Madalyn Ellingson joined the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra as principal flute in 2009. She holds a bachelor's degree in music performance from the University of Minnesota where she studied with Julia Bogorad-Kogan, principal flute of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and baroque flute with Immanuel Davis and pursued studies in piccolo outside the university with Roma Duncan Kansara, piccolo player of the Minnesota Orchestra. She has participated in masterclasses with Jonathan Keeble, professor of flute at the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign; Atlanta Symphony Orchestra principal flutist Christine Smith, Keith Underwood, professor of flute at the Mannes College of Music; and Alexander Technique teacher Pedro de Alcantara.

An avid chamber musician, Madalyn was a founding member of the Kalos Winds Woodwind Quintet, a group that focused on educational outreach to local schools and performing diverse public recitals. She studied chamber music extensively in college with Norbert Nielubowski, contrabassoonist of the Minnesota Orchestra, and Kathy Kienzle, principal harp of the Minnesota Orchestra. She continued her chamber music education by studying with Jonathan Keeble and the Prairie Winds at the Madeline Island Chamber Music Camp for three summers.