Mary has enjoyed an expansive and life long career as a musician, composer and educator. She has served as an adjudicator, manager or conductor for Massachusetts's regional and state music festival orchestras including MMEA All-State, MMEA Southeast District and SEMSBA.
As a professional musician and composer, Mary has composed and performed incidental music for live theater and dance working with NewGate Theater, Salve Regina University, University of Rhode Island, Providence College, Rhode Island College, Groundwerx Dance Theater, Perishable Theater and NBC Television.
As a music educator, Mary has taught in Rhode Island and Massachusetts in both public and private school settings at all levels, K-12 and higher ed. The last and best 17 years were spent as the orchestra director for the middle school and high school in Mansfield, MA. It was there that she experienced the best of what teaching has to offer; rewarding relationships with students and their families, and music making, sometimes at extraordinary levels, with dedicated young musicians.
Currently retired from full time teaching, Mary resides in Rhode Island, and maintains a private, part-time teaching practice exclusively at MockingBird School of Music. She also conducts an adult orchestra for the Community String Project in Bristol, RI, and is an adjunct faculty member at Rhode Island College.
Most recently, Mary teamed up with long time friend and colleague, Pat Hawkridge, MFA, to form InterArts through which she offers professional development throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts to classroom teachers interested in learning how to teach various academic disciplines through the arts.
In her spare time, Mary likes to paint in her home studio.
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Experience and Credentials
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Bachelor of Science and Masters in Music Education from Rhode Island College
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CAGS in Educational Leadership from the University of New England
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Extensive experience in Massachusetts and Rhode Island public schools including 17 years as the Orchestra Director for Mansfield Middle and High Schools
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Has been teaching at MockingBird since 2006