Home » Member Page

Kerilie McDowall

17x Award-winning 11x nominated jazz guitarist, TV Director,/Short Filmmaker, past radio host/podcaster (Rhythm'a'ning).

About Me

Kerilie McDowall is an arts-focused jazz guitarist, grant writer, music journalist, music educator, and press publicity specialist. McDowall is a 17-time award-winning jazz podcaster, jazz short documentary TV filmmaker/director, and jazz guitarist-bandleader-composer. Writing cred includes prestigious USA’s DownBeat jazz magazine (2016- 2020), INSPIRED 55+, AllAboutJazz.com (2018-present), her blog In the Zen, Canadian Musician, and Musicworks.


Along with her grant writing expertise, she ties in her knowledge of journalism with the ins of music judging on juries like the JUNO Awards (2012-2023), the $50,000 Polaris Music Prize, and the MiMc Music Awards - Music in Motion Canada (2025).As a DownBeat Critics Poll judge she assists you to achieve your best grant jury grant- funding opportunities.


Kerilie McDowall is a Central Vancouver Island creativepreneur double-business owner of Oceanview Guitar Studio & Creative Services and Avebury Moon Music & Film. As a musician, she offers coaching in guitar (lesssons), music improvisation, sound bathing, writing, grant writing services, and publicity. As a 14-time award-winning filmmaker, she provides film education to new directors. The jazz guitarist in 2025 composed and arranged 14 jazz compositions, and two more on the way in January 2026, resuming performing in 2024.


“Kerilie's advice was an absolute Godsend that could not have come at a better time. Kerilie and I began corresponding on a semi-regular basis just as I was putting the finishing touches on my fourth album. Her help was invaluable, and I learned something new about the fine art of self-promotion (which was never my strong suit) each time we spoke. I can't thank her enough for sharing her wisdom and experience, and I plan to put her advice to good use with each new project.” —JUNO-winning bassist Rich Brown, Toronto, Canada (Steve Coleman and Five Elements, Jeremy Ledbetter Trio, Rudresh Mahanthappa.


“Well there may be 8 million guitarists in the world, but Kerilie McDowall is certainly one of the best. Guitar Player magazine calls her playing 'smooth and elegant,' to which I would add, intelligent and original.” —Paul Grant, Host, CBC Hot Air, Vancouver, BC. The Kerilie McDowall Sextet as recorded/produced by Neil Ritchie


”Kerilie McDowall fronts a first-rate jazz quintet...Labels listen up...a very talented musician.” “…an appealing Blue Note ambience.” “Smooth, elegant playing...warm relaxing tones.” “…impressive are her composing skills.”—Guitar Player Magazine


“Kerilie McDowall emerged in the 1990s as the leading female voice in jazz guitar in Canada. Lyrically original in both the melodic sense and harmonic concept. And she SWINGS!” — Al Johnston, Bassist/composer (Grupo Jazz Tumbao, Orquesta La Clave, Orquesta Goma Dura, Xarabanda, JUNO Nominee Rumba Calzada, Shangó Ashé, La Raza Latina, Alma Libre. )


”Kerilie is one of those rare people who really understands music and art while also understanding how to share it in a way that is efficient and beneficial to both the artist and the artform. With her contagious passion and energy, she reminded me of the importance and meaning of this fascinating career path and the importance and value of hard work. Kerilie is deeply passionate about art and people, she is generous, inspiring and supportive and is a great source of knowledge, which are all qualities that contribute to her being an outstanding teacher.” —2022, Gentiane Michaud-Gagnon (Radio-Canada Revelation Prize (2019), François-Marcaurelle Award from the Quebec Musicians’ Guild (2019), OPUS Award for Artist of the Year (2020), and Best Jazz Album of the Year (2023). Walls Made of Glass, was also nominated for the ADISQ (Quebec) and JUNO Awards (Canada) in 2024.)


”Kerilie is a rare combination of ardent supporter, facilitator, and artist. Whether it’s journalism, broadcasting, filmmaking, educating, or her own music making, Kerilie’s contribution to the creative music ecosystem is immense!”

