We recently connected with Robin Treybig and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Robin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?
Overall, I have been able to earn a full-time living from my career as a professional cellist. I define “full-time living” as having the financial capacity to pay for my cost-of-living while still affording my career as a musician. The latter encompasses financing a professional-level cello, instrument maintenance (repairs, string replacement, bow rehairs, etc), travel expenses to auditions (flights, paying for a seat for the cello, mileage, hotels, meals) and travelling all over the place for gigs. That said, earning enough money to support myself and sustain my career was not at all on my mind when the “muse of music” took over my soul at the age of 15.
There was a specific moment when I decided to go pro. I started playing the cello at age 8, but it wasn’t until high school that I was “bitten by the bug”. I was in a cello section rehearsing The Pines of Rome by Ottorino Respighi, when out of nowhere, a musical phrase pierced my heart like Cupid’s arrow. Tears came to my eyes and I was overwhelmed by the beauty and power music held over me. That was the moment that changed my path forever.
I had been warned by teachers and fellow musicians, however, that the road I was choosing was riddled with difficulties. Symphony auditions, in comparison to the number of candidates are sparse; one cello audition will often bring in 100 candidates. And like I told my dad after each failed attempt, “100 players showed up, and 99 went home jobless”.
My early successes included winning auditions for several regional orchestras either as a full-time member or a substitute. A regional orchestra is a professional orchestra with a part-time schedule. To make ends meet, many of us play in several throughout the country and that is how the term “Freeway Philharmonic” was coined. We are the road warriors of the symphonic world. Quietly eating our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in our cars as we try to decompress from sometimes a 2+hour commute to work.
I never won an audition for an orchestra that could provide a full-time income. But early on, I made a promise to myself that no matter what, I would make this musician thing work. It truly was and continues to be the only discipline that captures my attention and my passion 100%.
Many of us freelance musicians supplement our income by teaching private lessons and playing for private events such as weddings. To be perfectly honest, all this combined…Freeway Philharmonic, private lessons and wedding gigs was not paying the bills. I had racked up so much credit card debt from taking auditions all over the globe, that my tenacity was starting to create collateral damage. Without getting into too much detail, my financial struggles began to take their toll on my mental health and personal life. Full disclosure…later in my career, I did “allow” myself to take on some non-music side hustles to bridge financial gaps when I was in-between things. My pride was always so supremely damaged and I longed for an income stream that I could be proud of.
It was around this time that I had an offer drop in my lap that was about to change the course of my career forever. I was asked to play in a string group for a massively famous rock band. My classical musician sensibilities were on high alert. Would I be selling out? Would my Classical colleagues judge me as a failure? What about my training…all the thousands of dollars poured into my education and career. Was it for nothing? Then I looked at my depleted bank account as it screamed, “TAKE THE DAMN JOB, ROBIN” !
Growing up, I did not listen solely to Classical music. I listened and loved practically every genre there was. In retrospect, my taste was pretty darn good. From the bebop my dad loved, to prog rock and everything in between. So many types of music brought me tremendous joy as a kid. Yet I had sealed all that tightly away when I embarked on my classical music education. However, the moment I sat down and tore into the first notes on that rock show, the beast was unleashed. As it turned out, one show led to another which led to more popular artist gigs. This became an additional income stream that not only to pay the bills but also to feed my muse, who is a stubborn, picky spirit that will only grace me with her presence if I am true to myself.
Did all those years of training go down the tubes? Absolutely not. I happily maintain a position with the “Freeway Philharmonic”, I perform as a classical soloist and a chamber musician. I have learned, however, that to survive as a musician, I had to diversify my genre portfolio. Just say YES! You never know where the road outside your comfort zone will take you!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My freelance career is comprised of several components. I am a performer, teacher and live music contractor.
I have performed with many major popular artists including the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, Disturbed, Il Volo, Warren Haynes, The Eagles, Andrea Bocelli, Dee Snider, Trisha Yearwood, Michael W. Smith, Evanescence and Vince Gill.
I am soon to release a music video! It’s still under wraps, but should be out before the end of 2025.
The lion’s share of my orchestral work has been with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. Other orchestras I have played in include the Nashville Opera Pit Orchestra (TN), the Erie Philharmonic (PA) the Wheeling Symphony (WV) and the Jackson Symphony (TN).
To me, being a musician is not only serving the music, but also serving the audience. There is nothing more rewarding than knowing my performance has touched the hearts of my listeners! I strive to provide audience members with an experience that takes them away from the outside world and helps bring joy to their souls.
I am the Nashville Regional Director for Arev Music Entertainment Group. Our main focus is providing live music for weddings, corporate events and other special occasions. I can also be found on the website GigSalad.com where I offer my services as a solo cellist. I work closely with my clients to ensure our music sets the exact tone they envision for their big day.
I currently reside in Nashville, Tennessee. My website is www.robintreybig.com
My private teaching studios are both online and in-person. I am on staff at Belmont University’s Belmont Academy (Nashville, TN) which provides music lessons for non-university students of all ages. I am also a teacher at Music & Arts in Cool Springs, Tennesse and I have an online music studio for distance learners. My teaching philosophy incorporates approaching each student individually. There are so many types of cello students who each need a unique approach to learning. It is my job to find the best way for each student to learn and grow as a cellist.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
What I have come to learn about performing is that I want to bring people joy with my music. There are moments in everyone’s life that are so horrible and I believe all art, be it music, visual art, dance, can take people, even if briefly, out of their pain. Everyone always claps at the end of a concert, but there is something very telling about the energy eminating from the audience during a concert. From the lack of sound from programs being shuffled around, stifled coughs, to the silence after the final note is played…all produces a palpable aura that tells us performers our music is being appreciated. Silence is a rarity these days and if I can silence an entire audience with my performance, I’d say my mission was accomplished!
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
Some of my favorite private cello students are the adult beginners. Many of them have always wanted to play the cello. As their children leave the nest or they retire from full-time work, they finally have the time to pursue this goal. The reasons I love them so much are varied. First, I love that my adult beginners want to grow and learn throughout their lives; that they have curiosity and courage to continue their journies instead of believing they are finished growing after a certain age. They truly inspire me.
The other reason I embrace my adult learners is because it is supremely enlightening for an audience member to take an instrument for a spin. My adult beginners are typically Classical music fans who attend orchestra concerts, or have seen cello on stage at various pop artist shows. The musicians on stage make playing look effortless. Therefore, it appears to be a craft one could learn fairly easily (just like riding a bike, right?). What they come to realize after one or two lessons, is that no…it is not like riding a bike. The cellists they see on stage likely begain playing their instruments as children and have never ceased their studies. They are conservatory-trained pros who on average spend 3-6 hours daily in the practice room.
Adults have a hard time realizing that they cannot make a decent sound on a cello in a couple weeks. There are many steps that are critical to producing a good sound and there are no shortcuts. Once a student of any age can accept this reality, then the real work can begin. Every weird exercise I prescribe is prepping for the next step, then the next and the next. Once they start to see where each step is taking them, they finally begin to trust the process. Those who stick with it will finally hear the results of their efforts. They are supremely pleased with their hard work, which inspires them to continue. Instant gratification is not allowed in learning an instrument, but the long-term gratification of making music is well worth it!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.robintreybig.com
- Instagram: @cellistagurl
- Facebook: Robin Treybig
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/robintreybig
- Youtube: @Cellistagurl, @TheGigLife
