My Story

Reinventing the bassoon for the 21st century: from solo programs to multidisciplinary projects.

Thomas Dulfer (1993) is no ordinary bassoonist. Driven by curiosity and a passion for the untapped potential of his instrument, he explores uncharted musical territory. For him, the bassoon is more than an orchestral voice or basso continuo: it is an instrument with far more possibilities. Whether it is the raw energy of jazz and rock or creating soundscapes with electronics, Thomas wants to inspire his audiences and show everything this often underestimated instrument can do.

This vision came to life in Palpitations, the project that marked a turning point in his development. Drawing on his background in cardiovascular research, Thomas brought music and science together: he made heartbeats sound in new compositions, worked with live electronics and developed interactive installations that let the audience hear their own heartbeat. The project deepened his relationship with music as well as his ambition to combine technology and personal experience. In 2025 he released his debut album Palpitations, in which his heart takes centre stage, literally and figuratively. The album won the Edison Klassiek 2026 in the category Buitengewoon Klassiek.

Thomas’s approach has earned him recognition as both performer and creator. He was a finalist of Dutch Classical Talent 2023 with his duo Dulfer & Witteveen and toured the Netherlands with the multidisciplinary show You Only Live Once. As Young Artist in Residence of the NJON Music Summer 2019 he presented four unique programs, including Blue Beard and Thomas meets Gubaidulina. He won several prizes, including the regional final of the Prinses Christina Concours and the Classic Young Master Award, which included a two-year mentoring program.

In 2026 Thomas premiered Sofia’s Trip, a concert experience by Lonelinoise in which he explores even further what music can do to a listener. Under professional guidance, the audience takes psychedelic truffles and sets out on a journey through the spiritual, deeply felt music of Sofia Gubaidulina, woven together with music by Soheil Shayesteh. Listening becomes an intense, personal experience in which sound, body and mind come together. For Thomas, it brings together a fascination that began in 2019 with Thomas meets Gubaidulina.

To keep a solo bassoon performance captivating and surprising, Thomas builds performances that do something different. Electronics play a key role: from a foot-controlled continuo to layered textures through live processing and polyphonic soundscapes that expand the range of his instrument. But his concerts are more than a sonic experience. Through disciplines such as lighting design, text and installations, a broader artistic story emerges in which music always remains the beating heart.

Thomas has performed as a soloist and chamber musician and has worked with, among others, the Swedish Chamber Orchestra, the Dutch Ballet Orchestra, the Northern Netherlands Orchestra, the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, the Netherlands Wind Ensemble, Het Muziek and Amsterdam Sinfonietta. His performances challenge and aim to stir something. “I’d rather someone hate my performance than feel nothing,” he says. What matters is that it provokes something: surprise, connection, or even discomfort.

Thomas graduated from the Royal Conservatory of The Hague with a 10/10 with distinction and received the award for the best final exam of the year. He earned his master’s degree with Bram van Sambeek at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln, graduating with a 1.1 (9.5/10). He also holds a master’s degree in Cardiovascular Research from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Thomas plays a Heckel bassoon, which he was able to acquire with the support of Stichting Eigen Muziekinstrument.