Mary Ellen Goree, principal second violin of the San Antonio Symphony, received the BM in violin performance and BA in mathematics from Oberlin College. While at Oberlin, she was awarded the Louis and Annette Kaufman Prize in violin, and was elected to Pi Kappa Lambda. She continued her education at Indiana University as a student of Paul Biss, receiving the M.M. with distinction in violin performance.

After a six-month appointment as a cultural exchange musician with the Yamagata Symphony in Japan and a few years as co-concertmaster with the Shreveport Symphony in Louisiana, Mary Ellen was offered a position as a violinist with the San Antonio Symphony where she has been in her current position as principal second violin since 1991. She is also the principal second violin of the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, a widely respected summer music festival in Boulder. Her solo playing has been described as "delicate, inspired work" in the Shreveport Times, and as “highly polished, confident solo work” in the San Antonio Express-News. Mrs. Goree teaches violin at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and is sought after as a private teacher and clinician.

In her spare time, Mary Ellen enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children.