In Conversation with Panos Amelidis

Allow us to introduce Panos Amelidis, the Senior Lecturer in Music and Audio Technology and Programme Leader for the BA (Hons) Music and Sound Production at Bournemouth University for the last eight years. 

Panos’ music journey began in his childhood after watching a TV advert featuring the notes of Johann Sebastian Bach, a composer that Panos still holds a deep love for.

"I think he’s the most beautiful composer ever made," says Panos lovingly - and that one moment took Panos into music. Since he was seven, Panos has played piano, and now as a Music Lecturer, he can fully embrace the world of sound.

"I think it’s very important to ask people to find something that when they’re doing it, they’re happy, whatever it is. If you can do that as your profession, that's paradise."

Born in Athens, Panos came to the UK in 2009 to complete his Master's degree at Manchester. Although the city had horrible weather (as England typically does), he described it as a vibrant place, thoroughly enjoying his time there. In 2010, Panos moved to Leicester for his PHD in Music Psychology. He then turned to London for four years, before making Bournemouth home.

"I just love Bournemouth, it’s the closest you can get to something more European," Panos mentions with a light laugh, who claimed that for him Bournemouth was the best.  

Living in a culture where visual stimuli have significant omnipresence, Panos expresses that music provides a break from everything - an escape from the overload of information.

"It has to do with emotion; it has the ability to make you travel back to happy experiences or to sad experiences."Music allows us to experience the world in other ways, through other senses. The kind of magic music brings to everyday experiences is why music remains important, "what I like about music is that it has this magic because it’s invisible, that’s what made me go towards this mystery we call music." Panos smiles affectionately.  

Despite Bournemouth being a small city, it has much to offer in music, with a vibrant scenery and vivid music experience.

"So, we have the BIC with all these live concerts happening throughout the year, we have the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and there’s The Old Fire Station. Almost every night there’s a live performance happening," Panos nods leaning forward in his chair.

Despite this packed music scene, Bournemouth does not have many DJ’s coming to play, and Panos would like to see more of that so people can embrace the ritualistic experience of music. "There will always be this need for a connection with others in the physical manner and music is an amazing medium to achieve that."

Music comes with a huge social aspect, as the dancing so many of us love connects us with our bodies, the ground, and with others.

"Going into a club or a party is connecting with the others in this extra dimension," Panos exclaims excitedly, as a club lover himself. "We listen to music all together; we vibrate all together."

"This is what makes it relevant to the youngsters," he added. Musicians in particular get to co-exist musically with others, being part of a band or playing in a group. This is what makes us feel like a social person and deeply helps wellbeing. Live music allows us to connect and reconnect physically with others away from this digital wall, "it’s one of the few things that still remains and reconnects us socially, I think,"Panos smiles gently, and in this digital era the need for physicality and social connection remains. 

'What I like about music is that it has this magic because it’s invisible. That’s what made me go towards this mystery we call music.'

‘There will always be this need for a connection with others in the physical manner and music is an amazing medium to achieve that.’