—JUNO Award-winning multi-instrumentalist/composer Stephen Lyons, Fond of Tigers, Limbs of the Stars and Sun Belt, Offseason Records founder/owner.


FILM DETAILS


Kerilie McDowall is a 17-time award-winning TV Director/Musician/Radio Producer, widely recognized for the short jazz TV documentary, “In the Zone: Rick Kilburn.”


As a dedicated volunteer at Shaw Spotlight from 2015-2022, Kerilie directed “Coast Connections,” a bi-weekly, then monthly, 30-minute TV program. This demanding show was shot live in the studio, requiring perfect execution without stops. She managed a crew of 4-5, handling 2-3 live cameras, additional stationary cameras, jib operation, sound, graphics, and switching/directing. Guests included notable figures like Robert Bateman, David Gogo, Andrew Homzy, and Roy Henry Vickers. Kerilie received mentorship in directing, switching, camerawork, production, and hosting from the Shaw Spotlight team, overseen by Producer Todd Jones for seven years. Even during the studio closure from March 2020 to 2022 due to the pandemic, Kerilie continued producing shows remotely via Skype with the team.


Beyond “Coast Connections,” Kerilie also took on occasional directing for “Change the World” and “Wise Folks” at Shaw Spotlight. Her involvement extended to assisting with shooting Lacrosse and wrestling sports from the mobile unit, where she managed or assisted with the camera switching.


A creative Producer and host for episodes of “Community Producers,” Kerilie was also a co-host on Shaw Spotlight’s ”The Show.” Further diversifying her filmmaking experience, she served as the Assistant Director and Continuity Supervisor for Brian Morelan’s sci-fi film, “Splicer’s Daughter.”


Her company, Avebury Moon Music & Film, is built on a commitment to quality, excellence, and innovation, ensuring technical precision and thorough, nuanced creative film work.


Director’s Message:


”In the Zone: Rick Kilburn” has truly taken on a life of its own. Neither I nor the cast and crew ever anticipated the immense interest it would generate, especially the staggering 1.4 billion IMDb Pro cast hits it received in 2023- 2024.


After earning our 14th film award in February 2024, I was particularly honored to see the TV team recognized locally with the 2024 Creative Innovator Award at the Nanaimo Women of Influence Awards. This local recognition was especially meaningful given that the pandemic had delayed our local celebration. Due to judging conflicts (half the crew was on the judging team), the film couldn't be shown at the local film festival, but was released on local television, temporarily on YouTube, and via Facebook with Shaw Spotlight.


Given that we were creating TV content for local cable broadcast, often followed by releases on Facebook and YouTube, it felt natural to produce a film simultaneously designed for all three mediums. This unconventional approach led to our team winning three Hollywood Best Web and New Media Awards. With this intentional multi- platform focus and a strong publicity push across eight social media platforms, the short was exceptionally well- received.


The film also secured Best Short Documentary awards from China, Japan, South Korea, Toronto, Canada, Italy, the USA, and the UK. The film's global selections and the prestigious 2021 Best Short Documentary from the Hong Kong International Short Film Festival were incredibly humbling for the entire team. For committed investors, there will be exciting perks, including opportunities to meet the cast, exclusive unlimited access to behind-the-scenes content on current and future film sets, and McDowall anticipates future feature film festival experiences in Hollywood and other exciting locations.


For various tiered major investors, McDowall offers trailer spots, a 3000 to 7000 word interview feature of blogging publicity, complimentary workshops, arts and publicity instruction gift vouchers, and eight social media platforms announcements/updates on progress, poster credits, newsletter, and blog logo/banner publicity, and other bonus perks.


With 155 universities, 213 colleges in Canada, 6,000 in the USA, and 2510 Canadian high schools and 26,727 in the USA, there are lucrative opportunities working with McDowall's mentor, a top 3 US film festival co-founder and film expert with experience in educational distribution for In the Zone: Rick Kilburn.


Contact Kerilie McDowall at aveburymoon@gmail.com.