I'm sorry you've been feeling sad and crying sometimes by yourself, I can identify with that, I have been in that place lately. I saw it as a kind of letting go, or accepting its over. After your less than satisfactory meetings with him, I can see how you would feel upset and need to process that.
Looking at the timescales, the meetings and his email, it seems to me that he is not really drwaing you in in any way, in fact, it feels that he is trying to keep a barrier there between you - with the time delays and the wording of his email. Its sort of polite, but letting you know you are now apart and on a separate path, but he is being friendly.. if you pull out the personal bits this is what jumped out at me...
I hope you have a good time searching
So, I wish you the best of luck, and happy hunting
Best
its almost like a goodbye? I thikn Jeff is right, you've done ALL you can, you've been patient, you've been light and non pressuring, you've dressed yourself up in killer outfits and turned up to his gig... and yet, he is still being distant. I dont see what good it would do asking him if he thinks you have a future, actions speak louder than words, and he knows where you are?
You should reply, maybe be more natural next time? That would be a way to test the waters, or push things... maybe wait for some news of cello hunting, or leave it a while and let him know how you intend to go about choosing one (ask his advice/opinion?) and then brave a... hey, how are you, what you been up to ? Any more blue grass gigs lined up?...ask him some personal questions as you would a mate ! Then, if he doesnt respond, theres your answer. And I dont think you should phone him.
I'm sorry, it sucks and for all of us, but for me this has been a massive massive lesson in control and of controlling emotions and of controlling others, however subtle, but it has been. And I wonder if theres not something more to learn here for you.