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Lucas Dols

Creative training and capacity building through music, improvisation and psychosocial support

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Lucas Dols is a musician, trainer and creative consultant working at the intersection of music, creativity and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), supporting organisations and professionals in developing creative and trauma-sensitive ways of working with groups and communities.

Lucas studied double bass at the Conservatorium of Amsterdam and worked internationally for many years as a professional musician in the (Dutch) pop and jazz scene. He was the bass player for Room Eleven, touring worldwide and receiving several distinctions. He was part of interactive jazz trio Tin Men and the Telephone, known for combining improvisation, technology and new forms of audience participation.

Parallel to his work as a musician, Lucas was active in music theatre. He collaborated with the Dutch theatre company ORKATER and performed in various productions as both musician and performer. He also worked on theatre productions with Dutch actor Bram van der Vlugt and performed in several children’s theatre productions as a musician.

Music remains an active part of his work, and he continues to perform as a double bassist in musical and theatre projects.

Through his work as a musician, Lucas discovered that music can be powerful not only on stage, but also in social and community contexts. This insight led to a new direction in his work: developing training programmes in which music, improvisation and other creative practices are used in psychosocial support and group work.

In 2017 he founded Sounds of Change. As founder and director he led the organisation and worked with an international team of freelance trainers to develop and facilitate training programmes for teachers, humanitarian workers and community facilitators working in contexts of prolonged stress and conflict.

These programmes have taken place in multiple regions affected by conflict and instability, including Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine. A central focus of this work is strengthening local capacity by training facilitators and educators to use creative methods in their daily work with groups and communities.

Alongside this international work, Lucas facilitates trainings, workshops and inspiration sessions for organisations and educational institutions in the Netherlands. In these sessions he explores with teams how music, improvisation and creative processes can support collaboration, communication, decision-making and new ways of working together.

He also gives lectures and interactive presentations on the power of music beyond the stage or music classroom, demonstrating how music can function as a tool for connection, regulation, collaboration and creativity.

His work brings together music, creativity and psychosocial support to create meaningful, participatory and human-centred learning experiences.

CV (short overview)


Education

Organisational experience


Trainer experience

  • International training programmes in MHPSS and arts-based psychosocial support. This includes programme development and management

  • Facilitating training programmes in various cultural and social contexts in Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Rwanda, Tanzania, Greece, Serbia, Ukraine and Tunisia

  • Training of trainers and capacity building for educators, NGOs, mental health professionals and community workers

  • Music workshops, trainings and inspiration sessions for organisations, conservatories and teacher training programmes

Artistic background

  • Bass player with Room Eleven

  • Double bassist with Tin Men and the Telephone

  • Recorded music albums with Black Gold 360, Renske Taminiau, Room Eleven, Janne & de Vogels, Schradinova, DYAR, Yuri Honing, Goslink, Marzio Scholten, among others

  • Music theatre productions with ORKATER, Bram van der Vlugt, de Tafel van Vijf

Awards

  • Edison Award (Janne Schra & de Vogels)

  • Zilveren Harp (Room Eleven)

  • Gold and platinum records (Room Eleven)

  • Community and Music Award EJN (Sounds of Change)

Contact information:
lucas@soundsofchange.org
+31(0)6 413 77 052