Marlene Blackburn began her musical studies at the age of 10, studying piano and voice at St. Veronica's School in Montreal. She later enrolled at the McGill Preparatory School of Music where she studied flute, theory, solfege, and played with the Montreal Youth Symphony, along with fellow flutist Jeffrey Kahner, under the direction of Maestro Kerry Stratton.

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Upon moving to Ottawa, she enrolled at the Conservatoire de Musiquie de Hull where she studied flute with Madame Gail Grimstead-Michaud, who was one of the most outstanding students of the late Jean-Pierre Rampal. Her teachers have since included Caroline Grimes, Jean-Guy Brault and Robert Cram (National Arts Centre Orchestra), and Jeanne Baxtresser (New York Philharmonic).She has attended master classes with Nora Shulman (Toronto Symphony Orchestra), William Bennett (London Symphony Orchestra), the late Julius Baker (New York Philharmonic Orchestra).

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Marlene went on to obtain her Honours Bachelor of Music at the University of Ottawa. Upon graduating she auditioned for and won the first flute position with the Central Band of the Canadian Forces, Canada's premier military concert band; she was the youngest to ever hold the position. During her career she has performed with the Ottawa Chamber Orchestra, the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, the Ottawa Pops Orchestra, the Ottawa Theatre Orchestra, the Gatineau Symphony, the Huronia Symphony, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis, and  the Philharmonic Orchestra of Jamaica.

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As well as performing and teaching, Marlene is an avid conductor, composer and media artist. Her song, "Ottawa" was one of the winning entries in the national 'Song for Ottawa Competition'. She has also written theme songs for Bell Canada, the United Way Appeal and the City of Calgary.

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She has recored for CBC programs such as 'Montreal Apres‚ Midi', 'Concertime','Jeune Artistes'and'Banc D'Essai', and hosted the CHRO arts television show 'Arts Magazine'.  Marlene has also studied conducting with John-Kim Bell of the Toronto Symphony. In 2008 she was one of the few flutists selected by Sir James Galway to perform at his prestigious Master Class in Weggis, Switzerland.

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Marlene has also taught music at Indiana University. She holds a Master of Science in Music Technology.