Kilpatrick, Fry and Currie put new Innovation Promotions to work

Innovation Promotions, a new business launched in early January by Jim Kilpatrick, Tyler Fry and Scott Currie, has secured its first event, a weekend of drumming instruction followed by a competition in London, Ontario.

The May 3-4, 2008, event is being promoted by the Western Branch of the Pipers & Pipe Band Society of Ontario. The workshop and contest will replace the previous “Totally Tenors” workshop, according to information from Innovation Promotions. “Innovation is delighted to hold its first event in the Ontario city of London,” the group said in an exclusive statement to pipes|drums.

“To do so with the full support and encouragement of the PPBSO (Western Branch) committee is very exciting for us and a positive sign that we have created something special. The Western Ontario area is one of the world’s genuine hubs of pipe band activity. With great pipe band people around and great facilities at our disposal, London is the perfect venue for our first event.”

The advent of Innovation Promotions was foreshadowed in October 2007 when Kilpatrick, Fry and Currie dropped out of the annual Winter Storm event in Kansas City, intimating that they would be launching a new venture. The company uses the tagline, “Raising the Bar,” and describes its objective as “presenting high quality pipe band percussion education and competitive entertainment events on a global basis.”

The company also said that the major drum manufacturers Premier Music International and Remo have agreed to support future Innovation events. In addition to the three Innovation partners, Drew Duthart, John Fisher and Craig Colquhoun will teach and perform at the London workshop. The company says that it will work with drummers who live locally at their various events. According to organizers, enrolment information, list of competition invitees and ticket availability for the Innovation London event will be announced soon. Kilpatrick, Fry and Currie all play with the House of Edgar-Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band.