There are about twenty of these people, though.

I said "approximately nobody".

At a first approximation, no musician who does it for money makes a living out of it. Classical, pop, rock, whatever.

Nobody in music, basically, makes real money. Fifty, maybe a hundred violinists in the entire world do earn a pure living. Perhaps another twenty five of each other instrument. A few international soloists in other instruments. But musicians in those jobs are often burning as much money as they are making. (Even Anouskha Shankar has a portfolio career).

This is essentially nobody. Everyone else in classical music is earning just the same way as popular musicians — and society doesn't "support" popular musicians at all! The perception that rock musicians make money touring, for example, is just that: perception. The vast majority of tours either just break even or lose money. Working in music production and staging makes better money than musicians make.

Everyone else, essentially, has another job.

> (I don't think anyone beyond high school band calls them 'first-chair')

Snark noted, though I have no earthly idea why you felt it necessary