2026 Adjudicators

Simon Farintosh is an award-winning guitarist, composer, and educator based in Victoria, BC. Named one of CBC’s “30 Under 30 Classical Musicians” in 2023, he is known for his innovative programming and ability to connect with audiences by blending classical guitar with contemporary musical forms such as electronica and jazz.

Simon currently teaches music performance at the University of Victoria, where he instructs both undergraduate and graduate guitar students. He earned his Bachelor of Music under Dr. Alexander Dunn at the University of Victoria in 2018, and later completed a Master’s Degree at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 2020, studying and serving as a teaching assistant to Rene Izquierdo, the renowned Cuban virtuoso and pedagogue. He is now completing his Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Toronto, studying with Jorge Caballero and Dr. Jeffrey McFadden. 

Simon’s performances have earned him top awards in numerous national and international competitions, including First Prize at the 2018 Northwest Guitar Festival in Spokane, WA. He has also been a finalist in the Canadian National Music Festival, GuitarLab International Competition, Wilson Center Guitar Competition, and the Twisted Spruce Guitar Competition.

As a composer, Simon won First Prize in the 2022 Ottawa Guitar Society Composition Competition for his original work Distant Light. A six-time recipient of the British Columbia Arts Council Award, he has performed or presented for organizations including the Classical Guitar Society of Tri-Cities (WA), Madison Classical Guitar Society, Ottawa Guitar Society, Guitar Society of Toronto, and Chemainus Classical Concerts, among others. He also serves as President of the Victoria Guitar Society, an organization dedicated to promoting the guitar through community outreach and an international concert series.

Simon has adjudicated events such as the London Kiwanis Music Festival and the Canadian National Music Festival. In addition to teaching and performing, he is the owner and operator of ReVamp Guitar Academy, offering virtual lessons to students across Canada and beyond. His students consistently achieve top results in local and provincial competitions and on RCM examinations.