Mary brings a unique personal insight to her work, having lost her hearing at the age of 36. Since then, she has relearned how to connect with music in new and innovative ways. Fluent in British Sign Language (BSL) and a skilled lip-reader, she draws on these experiences to support others. For 16 years, Mary taught music to Deaf children in Gourock, and her passion now is to expand Deaf-accessible music workshops for both young people and adults in other areas. In recognition of her work, she was nominated as BBC Scotland’s Unsung Music Hero in 2015. Mary is a firm believer that music should be fun, inclusive, and accessible to everyone—regardless of background or ability. Alongside her workshops, she offers Deaf awareness training and runs “Sign with Mary” sessions, supporting Associate Musicians who want to incorporate BSL, signed songs, and rhythm-making into their musical practice.