 Impressed, Sembrich took on Bodanya as her student and through her support, Bodanya was able to enroll at the Curtis Institute of Music.After graduating she continued with further vocal studies under Sylvan Levin.While studying at Curtis, Bodanya made her professional opera debut on December 26, 1929 as Blonde in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Die Entführung aus dem Serail" with the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company at the Academy of Music under conductor Emil Młynarski.