Hello! My name is Sadie Odenbrett and I graduated from South Dakota State University in May 2021, having earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Business Economics, and double minors in Performing Arts Administration and Theatre. Based on my undergraduate degrees, it is little surprise that I am now a student in the Bolz Center for Arts Administration. However, I never thought I would be here immediately after graduating SDSU.
For some background, the arts have and always will be in my blood (it is a very hard interest to get rid of after all!). I started dance when I was 3 years old and continued for 17 years, and I was a part of theatre productions since the 3rd grade. The violin was my first instrument and then I switched to flute and played in concert and marching band; and of course, we can’t forget about choir and show choir to round out the list. So, when it came to my senior year of high school, I knew that I would be pursuing a path in the performing arts field.
I started with the intention of becoming a performing arts administrator and just fell more in love with the idea the further I went through my studies and internship/job opportunities. I worked for five years with the Brandon Valley High School Marching Band, interned with the newly founded South Dakota Ballet, was a house manager for State University Theatre, and shadowed/interviewed many more arts professionals and organizations.
In the last semester of my undergraduate program I fell into the wonderful world of job hunting…during a pandemic. Arts organizations were very uncertain of the future and where they were strategically. It became a struggle for me to try and find what to do next. This is when I stumbled upon the idea of going to graduate school. I always knew getting a master’s degree was in my future and needed for my intended career path, but I never guessed it would be now.
I heard about a master’s program in Madison, WI from a faculty member I was interning with in the performing arts department at SDSU, and decided to investigate it further. When I first pulled up the Bolz Center website and read the description for the program, I knew it was meant to be and that it was going to be my path forward. Everything had led to this opportunity, and I could not say no.
I am incredibly happy that I found this path forward and am a part of this wonderful program and network of people. And I can’t forget to mention living and going to school in this pretty great city. On, Wisconsin!
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