Drums roll for higher achiever

By Laura Gilmartin
A BELGRAVE student has received a VCE High Achiever Award for a perfect study score in performing arts.
Seventeen-year-old Evan Lineham joined more than 400 Victorian students presented with subject category awards at Crown Palladium on Thursday 22 May.
The awards, which were presented by Premier John Brumby, reflect the top group of students for each VCE subject.
For Evan, this is music industry skills.
Extraordinarily, the Billanook College student completed the Year 12-level subject during only his 11th Year. He said the decision to undertake a final-year subject early contributed to his success.
“It was a good way to go because it meant there was less pressure,” he said.
Evan also put his achievement down to good teaching, including that of Billanook College Music teacher Richard Giles.
Evan, who began playing drums in Year 7, said he usually practises two to three hours a day and sometimes up to seven hours a day during school holidays.
He is also part of a music trio which is “on hold” until next year, while VCE studies are focussed on.
Until then Evan is happy to perform occasionally with his school music quartet which consists of a bassist, piano and guitar players in addition to drums.
The group was required to perform a 25-minute set for the 2007 final exam and chose to showcase pieces in funk and Latin genres.
Completing a Bachelor of Music at Monash University is among Evan’s plans and this award indicates that the future is bright.
When asked how he managed to achieve so well in last year’s exam, Evan replied simply.
“It didn’t feel like work,” he said.