My Studio and Philosophy

I’m Dr. Bazala Kim, a cellist and educator based in North Potomac, Maryland. Over the years, I've had the joy of teaching at colleges and elite schools across the DMV, but my true passion is in working with students individually in my private studio.

My Teaching Approach

Every student’s musical journey is unique. By blending Suzuki and traditional methods with strong technical training, I craft a customized path for each individual. Whether a student dreams of playing in a youth orchestra, performing on a grand stage, or simply discovering the joy of playing music, my goal is to be a mentor who guides them toward their dreams—fostering a lifelong love for the cello and the confidence to succeed.

A Foundation of Excellence

My own musical life has been shaped by some incredible mentors and experiences. I hold a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Maryland, a Master of Music from Rice University, and a Bachelor of Music from the New England Conservatory of Music, with additional studies at the Eastman School of Music. As a performing cellist, my career has taken me from major concert halls like Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center to international stages and concerto appearances across the U.S. and abroad. I’ve also had the immense privilege of studying under legendary teachers like David Hardy, Peter Wiley, David Soyer, Paul Katz, and Fritz Magg.

Celebrating Student Success

It is always a thrill to watch my students grow and achieve their goals! Under my guidance, studio members have:

  • Earned Honors: Won prizes and competed in regional and national events, including the MSMTA Spring Solo Strings Festival, Feder Memorial, Gaithersburg Youth Artists, and Carnegie Hall’s American Protégé Competition.

  • Earned All-State Honors: Selected to perform in Maryland’s prestigious Junior and Senior All-State Orchestras.

  • Achieved Level Milestones: Successfully progressed through and earned recognition in the American String Teachers Association Certificate Advancement Program (ASTA CAP).

  • Earned Principal Seats: Taken on leadership and principal roles in the DMV’s premier youth and school orchestras.

  • Excelled in Chamber Music: Thrived in chamber ensembles, including a group from Michigan State winning the MASTA competition and reaching the semi-finals of the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition.

Beyond the Studio

Music education and community leadership are a lifelong passion for me. I’m a past President of the Maryland/DC chapter of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA MD/DC), where I was honored to receive the 2020 State Chapter Leadership Award (and our chapter proudly won national awards for Best Website and Most Outstanding Chapter). Locally, I perform as a member of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Apollo Symphony Orchestra. I also bring years of experience as a clinician, having coached sectionals and adjudicated for youth orchestras and festivals throughout the region.

PERFORMANCE

As a professional cellist, Alison Bazala Kim has appeared both in the United States and internationally. Her recitals in the U.S. have taken place in Houston, Miami Beach, Boston, and at the Embassy of Romania, the State Department and the Ambassador’s Club in Washington, D.C. She was a featured concerto soloist with the National Repertory Orchestra in Colorado and the University of Maryland Symphony Orchestra. In Kosovo, she performed as a soloist in the Bach Festival and in Albania, she appeared as a concerto soloist.

Bazala Kim toured in Macedonia, the Slovak Republic and Bulgaria. She was the first American soloist to appear in Sarajevo after the 1992-95 war in Bosnia where she performed at the National Theater, the Dom Armije concert hall and at NATO headquarters. She toured Bosnia again in January 1999, performing in Banja Luca and in Sarajevo. She performed and gave a masterclass at the Sarajevo Music Academy, and her concerts were broadcast on television and radio.  Other recital tours include Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. As a chamber musician, she has performed in Miami Beach, New York City, Boston, and locally at the Washington Arts Club, Frederick Community College, Hood College, St. John's College and the University of Maryland.

Bazala Kim was a member of the New World Symphony, and toured with them to play in Carnegie, Alice Tully and Avery Fisher Halls in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.,  Brazil, Argentina, Monaco, and Israel, and recorded with the orchestra on the Argo-Decca label. She was Principal Cellist of the Greater Lansing Symphony Orchestra and played with the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra. She also served as Associate Principal Cellist with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and is a member of the Annapolis and Apollo Symphony Orchestras.