Mary Beth Doherty grew up in St. Catharines, where she was a member of the St. Catharines Youth Orchestra and active in the Kiwanis Music Festivals. In 1976 Mary Beth traveled to Aberdeen Scotland with the George Brown College Orchestra, representing Canada at the 1976 International Festival of youth orchestras. After graduating from the University of Toronto Faculty of Music (Bachelor of Music, ’82) Mary Beth completed Teachers College in 1983. Returning to St. Catharines in 1984 with husband Sean, Mary Beth began teaching with the Instrumental Music program of the Lincoln County Board of Education and established a private studio in her home, teaching violin and piano.

Mary Beth has both apprenticed and taught at the summer Niagara Symphony Summer Music Camp and in1986 held the position of director. She completed her ARCT in violin pedagogy and performance in 1986 and that year also joined the Niagara Symphony (in which she has played ever since).

In 1994, after the birth of three sons, Mary Beth returned to work teaching vocal music in the Elementary schools of DSBN, continued playing full-time with the Symphony, and taught privately in her home as well as with the Niagara Elementary Instrumental Music program. Mary Beth has had an extensive performance background in the Niagara area, as church soloist and as a member of the Niagara Symphony, NOTL Sinfonia, and Trio Arabesque. She continues to enjoy her private students and teaching vocal music at Nelles Elementary School in Grimsby.