Mary Ellen Hodges is a graduate of City University where she earned her Masters of Education degree in Guidance and Counseling, and of Eastern Washington University where she earned a BA in Music Education.

Mrs. Hodges has studied percussion performance with with Martin Zyskowski of the Spokane Symphony, Kathie Ramm of the Pacific Northwest Ballet, and participated in master classes with world renowned solo percussionist Evelyn Glennie. Mrs. Hodges is an experienced director of a variety of ensembles including Wind Ensembles, Competitive Marching Bands, Orchestras, Percussion Ensembles, Steel Drum Bands and World Drumming Circles. She has worked closely with the Washington Counseling Association in training school and private counselors in the use of drumming and rhythm as intervention tools. She currently serves as a K-6 Music Educator in the Burlington-Edison School District, Principal Percussionist for the Starry Night Chamber Orchestra, Percussion Coach for the Fidalgo Youth Symphony, drum circle facilitator, and operates a private percussion studio.

She has made appearances with the Seattle Philharmonic, Northwest Mahler Festival Orchestra, Northwest Symphony Orchestra, Puget Sound Symphony Orchestra, Skagit Valley Symphony, Skagit Valley Chorale, East Valley Musical Theater of Kirkland, Skagit Opera, Okanogan Valley Orchestra, and the Okanogan Valley Musical Theater.