Lucas Das

Cellist Lucas Das, a recent Levine alumnus, is attending Brown University beginning Fall 2024 and double majoring in engineering and music. Lucas has been playing the cello since he was four years old, and most recently was a student of Levine faculty member Henry Stubbs. He is an older brother to pianist Uma, who is also a Levine student. 

“I am immensely proud of Lucas and all that he has accomplished as a musician and as a human being,” says Henry. “During our 5 years together, Lucas demonstrated on a weekly basis a sincere commitment to musicianship and technical mastery. Lucas’ work ethic inspires me and my studio, and I know that he will continue to excel at Brown University and beyond.” 

Reflecting on his fourteen years of studying at Levine, it’s safe to say Lucas made the most of it. He joined the Honors Program in 2016 and participated in many competitions. He won first prizes in several local, national and international competitions, including the 2021 Cogen Concerto Competition, 2022 Marlin-Engel Solo Competition, 2022 WPAS Competition, and the 2023 MTNA Competition.  

Outside of Levine, Lucas played in the MCYO Symphony orchestra from 2019 to 2021 and was the principal cellist of the DC Youth Orchestra in 2022-23 and 2023-24. He participated in many summer music programs, including the Cincinnati Young Artists program in 2020 and 2021, a cello intensive at Interlochen in 2021, the Ascent International Chamber Music Festival in Cincinnati in 2022 and 2023, and the Bowdoin Chamber Music Festival in 2023.  

In 2021, Lucas joined the pilot of the Washington Musical Pathways Initiative (WMPI). WMPI is a talent development program for middle and high school musicians who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color and want to pursue advanced study in music. As a representative of this program Lucas attended the National Pathways Summit in 2022, 2023, and 2024, which gave him the opportunity to play alongside the Chicago, Cincinnati, and Nashville symphony orchestras. 

Lucas has shown great leadership and passion for community engagement and service. In 2022, he began volunteering for Get Out the Vote; that summer, he was a wonderful addition to Camp Levine, serving as a Counselor. Most impressively, Lucas organized a monthly performance series featuring Levine and WMPI students at Sunrise Senior Living in Bethesda, Maryland (now that he is attending Brown, Lucas’s younger sister, Uma, will be taking over this endeavor). Outside of music, Lucas enjoys architecture, engineering, and playing board games.

“I love everything about music, from listening to it, to performing solo or in a group, to composing. I know music will be an important part of my life forever, and I hope to continue learning and practicing for many years to come.”
— Lucas Das

Levine’s community portraits are a rotating showcase of students, alumni, and faculty members displayed at our Northwest DC campus. The individuals photographed are just a small sample of the many extraordinary people who make up the Levine Music community. From teachers with storied careers to students looking toward the future, their journeys are ones of determination, passion, and collaboration.