Willem Tonnaer

After the toy broke, there followed a 12-year silence, occasionally interrupted by recorder sounds. At 15, Willem became captivated by the sound of an instrument he heard on the radio, unaware that it was a transverse flute. He eventually received a wooden flute with a cracked headjoint that sealed itself after 15 minutes of playing due to moisture.

He received his first lessons in Eindhoven from Mr. Romeijn. Back in Thorn, lessons paused for 18 months due to a lack of a teacher. On Easter Monday 1960, he rehearsed for the first time with the Royal Harmony of Thorn. Three years later, he performed all flute and piccolo solos, including Polish Dances and Romanian Rhapsody, and began professional studies at the Maastricht Conservatory at age 18 with Mr. Laheije.

His studies were interrupted by military service. He later resumed at the Utrecht Conservatory under Adriaan Bonsel, earning diplomas in flute pedagogy, orchestral performance with piccolo, and solo performance with distinction. He then pursued the Prix d’Excellence at the Conservatoire Royal de Liège with André Isselée.

Willem was principal flutist with the South Netherlands Opera, second flute with the Limburg Symphony Orchestra, and later principal flute and piccolo with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège. He taught at music schools in Kerkrade, Geleen, Aachen and Visé. Beginners, students and professionals alike have always relied on his expertise.

He authored "Het Fluitboek", technical exercises such as "Ladder op, ladder af, accoord?", and "Toonvorming en intonatie" in duet form. He also composed the "Miniconcertje" for piccolo or flute with piano, and the "Sonata" for flute and clarinet.

Willem organizes piccolo days, group workshops and coaches flute ensembles. As a performing musician and chamber music enthusiast, he regularly appears in concerts playing piccolo, flute, alto flute, bass flute and contr’alto flute, much to the delight of his audiences.