Robbie Bui is first recognized as a contemporary cellist, but his creative life stretches beyond the singular label. He is a frequent new music collaborator, a composer, a full-time nonprofit arts administrator, a portrait photographer, a collaborative pianist, pop violinist, and even once a mediocre piccolo player.

His early fascination with orchestral instruments in his youth symphony days lead him to pick up composition: he later graduated with a Bachelors of Music With Honors in Composition from New England Conservatory as a Presser Scholar and as the commencement speaker. That curiosity evolved into a deeper exploration of interpretation, culminating in a Master of Arts and Doctorate of Musical Arts in contemporary cello performance practice at University of California, San Diego. Through this mixed background, he invests consideration of music’s theoretical construction into his performance expressivity, leading to dozens of new pieces dedicated to him as a soloist and chamber musician.

Robbie currently plays in East Coast Contemporary Ensemble (ECCE), Palimpsest Ensemble, Alinéa, and anywhere and wherever he is needed throughout San Diego. Some of his favorite spaces he’s been a soloist, recitalist, guest resident, or composer include the Koussevitzky Shed, Seiji Ozawa Hall, Jordan Hall, the DiMenna Center, Conrad Prebys Music Center, McGill Schulich School of Music, Bombyx, Mandeville Auditorium, and the San Diego Public Libraries. He’s presented and been in residence at festivals such as the Darmstädter Ferienkurse, Klangspuren, Etchings Festival, Orford Music Academy Contemporary Workshop, and Vienna Summer Music Festival.

Beyond music, he is a professional freelance photographer specializing in creative portraiture and performance documentation. Outside of work, he learns languages, tailors thrifted clothes, cuts hair, and can make great latte art. Across music, art, and all of his daily life, he is grounded by the same principles: curiosity for the novel, dedication towards craft, and enthusiasm for trying to do a little bit of everything.