ENRIQUE AZURZA
Artistic director of the Bilbao Choral Society since April 2016.
He currently directs the Hodeiertz Choir of Tolosa, and the professional vocal group KEA, specialized in ancient and contemporary music.
Choral singing teacher at the Higher Music Center of the Basque Country – Musikene, Enrique Azurza is also President of the Confederation of Choirs of the Basque Country (EAE).
He studied choir conducting in the Basque Country and in Stockholm., con Anders Eby, scholarship from the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa. He took specialization courses with Eric Ericson and Carl Høgset.
In 1991 receives the Best Director Award at the Varna International Competition (Bulgaria). Invited on two occasions by the IFCM to the World Choral Music Symposium: Sydney 1996 and Puerto Madryn (Argentina) 2011.
He has directed the Choir of the University of the Basque Country (1999-2016), the Lyric Choir of Cantabria – Choir of the Santander Festival Palace (2011-2015) and the Choir of the Aragonese Institute of Choral Singing (1993-2003).
He has acted as a guest conductor with the RTVE Choir, and with the choir St. Jacob of Stockholm.
With all of them he has tackled a wide range of repertoires., has achieved first prizes in national and international competitions, and has made various recordings.
He has taught numerous management courses, conferences and seminars. He is a musical advisor to the Tolosa International Choral Competition., of the Barcelona World Symposium 2017 and artistic director of the Ejea de Los Caballeros Choral Competition.
He has been part of juries at national and international festivals: Toulouse, Debrecen (Hungary), Arezzo (Italia), Tours (France), Varna (Bulgaria), Marktoberdorf (Germany), Montreux and Neuchâtel (Swiss), Maasmechelen (Belgium), Maribor (Slovenia), Busan (South Korea) y Hong-Kong (China).
Enrique Azurza
Artistic director of Sociedad Choral de Bilbao since 2016.
He has conducted since 1985 the Choir HODEIERTZ of Tolosa. In 1997 he founded the professional Vocal Ensemble KEA with the aim of promoting contemporary and ancient music.
He teaches choral singing in Musikene – Higher Center of Music of the Basque Country. He is President of the Confederation of Choirs in the Basque Country.
Born in Tolosa, he studied choral conducting in the Basque Country and in Stockholm, sponsored by the Council of Gipuzkoa, with Anders Eby. He has also participated in other courses given by Eric Ericson and Carl Högset.
In 1991, he received the Prize to the Best Director in the International Contest of Varna (Bulgaria).
He has been the Spanish representative in the World Choral Symposia held in Sydney in 1996, with Hodeiertz, and in Puerto Madryn (Argentina) in 2011, with KEA vocal ensemble.
He has conducted the Choir of the University of the Basque Country (1999-2016), the Choir of the Choral Singing Institute of Aragon (Zaragoza, 1993-2003), has directed the Spanish National Youth Choir, and the Lyric Choir of Cantabria (2011-2015). With all of them has successfully participated in different national and international contests, and has recorded several cds.
He has given several courses and workshops. He is member of the musical committee in the International Choral Contest of Tolosa, and the World Symposium Barcelona 2017 and artistic director of the National Choral Contest of Ejea de los Caballeros. He has been member of the jury in national and international Festivals (Toulouse, Arezzo, Busan (South Korea), Hong-Kong, Maribor, Marktoberdorf, Maasmechelen, Tours, Varna, Montreux , Neuchâtel and Debrecen).