Robyn Truster

Robyn Truster née Belner was born and raised in Overland Park, Kansas. She graduated in May of 2022 from Friends University with a Bachelor’s Degree in music education. She also holds an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts from Johnson County Community College. Robyn has put forth all of her energy and time into pursuing the arts and sharing her love of music with future generations.

She has been involved in the arts since she was around nine years old. She began her musical journey on violin, adding trombone to her repertoire a year later. She continued in both band and orchestra until the end of her undergraduate career, adding trumpet and viola to her regularly played instruments. She is currently a sitting member of Westwood Ensemble in Westwood, KS and Hutchinson Symphony. At fifteen years old, her father suddenly passed away, leaving Robyn and her mother to fend for themselves. Without the help of music and dance, Robyn would not have had nearly as many opportunities she has been given.

Robyn pursued her degree at Friends University so she could continue both violin and trombone, as well as pursue dance performance. During her time at Friends, she served as the Vice President for the school’s CNAfME chapter, served as the Kansas state secretary for CNAfME, started a pep band, taught private lessons, played professionally, assisted in choreographing the Symphony of Spring performance, and made both the intercollegiate band and orchestra.

Currently, Robyn is the orchestra director at Pioneer Ridge Middle School in Gardner, Kansas, and loves every moment of her job. She prides herself on giving students a mentor, an outlet and a place to belong. In October of 2023, Robyn married her husband, Becker, and they get the joy of sharing music together for the rest of their lives.