Featured Interview

-Alice Trimmer-

Alice Trimmer: Music, Community & Connection

Smoky Mountains National Park

A Childhood Rooted in History

During World War II, Alice Trimmer’s family relocated to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where her physicist father was recruited for a highly classified government project. Growing up in a newly constructed, top-secret town with strict security passes provided a unique start to her early life. Following the war, the family moved to Knoxville, allowing Alice to spend a peaceful youth exploring the beautiful springs and landscapes of the nearby Smoky Mountains.

Alice and her brother in Amherst, MA.

Harmonizing Music and Educational Publishing

Music was a defining presence in Alice’s life from an early age, leading her to study violin performance at the New England Conservatory and earn a master’s degree in music history. Channeling her analytical mind and love of literature into a career, she spent decades in New York’s educational publishing industry. She specialized in creating vibrant, full-color music textbooks for school children, collaborating extensively with freelance musicians, artists, and writers.

Alice at work in New York City office

Alice at Rosedale Achievement Center

Empowering Youth at the Rosedale Achievement Center

After retiring from commercial publishing, Alice dedicated nine years to serving at the Rosedale Achievement Center, a supplemental education program for young women in the Bronx. Operating with high autonomy in the non-profit sector, she fostered partnerships with Fordham University's volunteer program (with student mentors) and supported a dedicated music education program. Her work helped maintain a warm, homelike environment where young women could grow both academically and personally.

Alice, discussing with the Phoenix Club members

The Phoenix Club: A "No-Pressure" Senior Community

In 2023, Alice founded the Phoenix Club to address the practical and social needs of retired women navigating life transitions. Designed as a welcoming, "no-pressure zone," the group brings seniors together to share best practices on topics ranging from health and estate planning to home design. The club also encourages regular social outings to combat isolation, share ideas, and build lasting friendships.

Meet Alice Trimmer

Alice Trimmer has lived much of her life surrounded by music, community, and people she cares about. A violinist, she taught herself to read music and to play the piano, reflecting her lifelong curiosity and independence.

Alice has a deeply nurturing nature. She has worked with young girls in the South Bronx and has often been at the center of bringing people together and organizing within her community. She is thoughtful, level-headed, and balanced—a person who brings warmth, steadiness, and a strong sense of connection to the people around her.

Growing up in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Alice's childhood was also connected through her father's work as a physicist to an important chapter in American scientific history. Her life story offers a fascinating example of how very different experiences, interests, and perspectives can shape the way we grow older and remain engaged with our communities.

Watch Alice Trimmer's interview and get to know this remarkable woman.

Alice Trimmer Interview | July 7, 2026

With Studio 40 Engineer, Dylan

Alice shared many memorable thoughts during our interview. One that stayed with me was her saying that she has always been happy to have music in her head. She also said something else that I found especially meaningful:

“Things that define you aren't always obvious at first.”

Music in her head may sound like a small detail, but perhaps that is exactly the point. It wasn't something Alice presented as an achievement or a special talent. It was simply a part of her life — something that had been there quietly, accompanying her along the way.

And maybe that is how many of the things that shape us actually work. We don't always recognize them while we're living them. A song, a habit, a way of seeing the world, a person we met, or something we have done for years without giving it much thought — sometimes we only realize their importance when we look back.

I also keep thinking about Alice's words about what defines us. She wasn't giving advice or trying to offer a life lesson. She was simply reflecting on her own experience. After living long enough to look back, she could see more clearly which parts of herself had stayed with her.

What do you think defined you?

What Defines You: Music as a Lifelong Anchor

Reflecting on what defines an individual over a lifetime, Alice points to her deep personal connection with music as her core identity. Today, she continues to practice on her 200-year-old violin, finding joy in its enduring quality and the mental framework music provides. Her experience illustrates how a lifelong passion adds rich value and continuity to every stage of life.

Embracing Ikigai and the Purpose of Growing Older

Guided by the concept of ikigai, Alice approaches her later years with gratitude, grace, and steady intention. Embracing retirement's "slow-go" phase, she balances a fulfilling morning routine—including mass, daily practice, and exercise—with active community building. For Alice, the true purpose of growing older is simple: being present, staying connected across generations, and supporting the people around her.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse