Uma Das
Uma Das first started playing the piano when she was six. She was originally drawn to the piano because she loved to sing, and wanted to play an instrument that would allow her to play and sing at the same time. She tried both guitar and the piano and fell in love with the latter right away. Though she doesn’t sing as much anymore, there is no other instrument she’d rather play.
Uma, a student of Martin Labazevitch, was a member of Levine’s Rising Stars program in 2021-2022 and has been a member of the Honors Program since 2022. One of her favorite parts of these programs has been the opportunity to get to know and work with other young musicians, many of whom she now counts among her best friends. She particularly values her collaboration with her chamber partner, Sam Brose, with whom she has played in a piano duo since 2022. As a duo, Uma and Sam enjoy exploring a mix of classical piano repertoire; they also often find pieces they like and are interested in playing, which Sam then arranges for piano himself. In 2024, the pair won the Misbin Award at the Misbin Family Memorial Chamber Music Competition and have shown an interest in seeking out more competition opportunities in the future.
As a soloist, Uma won second place in the 2021 and 2023 Cogen Concerto Competitions and won first place in 2024. She has also received awards as a piano accompanist to the Westland Middle School and Bethesda Chevy Chase High School choruses in interstate competitions. While Uma clearly enjoys the challenge of a musical competition, that’s not the only arena she proves herself in–she is also a competitive swimmer. Uma currently trains with the Nation’s Capital Swim Club (NCAP) team and hopes to be able to swim and play the piano in college. She also volunteers as a swim instructor with a group of young adults with disabilities and diverse needs.
Uma’s older brother, Lucas Das, is a cellist who recently started school at Brown University. Lucas was also a Levine student in the Honors Program and participated in the Washington Musical Pathways Initiative (WMPI). He organized a monthly performance series featuring Levine and WMPI students at Sunrise Senior Living in Bethesda, Maryland, which Uma will take over managing.
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.