the common room Lisa Schaffer Photography
Following the Music When Blair Bodine ’02 received her first guitar at the age of 13, she already knew music would play a big role in both her personal and professional life. Encouraged by her songwriter mother, Ms. Bodine quickly developed her own skills, finding inspiration through her awareness of social inequalities and her passion for humanitarian justice. But it was at Deerfield that Ms. Bodine started making the major social connections and friendships that would lead her to her current work as the Nashville Symphony Director of Education and Community Engagement in Tennessee. “Deerfield was a major catalyst for a lot of creative connections for me,” says Ms. Bodine. “It was the place where I formed my first band,” she continues, and while she was surrounded by a wealth of personal champions that included Director of Theater John Reese, one opportunity in particular sticks with her today: “After 9/11, I wrote a song in Mr. Baker’s class called ‘Endure’ about the triumph of the human spirit. In August 2011, I was invited to perform at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Dedication Ceremony, and I was able to play ‘Endure’ on the stage at the DC Convention Center. It was a huge honor for me to be a part of that moment.” After graduating from Deerfield and recording her first CD of original songs with the help of faculty member Cheri
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Karbon, Ms. Bodine went on to study at Columbia University, where she further experimented with music, never straying far from the passions that drove her. After Columbia she headed west, working as programs and grants manager for the American Golf Association, but even then Ms. Bodine thought, “‘Wouldn’t it be great if I could do what I’m doing now, but use music to educate instead of golf?’ It turns out there’s a career path in that!” With this in mind, Ms. Bodine went on to earn her master’s degree in Non-Profit Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania, with a focus on how music can be used as a tool to lead communities. She also spent a year working as an organizer for the 2008 Obama campaign. When Ms. Bodine first learned about the open position in Nashville, she knew what to do. “I knew it was the job that I wanted . . . so I made the decision to fight for it.” Today Blair Bodine finds herself in a role similar to that of the teachers who inspired and pushed her education at Deerfield—she provides a diversity of programs that engage the mind, enrich the soul, and inspire listeners of all ages. “I am a firm believer that the arts promote creative and collaborative leadership skills, critical for the 21st century,” she says. “Finding my creative voice at Deerfield ultimately prepared me for a career in the arts.” ••
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