Rondi's life is full as a vocalist and music educator.  Besides her full time teaching position in the public schools she is a performing

songwriter/producer. She has three prior albums of mostly original

music. She has many years experience singing and writing folk, pop, rock, adult-contemporary and jazz.


Rondi is a voting member of the Northwest Chapter of the Recording Academy (The

Grammys) which she has been a member of for over 15 years. As an educator she is a member

of the National Association for Music Education and has served as a guest presenter, Orff

instrument arranger and site coordinator the children's All-State Choir. She has also been a

member of the Evergreen Orff Chapter in the Seattle area.

She is a Des Moines Arts Commissioner volunteering time to her community.

She has performed with her group "The

Jazz Crush" with a rotating line up of Yakima's jazz players and is asked to perform acoustically with her Martin guitar and her friends singing blues, folk and rock music. She has also sung Alto with the Yakima Symphony Chorus as a chorus member and soloist. She was in the Chamber select group Canticus as well.


Her first two folk-rock album releases  "Cache"  (under the name Kitty Dakota) and "Thorny Bouquet"

have received airplay on radio stations in several countries around the world and she has a strong

presence on internet radio. She has received positive press and recognition for her first two folk-rock-pop
 
albums including "Winner of Best Harmony and Aesthetics Award" at Los Angeles "Call to the Arts"

conference for her song "Alice May" from her album "Cache" under her stage name Kitty Dakota. Her

albums "Cache" "Thorny Bouquet" and her jazz/pop album "The Journal" can be heard and purchased at

cdbaby.com, I-tunes, Rhapsody as well as other online stores around the world.


Rondi has studied with Karin Allyson, Greta Matttassa, Sachel Vassandani, Randy Halberstadt, Marie

Rene', Dee Daniels, Kim Nazarian of the New York Voices and performed with notable players such as

Dawn Clement, Darin Clendendin, Clipper Anderson, Doug Miller, Byron Vannoy at Egan's, Tula's and at

Jazz Port Townsend. On her latest album "The Journal"  she worked with some of the best regional

players. Tom Kellock-keyboards (Al Jurreau, Heart) Garey Shelton-Bass (BB King, Tingstad & Rumble)
 
Greg Lymann-string bass (Gallileo Quartet) Lenny Price -Saxophones (Earl Klugh, Gallileo Quartet) Jay
 
Thomas-horns (Seattle Repertoire Jazz) Jeff Busch-percussion (Jovino Santos-Neto) Ben Smith-drums

(Heart, Phoebe Snow)

"It has been a real musical highlight for me to work with such amazing musicians and to have them record with me. Even more fun and exciting is the opportunity to perform a live show in front of a great crowd. There is always an element of playfulness and surprise to the music that reaches and touches an audience. That connection between me, the players and the audience is what inspires me to perform." Rondi

1st place award recipient for Aesthetics and harmony at the "Los Angeles Call to the Arts" conference in Los Angeles, CA for her song "Alice May" from her album "Cache". 

Reveiwer , Bill Carrera, of Evor.com. It has been said on many different occasions by far more scholarly a person than I, that music works to move the soul, fill the heart, and stir the emotions. When you find such an artist or artsts that has that special talent to touch all three then it is important to include them in your musical listeing agenda."

Central Washington Entertainment News: Editor Tim Anderson."Her new release...is a stunning collection of music that brings to mind the voices of Alannis Morrisete, Joni Mitchell, Ricky lee Jones etc., and songs that reflect the many journeys this very talented performer has taken. Don't miss her!"

Yakima Herald Republic: Maisy Fernandez: writer."A fiesty but amicable firecreacker with a contagious smile..(she) seems to bring positive from the negative in her songs. But one thing is for sure: Her music makes listeners think."

Starpolish.com: Rober Doerschuk, music critic/journalist:"She writes memorable tunes and delivers them with vivid yet well modulated emotion...commercial yet genuine, polished and powerfully expressive. (she) is a major-leaque talent. Her students are lucky to learn from her."

Music Educator

Rondi has been a public music teacher for many years. She has her Bachelors degree in Education with an endorsement in music as well as a Masters Degree in Education. She has taught music, dance an other subjects to all ages from pre-school to college ages students  in Washington State and Alaska.  She has experience directing choirs, marimba bands, dance groups and art classes.

She currently teaches full time Elementary music for Toppenish School District and teaches private voice in the evenings.