Alem Ballard

Hello! My name is Alem Ballard (first name pronounced Uh-leem). I'm a violinist from Philadelphia. I've been playing violin since I was 3 with over 20 years of playing experience. I started at a performing arts charter school from k-8th grade, graduated from one of the top music schools in Philadelphia, the High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. As a student I participated in several city, regional,  and state PMEA festivals where student's are selected to playing in an orchestra at a high level. 

In my last years of High School I joined the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra where I had the opportunity to be trained by one of the best Orchestra's in the world, the Philadelphia orchestra. Through that program I was a student of William Polk, 1st violinist of that orchestra. As his student I prepared for collegiate programs and decided to attend Ithaca College where I studied first Music Education and then Violin Performance with Susan Waterbury, former member of the Cavani String Quartet. During the later years of undergrad I had the opportunity to perform at Lincoln Center apart of the Ithaca on tour campaign. 

Through networking I went to study with Nancy Dahn at Memorial University of Newfoundland for my Master's. both Waterbury and Dahn are students of Don Weilerstein, which my philosophy also follows. At MUN I studied Violin Performance, Contemporary, and Orchestral Music. I also  conducted a research on Luigi Dallapiccola's use of the Bach motif in his Quaderno Musicale di Annaliberia.

Outside of Schooling, I'm an alumni of the Brevard Music Center (2016,2019) summer orchestral camp. I find orchestral playing to be a highlight on group playing and can enhance on creativity and skill. I've played excerpts for members of Boston Symphony, Los Angels Phil, Detroit Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, and New York Phil. Those years I cherish the most because of connections I've made, and the teachings I can pass on to future students!

My teaching style could be characterized as detailed oriented, fundamental, and passionate.