Robyn Cheng

Violin/ Viola

Raised in Calamba, Philippines, Filipino-Chinese violist Robyn Cheng began playing the viola at age 12 with Dr. Cedric Lachenal at the Adventist University of the Philippines and later continued her training with Prof. Jose Arturo Molina, former conductor of the Manila Symphony Orchestra.

Her early years in the Philippines laid the foundation for a strong orchestral career. As principal violist of the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra, she performed regularly at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and took part in tours across Austria, Italy, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Korea. Those experiences shaped her as a collaborative and versatile musician, deepening her commitment to orchestral playing while broadening her musical perspective at an early stage.

Robyn’s artistic development has continued through programs and mentorship opportunities in both the United States and Canada. She is an alumna of summer programs at the Curtis Institute of Music, The Juilliard School, and Domaine Forget de Charlevoix, where she worked with distinguished violists including Steven Tenenbom, Toby Appel, Roberto Díaz, Teng Li, and Yura Lee. At the Glenn Gould School, she has further refined her playing in masterclasses with Juan-Miguel Hernandez, Ayane Kozasa, Annemarie Moorcroft, and Hsin-Yun Huang.

Now based in Canada, Robyn has performed with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, the Royal Conservatory Orchestra, the Oakville Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestra Toronto. She was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada in 2023 and 2024, serving as Principal Violist on the 2024 Horizons tour, and has likewise appeared as Principal Violist of the Royal Conservatory Orchestra in productions of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Rossini’s La cambiale di matrimonio, and Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi.

Drawing on this breadth of experience, Robyn strives to provide a thoughtful and encouraging approach in her teaching that is grounded in careful listening, strong technical foundations, and expressive music-making. She is committed to helping students grow with confidence, curiosity, and a lasting connection to music.