After graduating from the Royal College of Music, where she studied with Harvey Philips, Mary embarked on a highly successful teaching career in Hertfordshire. Bringing up a family caused a change of direction, and she has since been in constant demand as a teacher of 'cello and piano. She has been heavily involved in orchestral and chamber music groups all her professional life, both as a pianist and as a 'cellist. She was cofounder of the Bridgewater Band (Symphony Orchestra) and has
played for symphony and chamber orchestras as well as for the Bach Choir orchestra in Madrid. As 'cellist with the Serenata and
Cantello ensembles, Mary has performed at prestigious venues throughout the UK and in Spain and Germany.