MaryAnn Poling earned BS degrees in both music education and fine arts from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Attending the Peabody Conservatory on a full scholarship, she earned an MM in oboe performance under the tutelage of Sara Watkins. At Peabody, Poling also minored in voice, studying with John Shirley-Quirk.

Poling performed in the American Waterways Wind Orchestra and in both the American and Italian Spoleto festivals; she has performed professionally in 19 different countries.  Poling has been a conductor for the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras since 2010, and conducted for the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestras (formerly the Greater Baltimore Youth Orchestra Association) for 23 years until her retirement from that organization. Poling taught in the Harford County Public Schools for nine years, has adjudicated for festivals in Baltimore and Howard counties and has conducted honors ensembles in Maryland and nearby states. Poling also leads the music ministry at New Hope Community Church in Catonsville.