish, in the video gameProject Gotham Racing 2.[3] In 2013 she covered "I Want Love" (originally from Silent Hill 3, composed by Akira Yamaoka) in the cover album "The Best Of Silent Hill (Music From The Video Game Series)" by Edgar Rothermich[4] released in 2013 on Perseverance Records.
In 2000, Bob Johnston [5] who is the man and Producer behind stars such as Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen, Simon and Garfunkel, discovered the stunning 5-octave vocal range of Romina Arena, and signed her under his own production company and making a deal with COlumbia/Sony Records. Bob recorded a duet with Romina Arena and Bob Dylan, but the record was never released due to internal decisions by the label.
In June 8-9th, 2004, Romina Arena Performed Live at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas[6]
In 2012, she released the album Morricone.Uncovered[7] in which she wrote lyrics and performed 15 of Ennio Morricone's most famous film scores by Ennio Morricone to which she had set to her own lyrics. Morricone allowed Romina Arena first this honor.
In 2015, Arena signed to Lakeshore Records for a studio album to coincide with her book Where Did They Film That? Italy. The album, titled Where Did They Film That Italy – The Music Journey,[8] was released in June 2016 as a companion to the travel guide.
Her song "Every Day Is Christmas Day" appeared in the movie A Christmas To Remember.[9]
She was one of the special guests in Jim Wilson and Friends: A Place in my Heart[10] live at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts in Amarillo, Texas.
Romina Arena has starred and produced ABC Holiday Movie Skating Spectacular,[11] hosted by Kristi Yamaguchi, Brian Boitano, and World Champion Kimmie Meissner alongside a cast of various Olympic figure skating stars performing on ice to holiday music performed live by Romina and special guests, The Four Phantoms.
In 2025, International star Romina Arena, nicknamed by the media the "Queen of Pop Opera," creator of the brand-new musical genre "Cinematica Matic Pop," Sicilian, raised in Los Angeles...has accepted the invitation from Maratea, to be an ambassador for the "Ricas Italia" project, the Network of Institutions and Citizens for Cooperation, Culture, the Environment, Solidarity, and Sustainability, fighting poverty and pollution on the planet.[12]
In 2025, Romina Arena named at the Italian Parliament in Rome as the technical leading member of culture, music, cinema and entertainment through a special committee with the Italian Parliament, and the Senate, in collaboration with the Vatican.[13]
Discography
1984 to 1993 – From the age of 4 to 13 years old Arena was signed to Disney Italy's Mickey Mouse Club and the companies "Prima Ribalta", "Shasa Digital Sound" and released three compilations and singles – Italy.
1994 "Una Vita Senza Vita" from San Remo Nuovi Talenti (New Talent) Festival Compilation – Italy (appeared as Romina Notarbartolo). (writer of the song Dainotto composer)
1994 "You're The Only One" Peter Ciani Music – Australia (Single)
1994: "Smile" released by Danilo Sulis Recordings – Sicily, Italy (Single)
1994 "As Beautiful as You" CP Productions/BMG – Germany
1995 "As Beautiful as You" CP Productions/BMG – Australia
1998: "Fateci Santi" for The Vatican & Pope John Paul the second, produced & released by Beppe CAntarelli – compilation album
2000 "Unreleased Album Project" produced by Bob Johnston – US
2013 "Romanza" (The Love Collection, Limited Edition) Re-release with new bonus tracks January 8, 2013 – NMG Records
2013 "Subaru" "スバル" " Romina Sings Japanese" released January 8, 2013 – NMG Records
2013 "I Want Love" from the album "The Best of Silent Hill" released October 29 – Perseverance Records
2014 "Corazon Italiano" released June, NMG Records (Single)
2014 "Annie's Song" released November 4, PoperaStar Records (Single)
2015 "A Mother's Heart" April 28, PoperaStar Records
2016 "Where Did They Film That Italy – The Music Journey" based on the book from the same title – Lakeshore Records released June 24
2019 "Baby Mine" performed in tribute to Disney's Dumbo – Poperastar Records (Single)
2019 "A Beautiful Surprise" (18-track album) Poperastar Records released
2020 "Cinematica, Vol 1" (14-track album) Poperastar Records released
2020 "Holding You" (single) Poperastar Records released
2020 "Verte Amor" (single) Poperastar records released
2021 "Amore y Amor (10-track album) Poperastar Records released
Books
Where Did They Film That Italy (travel guide). Fresno: Linden/Quill Driver Books, 2016. ISBN9781610351829, OCLC931295588
Awards
2010 The American Red Cross National Headquarters annual Tiffany Circle Leadership Summit during the closing gala event at the Embassy of Italy, Washington DC, Romina performed her original "Ricordi" and rendition of "Time To Say Goodbye" to standing ovations by the crowd of over 300 top women philanthropists.[14]
In 2010, Arena received several awards. She was one of the seven recipients of the Tricolor Globe Award from the organization Italian Women in the World,[15] one of the five recipients of the CSNA Award (Confederation of the Sicilians in North America) for promoting Sicilian culture worldwide,[16]
In 2012, Arena was one of the 20 recipients of the Premio Sicilla for being an "Ambassador of bel canto in the world".[17]
In 2021, Romina Arena was named the "Official Ambassador of Italian Excellence In The World" by the President of M.I.R.E. (Movement of Italians Residents Abroad) representing Italy and major Italian cultural events, awards, consumer experiences around the world.[18]
In 2022, the Italian President and Onorevoli at the Camera Dei Deputati awarded Romina the "Patrimonio Italiano" as Italian Ambassador of Italian culture at the Italian Parliament in Rome.[19]
In 2023, Romina joined the Board of Directors of ASPEKA #neuraldiversity, leading a global movement for accessibility, inclusion, and communication equity—empowering individuals across 65+ countries to create a world where every voice is heard and valued.[20]
In 2025, Romina Arena revived the invitation from the Mayor of Maratea, Daniele Stoppelli, to be an ambassador for the "Ricas Italia" Project, the Network of Institutions and Citizens for Cooperation, Culture, Environment, Solidarity and Sustainability, against poverty and pollution of the planet.[21]
In 2025, Romina Arena named at the Italian Parliament in Rome as the technical leading member of culture, music, cinema and entertainment through a special committee with the Italian Parliament, and the Senate, in collaboration with the Vatican.[22][dead link]
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