Gerard migrated to Australia in 1958 where he entered the Sydney Conservatorium, studying with Gordon Watson. After winning many prizes in national competitions, he pursued studies with Greville Rothon, Claudio Arrau’s assistant, in Munich.  In 1981 he joined the staff of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he is now Chair of the Keyboard Unit.

His concerto repertoire ranges from Mozart and Beethoven through to 20th century works. Gerard has worked with conductors such as Sir Bernard Heinze, Nicholas Braithwaite, Douglas Gamley, John Lanchbery, Avner Biron and Patrick Thomas. He has toured extensively throughout Europe, Asia, New Zealand, Australia and Israel. He has recorded for Dutch, French, Israeli and Australian radio, and for labels such as BMG, WEA and Philips.  Gerard Willems is the first Australian and Dutch pianist to record the complete Beethoven Sonatas cycle on CD, the set twice winning Arias for Best Classical Album of the Year in 1999 and 2000.
Gerard has also appeared in lieder recitals and chamber music concerts with Laures Elms, Ron Stevens, Jennifer McGregor, Beverley Bergen, the cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, violinists Karen Adam and Ronald Thomas, and violist Esther van Stralen.  His piano trio, ‘Mozartrois’, has recorded the complete Piano Trios of Mozart for the Tall Poppies label, in commemoration of the bicentennial of Mozart’s death.

In 2001, as the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Music Scholar, he researched Early Music training throughout the USA and Europe. In 2003 Gerard was awarded a Centenary Medal for Services to Music.