Mary Barto is a former member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. She has performed with the New York Philharmonic, New York City Opera, New York City Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre. She has toured Western Europe with harpsichordist Eve Kugler and across the United States as soloist for the legendary Skitch Henderson, founder of the New York Pops. Her major teachers include Julius Baker, John C. Krell, Herbert Levy and Sandra Miller.
Teaching Flute, Flute Ensemble and Chamber Music, she is an Associate Professor at Mannes College – The New School University, an Assistant Professor at Hunter College CUNY, Instructor of Flute at Columbia University – Teachers College and Adjunct Professor at Fordham University. For eleven years, she was the coordinator of the Adult Chamber Music Program at the Lucy Moses School – Kaufman Center where she continues as a Chamber Music coach and instructor of Flute in both the Adult and Young Peoples Divisions. She is the Woodwinds Coach for the Concert Orchestra of the InterSchool Orchestras of NY – ISO.
She has played many Broadway shows and recorded film scores including numerous works by Academy Award-winning composer John Barry. Her Quintet, The New York Five, has the unusual instrumental combination of Flute, Bassoon, Violin, Viola and Piano. All of their music was composed by pianist George Quincy. Their CDs are available from Albany Records, Amazon, CD Baby and Flute World.