2026 Adjudicators

Patrick Feely is a guitarist, educator, and adjudicator based in Ontario, Canada. He is a Royal
Conservatory of Music guitar examiner, assessing candidates across Canada, the United States,
and internationally, including examination work in Iran and Vietnam, and mentoring new
examiners in standardized assessment practices.

He has adjudicated over 30 music festivals throughout Ontario and Canada, as well as
international competitions including the Montreal International Guitar Festival, the Buffalo
International Guitar Festival, and the Hnatyshyn Foundation Developing Artist Grant.
Patrick holds a Ph.D. in Music Education from Western University, a Master of Music in Guitar
Performance from the University of Toronto (studying with Jeffrey McFadden), and both ARCT
diplomas in Guitar Performance and Pedagogy from the Royal Conservatory of Music.
He is also a Suzuki-trained teacher through the Suzuki Association of the Americas, with
expertise in early-stage instrumental pedagogy and ear-based learning.

Patrick is Assistant Professor of Music Education in the Don Wright Faculty of Music at Western
University, where he teaches large guitar ensemble classes of over 100 students, as well as
courses in music education and applied pedagogy. He is also founder and Artistic Director of the
Brantford Guitar Society, where he directs the Community Orchestra.

As a performer, he has appeared with ensembles including the McMaster University Orchestra,
Grand River Players, and Brantford Symphony Orchestra, and performs internationally with the
East West Guitar Duo and Duo Feely. He has also presented lecture-recitals in Mumbai and
Pune, India.

His students have been accepted into undergraduate and graduate performance programs across
North America and Europe and have received awards at provincial, national, and international
competitions.