BagPiper D.Otten

About The Pipe Major

Phone: 062 604 1426

Pipe Major Dirk Otten has over 25 years experience in playing the Bagpipes.

His musical career began in the ‘Mac Kenzie’s Pipe Band in Ghent (Belgium) in 1993, after 6 months of hard work his first set of pipes were purchased.

Played for 6 months in the Red Hackle Pipe Band.
In 1996, a small group that wanted to go in competition was launched, that became ‘the Fleming Pipe Band’, in Ghent - East Flanders

In 1997 Dirk became Pipe Major of the Fleming Pipe Band.

Within three years, the Band was eager to learn and grow into a well-know Band that performed well at competitions, ceremonies, Scottish fairs, weddings, funerals, whiskey-tastings, School parties, etc…
In 1998, Dirk became also a playing member of the ‘Antwerp & District Pipe Band’ (Belg) and Mühl Pipes & Drums (Belg) that played Grade 3a and open Grade 2.

In 2001 The Fleming Pipe Band prepared to compete, 'what nobody expected', on the Saturday 8 September 2003 'and for the first time on Greens', The Fleming Pipe Band became 7^nd out of 27 bands in the European Championships in Grade 4.

Dirk Otten was the First Pipe Major in the Province East-Flanders Belgium that brought a Pipe Band that far.

Records :

Solo's and as a Pipe Major of The Fleming Pipe Band (Belg)

1999 - 1^st place 6/8 March solo Championships (NL)

2000 - 1^st place 6/8 March solo Championships (NL)
2001 - 1^st place 6/8 March solo National Championships (Belg)
2001 – 1^{st place grade 4 ( PM Dirk ) Fleming Pipe Band National Championships (Belg)}

2002 - 1^st place grade 4 ( PM Dirk ) Fleming Pipe Band National Championships (Belg)
2002 - 1^st place 2/4 March solo National Championships (Belg)

2002 -1^st place Strathspey & Reel solo National Championships (Belg)
2002 -1^st place 6/8 March solo National Championships (Belg)

2003 – 7^{nd place Fleming PipeBand (Belg) in European Championships out of 27 Pipe Bands "}

Records :

Piper Dirk with Antwerp & District Pipe Band / Mühl Pipes & Drums.

1998 - 3rd place in Grade 3A at the Cowal Games in Dunoon (Scotl)

1999 - 2nd place in Grade 3A in Pipe Band Championships Alden Biesen (Belg)
2000 - 3rd place in Grade 3A at the British Championships, Ashbourne (Uk)
2001 - 1st place Grade 3A in Colchester (Essex –Uk)
     - 1st in Grade 2 and 3A in Leipzig Pipe Band Competition (Germany)
2002 - 1st place in Grade 2 and 2^nd in grade 3A Continental PB Championships (NL)
     - 2nd place in Grade 3A at the Cowel Games, Dunoon (Scotl)
     - 1st place Open Grade - 2^nd place Grade 2 & 3A in Pipe Band Championships

Alden Biesen (Belg)

R e m e m b e r i n g s - C o m m e m o r a t i o n s :

Belgium para's killed in Rwanda (Solo Piper)

Nieuwpoort World War I - II @ monument (Solo Piper)

Ieper Gate West-Flanders World War I - II (Solo Piper)

Passendale West-Flanders World War I - II (Solo Piper)

Ghent East-Flanders World War II (Dampoort) family member Dirk's mother side.

Landing @ Normandië 6 Juni 1944 - Omaha Beach - France (Solo Piper )

'The Pipers Memorial' Longueval - Somme - France (participant piper)

Special events:

Participant Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2006 (Scotland)

Guest performance @ Balmoral Castle for the Queen 2006 (Scotland)

Concert Youth-Ensemble & recording cd (Tielt), Belgium

Concert Youth-Ensemble, conductor Peter Valck (Wakken), Belgium

Concert Youth-Ensemble Tielt in Tyrol (Italy)

Concert with conductor Jurgen De Smet & Choir & Piper special act (Munte), Belgium

Piping concert 'Antwerp & District & recording cd (Antwerp) Belgium

Millenium Parade (7600 pipers), Edinburgh (Scotland)

Belgium tv - VRT 'Hoe Zo' - Pipe Band Pipe Major Dirk

Phone: 062 604 1426

For Booking: Do fill out the Form