Bio

Anthony Lafond is a drummer and percussionist based out of Valencia, Spain and hailing from the northeastern United States. Well-versed in drum set, marching, and world percussion, Anthony graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst with a bachelor’s degree in Drum Set Performance/Jazz and African-American Music Studies in the spring of 2021 where he studied with Jeff Holmes, Tom Giampietro, Felipe Salles, Fumi Tomita, Claire Arenius, Thom Hannum, Ian Hale, Colin McNutt, and Alex Beltran.

He recently graduated with a master’s degree in Contemporary Performance (Production Concentration) from Berklee College of Music's Valencia, Spain campus, where he studied with Mariano Steimberg, Yoel Paez, Sergio Martinez, Joshua Wheatley, Gary Willis, Perico Sambeat, Olga Roman, and Magda Giannikou.

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An active drum set player/percussionist for over 16 years, he has experience playing many styles, and has participated in drumline, drum corps, indoor percussion, jazz and world music ensembles, rock and pop groups, musical pit orchestras, and many more.

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Some highlights include when he played drum set for the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps (DCI) in 2021 and United Percussion World (WGI) in 2022. During the 2021 DCI season, Anthony won the gold medal in the DCI I&E/Performer’s Showcase Competition with his drum set solo entitled “Stormy Weather”, as well as the Front Ensemble Rookie of the Year award from the Blue Knights.

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As an educator, Anthony has had the privilege of teaching both drum set lessons and marching percussion programs throughout the northeastern United States and beyond, ranging in levels from younger children in elementary school, high school, college, all the way up to world class drum corps and indoor percussion groups.

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Anthony is a proud member of the Percussive Arts Society and continues to share his love for drumming with his ever-growing community.