Ariana Kim is in her first year of teaching in the music department at the University of Indianapolis, and the 26-year-old violinist has already appeared in three Faculty Artist Series concerts.

On Monday, she’ll be spotlighted in the concert “Ariana and Friends” in UIndy’s DeHaan Fine Arts Center. The program comprises violin-piano sonatas by Mozart and Ravel, a trio by Dvorak and a piece for unaccompanied violin by contemporary American composer Augusta Read Thomas.

Trained by her musician parents in Minneapolis, Kim played her first solo recital at age 4. Seven years later, she made her debut as a soloist with orchestra. Kim has degrees from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and New York’s Juilliard School, and was concertmaster of orchestras at both institutions.

An experienced teacher at several summer workshops and music institutes, Kim made her New York recital debut in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall in March 2008 as recipient of the Artists International Award.

Currently, she’s a senior artist with the Chamber Music Society of Minnesota.

What was attractive to you about the University of Indianapolis?

I came down in April and fell in love with the building and the hall and got to work with the faculty and students. The thing that drew me most to it is that it was a school that effectively combined the feeling of a university setting with a small arts-and-sciences school.

The department can function independently; students are known by name and can be individually supported, and the music faculty functions as a unit. It felt like the right fit. I liked how involved students were in the decision process and could watch me teach and rehearse. That was inspiring, because ultimately they would have to deal with me (laughs).

Was the position tailor-made for you so you could pursue your career?

Yes. They were very encouraging of other facets of my career elsewhere. I play regularly in Minneapolis and New York, so I need to take time out to do master classes and play concertos. They gave me a tremendous amount of flexibility to experience more as a teacher and bring that back to Indianapolis.

How integral is teaching to your activity as a musician?

The more I teach, the more I grow as an artist. Being able to work with students who are dedicated and engaged breathes new life into my career daily. It not only allows me to be involved with the next generation, but also opens up new windows for me in my own mind as to how to approach and learn music. When I perform, I learn more as a teacher, and when I teach, I learn more as a performer.

What are your earliest musical memories?

I grew up studying with my mother: I went through all the Suzuki books with her, then when I was 8 or so, my dad took over. So my earliest music memories are with Mom and Dad. My parents shaped my dreams and goals as a person and as an artist.

I have two younger brothers — the younger one is a wonderful violist, and I love playing chamber music with him in the summer. Another brother will probably go into the sciences. We all grew up playing violin.

What did your advanced study at Juilliard do for you?

It opened me up artistically. I was much more willing to experiment with my sound. I encountered many different ways of teaching and learned to experiment with creative programming.