Dirk Mewes works full time making uilleann pipes from his home workshop in Berthoud, Colorado. Dirk learned to make reeds by visiting and studying with different uilleann pipe makers around the world, including Cillian O’Briain, David Quinn, Tim Britton, and Benedict Koehler. Between playing the pipes in Colorado, and travelling all over, he now specializes in making reeds that travel well, and can be played in climates as varied as the high Colorado mountains, rainy Ireland, and humid New Orleans.
In addition to teaching reed-making workshops at various Irish music festivals, such as Spanish Peaks, O’Flaherty’s, and Zoukfest, Dirk enjoys performing and recording with his friends in several bands at various festivals in Colorado. This March, he appeared as the guest soloist with the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance of Shaun Davey’s composition, “The Brendan Voyage.” He also enjoys teaching up-and-coming pipers to play the instrument, and dropping in at the local pub for some session tunes with many of the same friends