Dion Mariani recalls being gifted his first guitar on his fifth birthday from his parents.
When picking up a guitar for the first time, there was an immediate self-realisation of being born into music.
It was the start of a musical journey.
“It’s been a reaffirming validation throughout the years,” Mariani said.
“Every single time I played, joined a band, or had a jam, I’ve still had that same strong feeling since I first picked up a guitar.”
School of Rock
School of Rock is an international music school franchise where students are taught music in relation to stage performance.
Mariani has been teaching music at the school in Perth since it first opened in 2017 and eventually became the music director.
“I love connecting with the students,” Mariani said.
“No matter whether they’re children or adults, the ability to teach them something is fantastic.
“I love my position and my role.”
Corey Loiacono, Mariani’s friend and former student, describes Mariani as a cheerful, funny, reliable and inspiring person.
“He was the first teacher I had, and just made learning fun and really engaging,” he said.
“As a director, he finds ways to make everything so interesting and makes it feel like something I want to do for the rest of my life.”
Mariani was selected as director of the 2025 School of Rock Allstars, a program where elite School of Rock students from around the globe audition for the opportunity to go on tour in America.
“It’s basically the highest accolade you can achieve as a student,” he said.
“The opportunity to help direct the best of the best and represent School of Rock and Perth as part of the directing panel is a huge honour.”
Mr Loiacono recognises how invested Mariani is with the school and how deserving he is to be named director of the international program.
“This is the tiniest bit of gratitude that School of Rock can offer him for all the results that have come from his efforts over the past eight years,” he said.
A man of many projects
Mariani is currently involved in numerous bands as a guitarist, such as Last Quokka, Red Engine Caves, and his solo project, Vancool.
The band that kickstarted his musical career as a child in the early 2000s was The Flairz, a trio made up of Mariani on guitar and vocals, his cousin John on guitar and vocals, and Scarlett Stevens (now San Cisco) on drums and vocals.
“We literally went from a garage to playing in festivals around the country and touring America,” said Mariani.
“That helped me forge a career in music and it taught me a lot.
“Taught me everything really.”
As a musician of his own band, Suburbia, Loiacono has always admired Mariani’s musical abilities.
“He is very confident and isn’t afraid of the spotlight attention,“ Loiacono said.
“That’s something I wish to get better at because I’m a lead guitarist and lead singer.”
Mariani did a bachelor’s degree in Media & Communication at Murdoch University and majored in Sound.
“I learnt programs like Illustrator, Final Cut, Premier Pro which have enabled me over the years to create my own music content,” he said.
“It’s extremely helpful.”
Loiacono finds Mariani to be motivating when he is on stage, as he recounts a past performance of Mariani’s at a packed Astor Theatre.
“When they went on, I was there was watching him, seeing how he was living his dream,” he said.
“Dion was captivating this whole audience that barely knows who he is. He really did inspire me because I wanted to be in that position.”
Mariani said the future is open and is open to whatever is installed.
“I don’t think I’ll ever not play in bands, release music and record, as much as I’ll ever not be involved in School of Rock,” he said.
“I enjoy it all and I love doing them all equally.”
