Studied latin percussion at the Conservatory of Rotterdam and jazz, brasilian music and pop with renowned musicians as Martin Verdonk, Joshua Samson and Robert Thomas Jr. After playing and touring with many artists and bands in Europe, he joined the Dutch edition of Disney’s the Lion King in 2005. He started working on his career as a pop and jazz percussionist, composer and studio musician around the same time. In 2006 he graduated as a Master of Arts in ethnomusicology at the University of Amsterdam with the groundbreaking thesis ‘Shake, Rattle and Roll’ about the emerging of the improvising percussionist in Holland. Gijs has played and / or recorded with Wouter Hamel, Sensual, Benny Sings, Giovanca, Dox Family, Benjamin Herman, Scallymatic Orchestra, Marc van Roon, Joshua Samson, Harmen Fraanje and many others.