After studying a Bachelor Degree at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp, master´s degrees in both classical and contemporary percussion followed at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München under Prof. Raymond Curfs. In 2023, he became the first student in Germany to complete the newly established postgraduate program ´Excellence in Performance´. 

As a Soloist, Daan Wilms, was highly acclaimed for musicality, creativity and technique by Juries at international competitions winning many prices, among others 1st prize at the Nürnberg Percussion Competition 2022 (Germany), 1st prize at the Belfius Music Competition (Belgium), Kulturkreis Wettbewerb Gasteig 2023 (Germany) In 2023 he was selected as the first ever classical percussionist in the series ´the Twenties´ by Belgian Radio and Television.

Driven by a passion for contemporary music and innovative performance practices, he has collaborated closey with renowned composers such as Steve Reich, Krsysztof Penderecki, Helmut Lachenmann. These collaborations inspired him to create his own series of performances, where he explores the intersection ​of music, theater and visual arts.

He regularly plays as an orchestral member with orchestras such as the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, Bavarian State Opera, Munich Radio Orchestra, Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Royal Flemish Opera and La Monnaie/de Munt (Brussels).