Renee Bodie (she/her) is the General Manager of Soka Performing Arts Center, having taken the lead position in 2018. She is a seasoned arts professional, with a career spanning over 25 years of performing arts organization leadership. Known for her creative and innovative artistic direction, Renee brings a history of growing audiences and connecting communities through relevant cross-cultural programming that builds bridges and spans multiple genres.

Renee came to Soka after her tenure as Executive Director of Levitt Pavilion Greater Los Angeles & Pasadena, where she merged two previous non-profit organizations running two venues in the Greater L.A. area into one focused organization, producing over 100 performances each year in two venues and covering multiple genres of music, youth programming, and intern programs.

She served as President and a Board Member of Folk Alliance International for nine years, and served as the Chair of the Performance Rights Committee, negotiating music licensing issues on behalf of FAI venues and musicians, and co-authoring the white paper “Understanding Copyright, Royalties, and Practical Application in Folk Music.” She also served as President/CEO of an independent music production company that produced live concerts, festivals, and music conferences throughout the country for over 15 years.

“I am passionate about the power of music to uplift and elevate the human experience. I look for programming that engages our audience and connects cultures, and coupled with our pristine acoustics creates an exquisite listening experience. To come away expanded and enriched, better in some way than when we entered — that is the goal.”

A Southern California native, Renee was raised in Palos Verdes, received her Bachelor’s Degree from UC Davis, and lived in Agoura Hills and Pasadena before settling in Orange County.