Tom Smeulders

Tom Smeulders founded Instrucur, a music store on the island of Curaçao, with a passion for supporting musicians and growing the local music community. As a retailer, Tom played an important role in connecting players with instruments and resources, particularly within the guitar market and the broader Caribbean music scene. Through Instrucur, he helped foster access to musical tools and knowledge, contributing to the development of Curaçao’s vibrant and diverse music culture. Among his many contributions, Tom hired a young local musician, Etienne Goilo, to work in the store between gigs—an opportunity that helped shape Etienne’s path in the industry. Etienne would later go on to become the current owner of Instrucur following Tom’s retirement, continuing the legacy Tom established. Tom’s impact extended beyond retail. He was the first person from Curaçao to be interviewed for the NAMM Oral History program, marking an important milestone in documenting the island’s connection to the global music products industry.