Robert Truman was born in Sydney and  studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of music with John Painter.  In 1971 he moved to London to further his studies with Derek Simpson of the Aeolean Quartet.  In 1972 he joined the London Symphony Orchestra and André Previn where he enjoyed four very happy years working and  recording with Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland, pianist Arthur Rubinstein, and cellist Rostropovitch.

In 1975 he was invited to be principal cello for the Menuhin Orchestra. In 1976, after a  successful interview with Sir Colin Davis, he became principal cello at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden where he played all the cello solos for dancers like Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn and worked with the very best singers, one of his favourites was the Bulgarian Boris Christov.

In 1984 after an audition for the London Philharmonic Orchestra, which was played in front of Klaus Tennstedt, he became principal cello there for over twenty years. Also in this  time he formed the Ludlay Quartet, and was a  founder member of the  Consort of London Chamber Orchestra. One of the solos he recorded with them is Zipoli Elevation, which is constantly played on Classic FM.

In 2005 Robert decided to go freelance and now enjoys gardening and collecting antiques, particularly Coleport. His cello was made by Giovanni Grancino in Milan in 1690.