UC College-Conservatory of Music Dean Pete Jutras announced on Apr. 29 the appointment of Danbi Um as the college’s new Assistant Professor of Violin, with her faculty position set to begin on Aug. 15, 2026.
Um is recognized for her technical skill and artistry, having received praise from The Strad as an “utterly dazzling artist with a marvelous show of superb technique” and described by New York Classical Review for her “mesmerizing grace.” She was awarded the Silver Medal at the Menuhin International Violin Competition and received the Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant in 2018. Her career includes solo recitals, concerto performances, and collaborations with notable chamber musicians.
Her debut album was released on Avie Records in fall 2023, followed by a second album titled PoèmeMystique in February 2025 alongside pianist Juho Pohjonen. Um made her New York recital debut at Lincoln Center in 2018 through the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. She has performed concertos with orchestras such as the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and Israel Symphony, and appeared at venues including Kennedy Center and Wigmore Hall.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Um began playing violin at age three and attended Curtis Institute of Music from age ten. She holds an Artist Diploma from Indiana University. Her teachers include Shmuel Ashkenasi, Joseph Silverstein, Jaime Laredo, and Hagai Shaham. She is also an artist member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
“An accomplished performer with major competition wins and a vibrant recording career, Danbi Um brings an impressive resume to CCM’s Strings Department,” said Jutras. “Her performance career spans orchestral, chamber and solo recital appearances, and our students will surely benefit from her abundant artistic experiences. I am grateful to our search committee chair Rachel Calin and committee members James Bunte, Brian Hong, Alexandra ‘Sasha’ Kazovsky and Timothy Lees for their efforts with this successful search.”
