Frans Brüggen studied at the Muzieklyceum in Amsterdam, where he earned the first diploma awarded for recorder. After brief study at the University of Amsterdam in musicology, he turned to a career in performance and became one of the best recorder players of his time. He possessed a brilliant, translucent tone and fine interpretive powers. He was also an excellent teacher, and through his master classes and performances he elevated the recorder to international status. Brüggen often conducted and also led his own avant-garde group called Sour Cream. He held a position as professor of recorder at the Royal Conservatory, The Hague. ~ Lynn Vought