Thomas Van Gelder (b. 1982) obtained his master's degree in classical saxophone at the Conservatory of Ghent in 2005. He later studied jazz saxophone there from 2010 to 2013. Since 2010, he has been with the Royal Music Band of the Belgian Navy, where he has played lead sax since 2014. He is a founding member of the music theatre collective Die Verdammte Spielerei and is also active as a freelance multi woodwind player in a variety of styles.