MUSIC

Alumni Interview with Anthony Lichoudaris (Class of 2008)

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do?

I am a full-time classroom music and instrumental percussion teacher. I am also the drummer for LifeHouse Church in Westmeadows and a performer.  

When did your interest in music start and what inspired you to pursue this? 

I was in year 8 and part of the Rock Program run by Nick Dean. I was the singer back then, but our drummer wasn’t very good so we kicked him out and I took over. I got into drumming pretty heavily from that point on and practised at any opportunity I could. My father was always very musical and played the bass, so it just felt natural to follow this path.

How did it feel to be awarded 1st place Australia’s Best Up & Coming Drummer Competition this year?

I was about 15 or 16 when I said to myself that, “one day I want to win that competition”. Every year I put it off until about a year and a half ago. I thought to myself that if I don’t do this now I would live to regret not trying. So I went really hard, practising 2-4 hours a day (depending on weekdays and weekends). When my name was called for first place, I was overwhelmed with joy as all those hours of practice had paid off. It was a dream held for over a decade that became realised.

Throughout your journey what have some of your challenges been and how have you overcome them? 

Understanding the more conceptual aspects of music and drumming was always a challenge for me, but there was no denying that it was really important. I think the first step was recognizing that it matters a lot. I asked myself, “What’s the point of being a musician who claims he loves music when I have little or no understanding of the language of music? From then on in I sought lessons covering these areas and invested private time into researching these concepts.

What do you find most rewarding about your career? 

Proving to people that there’s plenty of money and success to be made in music. It is a legitimate career path and if you work hard and are smart about it, you’ll do really well.   

In retrospect, what do you now know that you wish you knew before you pursued your passion for music? 

Go harder! One of the biggest issues I see in schools is students without vision, without direction. You will never regret giving your 100% to your passion and trying your best to be the best.

One of our College values is ‘resilience’, how would you say this has translated into your life? 

Strong resilience is sadly becoming a rarity these days. We all need to remember that everyone fails at some point. As corny as it sounds it’s about bouncing back from what life throws at you that will determine your success, not how many times you fail. This has been a core part of my journey as a musician. Sometimes you won’t get that opportunity you wanted, or someone else will do better which of course can really bring you down. Staying on track and bouncing back is the only way you’ll be able to get through that.

What is your favourite memory of DSC? Anything to do with the music department was always fun, music class, performances etc. However, the band camps and trips were without a doubt the highlight. Touring around playing music with musician friends will always be a treasured memory.

What are some of your personal and/or professional goals for the future? 

I am always looking to go to the next level, so I will be practising still and pushing my own boundaries. I also want to always continue working on my ability to convey information as a music educator also. A specific goal I have is that I’d love to play in a stadium, I haven’t done that yet.  

What advice would you give to aspiring musicians at DSC? 

Some will tell you that there’s no career in music, they’re wrong. Go as hard as you can and don’t settle for mediocracy. Push yourself and aspire to be a world-class musician, because even if you fail, that sort of commitment will make you better than most. Music has driven social change, made people fall in love, taken an 80-year-old man back to his childhood in an instant and is what gives the emotions portrayed in the film so much power. Music is the most wonderful, powerful and profound form of human expression, make the most of it and never forget why you started in the first place.