“Simply sensational” - Colin Murdoch, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, President
“An exceptional guitarist!  His precision, accuracy, clarity, and control rank with the best I have seen” - Ray Chester, Peabody Conservatory of Music, Guitar Department Chair

While still a student at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Patrick began his professional performing carer with a solo appearance at Carnegie Hall.  Upon graduating with a Masters degree, he joined the San Francisco Guitar Quartet with whom he has recorded an album entitled “Chasing Light” which features many new works dedicated to the ensemble as well as Patrick’s own arrangements.  He has been a featured performer with the SFGQ in numerous festivals and concert series around the country, and internationally.  Notable performances include La Guitarra California festival in San Luis Obispo, the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, Dresdner Gitarrenfest in Dresden Germany, Second Sundays Classical Guitar Concert Series in New York City, the Monadnock Music Festival in New Hampshire, the San Francisco Jazz Festival, and the Festival of Contemporary Music in San Francisco, California.

In 1998, Patrick entered the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University under merit scholarship.  During his undergraduate studies his teachers were renowned guitarist Manuel Barrueco and guitar department chair Ray Chester.  He received a Bachelors of Music degree in 2003.  In 2004, Patrick attended the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where he was awarded a merit scholarship to study with world famous guitarists David Tanenbaum, Dusan Bogdanovic, and Mark Teicholz.  Mr. O’Connell received a Masters of Music degree in 2006.

As a young man, Patrick O’Connell traveled the country participating in master classes held by artists such as Christopher Parkening, Manuel Barrueco, Frank Koonce, Antigoni Goni, Scott Tennant, Aniello Desiderio, and Tilman Hoppstock.

In addition to performing as a soloist and in various chamber settings throughout the Bay Area, Mr. O’Connell holds a teaching position at the Silicon Valley Classical Guitar School in Sunnyvale, California.