BCPA 2011 K-O finals to go out live on the net

The final round of both the Professional Piping and Snare Drumming of the 2011 British Columbia Pipers Association Knockout will go out live on the Internet via video streaming on March 12th. The organization previously streamed the semi-final round in February, and the final is part of the organization’s Annual Dinner.

Competing in the piping event will be Andrew Bonar, Vancouver; Jori Chisholm, Seattle; Will Nichols, Blaine, Washington; and Scott Wood. The drumming finalists are Grant Maxwell and Kyle Wallis. The performances are to start at 20:35 Pacific time.

“This is something very new for us and our intent is to reach our membership who cannot attend due to the distance that they would have to travel,” said BCPA President Graham Davidson. “Even though we are called the British Columbia Pipers Association our area does cover the U.S. states of Washington and Oregon. In today’s technological social media, we feel it is very important to give our membership all the benefits possible that living in the Greater Vancouver area has to offer our piping/drumming community.”

Davidson cautioned that the project is a pilot and said that “video and audio quality will not be at the same level as the broadcast of the World Pipe Band Championships, but it will provide our members with an important viewing experience, and an interactive chat function to make them feel a part of the event.”

Also part of the broadcast will be a chat session with a moderator and a poll for viewer’s to take.

Those wishing to access the live video will have to create an account on ustream. The event is called “BCPAAnnualDinnerMar2011” on the free service.

Each of the competitors was asked in advance for their permission to have their performances recorded and broadcast.

Alastair Lee and Grant Maxwell were winners  of the piping and drumming finals, respectively, at the 2010 BCPA Knockout.

[Homepage photo courtesy of Weatherly Schiele.]