Kerilie McDowall is a Canadian jazz guitarist/composer, TV Director-filmmaker, educator, and media expert whose 16x award-winning career bridges music, broadcasting, writing, and creative mentorship of musicians. A York University graduate and former DownBeat writer, she hosted/produced award-winning TV and jazz radio for over 20 years. She’s a TV Director with 1000 hours directing. In the Zone: Rick Kilburn, (2020) is her internationally celebrated short jazz documentary film that has earned over 13 awards and 12 nominations worldwide.

Kerilie McDowall is a JUNO Awards music judge (2012-2023), and current MicMac Music Awards, Polaris Music Prize, and DownBeat Critics Poll music judge.

Guitar Player magazine describes her music as “smooth and elegant,” while CBC Radio’s Paul Grant hails her as “certainly one of the best.” She's one of Canada’s pioneering female jazz guitar bandleaders, and is a publicist, educator, and music journalist (DownBeat, All About Jazz, INSPIRED 55+, Canadian Musician, In the Zen).

Her sound baths and performances have spanned international festivals and platforms—from Canada’s Women’s Spirit Festival and UK’s Awakened Heart Festival to U.S. podcasts, TV shows, and healing conferences. In the film world, her mini-doc’s cast of In the Zone; Rick Kilburn reached over 1.47 billion organic viral views on the movie site IMDb Pro and won acclaim across Asia, Europe, and North America. The jazz music short has won best documentary awards from China, Japan, Las Vegas, Toronto, London, and Best Director from South Korea to three Best Web and New Media category awards from Hollywood, Los Angeles.

Recognized with 16 awards—and a 2025 nomination for the King Charles III Coronation Medal—McDowall won the 2024 Nanaimo Women of Influence (WIN) Creative Innovator Award and ranked 20th in 2024 on Alignable’s list of top female business leaders. As a jazzpreneur, she owns Oceanview Guitar Studio & Creative Services and founded her film/music production company Avebury Moon Music & Film as her second creative business.

As an instructor-coach, McDowall offers expert guidance in guitar, press, publicity, grantwriting, and brand strategy, supporting creatives from opera companies to JUNO and Polaris Music Prize artists and emerging musicians and filmmakers. Her deep knowledge and passionate mentorship continue to empower musicians and media professionals across North America.

“Kerilie’s advice was an absolute Godsend…” —Rich Brown, 2025 JUNO-winning bassist. (Steve Coleman and Five Elements, Jeremy Ledbetter Trio). Toronto/New York

“Generous, inspiring… an outstanding teacher.” —Gentiane MG, 2024 JUNO nominee. Montreal, Quebec.