Mary Harrell attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio,  and received  a Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Michigan,  Majoring in Instrumental Education.  She earned a Master of Arts Degree in Pianoperformance from Eastern University.

After moving to California in 1988, She became Adjunct Professor of Class Piano at Fullerton College.  She has taught private violin and piano lesson at Mo's Fullerton Music Centers since 1999.  She and her husbad Don are active recitalists in the Fullerton area.