Hots Abesbatza is a female choir created from the bases of Ganbara Abesbatza. It was formed in September 2016 under the direction of Aitor Biain Bidarte with the collaboration of women from Oñati and nearby towns as well as other provinces. Nowadays, it has in its ranks around 40 female voices, who have consolidated the choral group.
During these years, the group has had a prolific career, participating in Music Cycles, concerts, and various meetings: “Udako gauak” in Oñati, “Ermitaz ermita” project, recording and broadcasting of the EiTB program "Oholtzan," concerts for the International Women's Day highlighting female composers, “IV meeting of female choirs María Luisa Ozaita” from Sestao… Also worth mentioning the audiovisual productions “Oroimenean” (2019) and “Amalurra” (2021), both conceived for choir, piano, string quartet, narrator and dancer(s). “Oroimenean” told the story, experiences and reflections of a person who suffers from Alzheimer's disease, to round out this project, Hots Abesbatza also recorded an album gathering the first 4 years of the group. “Amalurra” on the other hand, focused on the respect owed to Mother Earth. With these two shows that make up the DNA of the choir, the group aims to offer reflections on society in addition to making music enjoyable. Given the warm reception from the public, the group intends to continue tackling this type of projects.
Hots Abesbatza performs both a cappella repertoire and accompanied by piano, cruising from classical times to contemporary music, including traditional Basque music and other nationalities. It is not strange to see the group performing works with chamber orchestra accompaniment, in somewhat larger projects or for bringing to the stage works that require it. The group's accompanying pianist is Amaia Zipitria. Hots has also premiered several works by well-known composers, such as Eva Ugalde, Josu Elberdin, Junkal Guerrero, etc.
The choir has also taken part in choir contests, winning the third prize and audience prize in the 49th edition of the Ejea de los Caballeros competition in 2022 and first place in the white voices category in the international competition in Arezzo (Italy) in 2023.
His musical path started by learning clarinet, saxophone and voice (Music School in Oñati). Later on, he studied voice (School of Music Jesus Guridi), Pedagogy of Music (Musikene), Choir and Orchestral conducting (Musikene), Master of Musical Research (UNIR) and training in Cultural Management. On the other hand, he was awarded a Computer Science Engineering Degree by Mondragon University. He has undertaken several conducting courses and seminars with the most prestigious Maestros. He is the conductor to the Choir of the University of the Basque Country, the “Orfeón of Bergara”, the Chamber Choir of Oñati, Hots Choir, and Little – Petite Chamber. He has won many awards, particularly, the ones received as Best Conductor (Tours/France and Arezzo/Italy International competitions). He has conducted and edited 5 disc recordings and has released more than 30 choral works. He also offers workshops and seminars quite often. He is member of the choir KUP Taldea. He has been conductor of the Oñati Wind Band and the Aequus Ensemble symphony orchestra.
In the 2019-21 season he was conductor of the EHGA choir (Euskal Herriko Gazte Abesbatza) with Basilio Astulez.
Amaia Zipitria Zugasti was born in Andoain (Guipuzcoa). She was trained in Andoain by Luis Franca and Myriam Ulanga, in San Sebastian by Gonzalo Trevijano, in Baiona by Mme Doué and at the Rotterdam Conservatory by Barbara Grajewska. She graduated with the highest marks in piano and chamber music.
She was a member of the J.O.N.D.E. (Spanish National Youth Orchestra) from 1993 to 1998 and has played in various orchestras such as R.T.V.E., O.N.E., Sinfónica de Euskadi, Sinfónica de Bilbao... under the direction of great conductors.
Her concert work has taken her to venues such as the National Auditorium in Madrid and Barcelona, Zaragoza, Seville, Malaga, Oviedo, Euskalduna in Bilbao, Kursaal, etc. and outside Spain in Croatia, Italy, France and England.
Amaia's recordings include the Sonata No. 2 by Jesús Villa-Rojo with cellist Asier Polo (NAXOS) and the chamber version of Babar, Poulenc with members of the Cadaqués Orchestra (TRITO). At present she's a teacher of repertoire in Musikene and plays for the "Orfeon Donostiarra".
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