Patrick R. F. Blakley is an award winning percussionist and author from Syracuse, New York. Patrick is an endorsed artist with Innovative Percussion and Epiarch Drums and has performed with a variety of local and national acts. He graduated from Liverpool High School and also marched with the five-time world champion Syracuse Brigadiers Drum and Bugle Corps as a member of the tenor line, helping continue their 46 consecutive win streak. In his final year of marching Patrick placed third in the DCA I&E tenor contest.
Patrick has worked with numerous high school marching and indoor ensembles within New York State such as Central Square, Oswego, Phoenix, Liverpool, and is currently the Director of Percussion at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. He’s also worked with multiple dance ensembles and WGI scholastic and independent world class winterguards as an audio editor; such as Cicero-North Syracuse and The Brigadiers. Patrick has won numerous state and national titles as well as several medals in various circuits including NYSFBC, NYSPC, BOA, US Bands, NESBA, DCA, and WGI.
Patrick has published three books, two in-depth technical marching instruction books and one children’s book about marching band. Quadratics: The Multi-tom Focus is a 150 page tenor drum instructional book. The Field Percussion User Manual is a 136 page book designed to help non-percussion staff members understand how the field percussion sections fit into their marching ensemble. The children’s book, called Drummy Drum Joins Marchy Band, is a fun story about a drum joining marching band but not knowing which instrument to play.
In early 2019 The Syracuse Area Music Awards (SAMMYS) honored the Cicero-North Syracuse Marching Band and Patrick with a distinguished Best Artist award after the band performed in the 92nd Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2018.
Patrick and his wife Lynette currently live in North Syracuse with their son Luca and daughter Lena. Patrick also has a percussion studio where he teaches privately. In his free time he volunteers as an Archivist and Research Center Volunteer with the Onondaga Historical Association, where he is a member, utilizing his degree in European History and Language. Patrick is also a member of the Percussive Arts Society, the National Band Association, and has a dual membership with the National Association For Music Education and the New York State School Music Association.