Ralph Meulenbroeks (Ph.D.  MSc.) combined conservatoire double-bass studies with a university physics degree, graduating ‘cum laude’ in both. He finished his Ph.D. in plasma physics at Eindhoven University of Technology and worked as a researcher at Shell, Océ, and FOM (Fundamental Research of Matter). 

In 1996 he took up the viola da gamba and rapidly became the most prominent Netherlands ambassador for the seven-stringed instrument. He has been soloist with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra with such conductors as Sir Roger Norrington, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Ivan Fischer. He made many cd-recordings and was awarded the Edison classical audience award 2009, the Netherlands’ most prestigious cd award.

Since 2011 he combines his musical activities with work as a physics teacher in the field of secondary education. He obtained his Master of Education in 2012 (cum laude). As of 2015, he is working as in the field of science education at Utrecht University, becoming an associate professor in this field in 2021. He also works as a career coach and has given many keynote and other lectures and workshops on intrinsic motivation. He is the initiator of several projects aimed at tackling the shortage of secondary school teachers in het Netherlands (beta4all, studentinzetopschool, and bèta-lerarenkamer). 

Ralph has a very broad scope of fascinations ranging from macrobiotic food and t’ai chi to history, astrophysics, and aviation. He recently obtained his private pilot’s licence.