Txistu, accordion, percussion
Through an artistic practice that marries tradition and modernity, Trio Zukan has established itself as one of the most original and acclaimed ensembles to emerge in recent years. Comprising txistu, accordion, and percussion, the trio has transformed its unusual instrumental configuration into a distinctive strength, presenting programs that invite the audience to explore the surprising possibilities of these instruments, whether in acoustic settings or in conjunction with electronics, audio-visual media, and innovative, performative stagings.
The ensemble’s presence in prestigious cycles and festivals underscores its standing within the contemporary music scene. Notable performances include those for the National Centre for the Diffusion of Music (CNDM) at the Vostell Malpartida Museum in Cáceres and La Cárcel in Segovia, as well as appearances at the Juan March Foundation and CentroCentro in Madrid. Their trajectory also encompasses the San Sebastián Musical Fortnight, the BBVA Foundation in Bilbao, ENSEMS in Valencia, Classical:NEXT in Rotterdam (Netherlands), the International Pharos Contemporary Music Festival (Cyprus), and Le Vivier in Montreal (Canada).
Since its formation in 2014, numerous composers—including José María Sánchez-Verdú, María Eugenia Luc, Hugo Morales, Helga Arias, Zuriñe F. Gerenabarrena, Mikel Chamizo, Isabel Urrutia, Francisco Domínguez, and Carolina Cerezo, among many others—have dedicated works to the trio. Furthermore, they engage with creators in large-scale artistic explorations, such as ESZKU, a multidisciplinary work by Juanjo Eslava conceived for the Oteiza Museum in Alzuza (Navarra), and Fertilidad, estratificación y muerte permanente, a site-specific project by Hara Alonso for the Herrera de Sabero mining pit (León).
The trio has released two albums entitled Soinuzko begiradak — Toma I and Toma II, which feature a selection of works composed for them in recent years. Complementing their performance schedule, they maintain a vigorous outreach program through their “Work in Progress” project, which encompasses the production of music videos, interviews with composers, and specialized workshops.
Through these diverse avenues of activity, Zukan pursues a fundamental objective: to seek new paradigms in music-making and to bridge the gap between contemporary creation and the public through alternative formats and fresh, diverse, and original proposals.
Zumaia, 1994. He began studying the accordion with Professor Miren Iñarga, and later graduated from the Higher Music Centre of the Basque Country (Musikene), specialising in performance, under the guidance of Iñaki Alberdi. She completed a master's degree specialising in contemporary music at the Musikhochschule FHNW in Basel, and later also specialised in cultural management at the International University of La Rioja. Today she combines her work as a performer with that of cultural manager. She has been awarded first prize in several national and international accordion performance competitions (2nd Prize in the Klingenthal International Accordion Competition, 1st Prize in the Concorso Internazionale di Fisarmonica Santa Cecilia in Rome, Italy, and 1st Prize in the Arrasate Hiria International Competition in the Basque Country, among the most notable). In addition to her profile as a soloist, her professional musical career is notable for her collaboration with various groups and artists, both in the field of music and other disciplines, in projects of very diverse types and styles. She is very committed to contemporary music, having premiered works by renowned composers in both chamber music and solo performances.
Miranda de Ebro, 1992. Gorka Catediano is a percussionist specialising in contemporary chamber music, based in the Basque Country. He trained at the Jesús Guridi Conservatory in Vitoria-Gasteiz and at the Higher Music Centre of the Basque Country – MUSIKENE with Javier Alonso, Lorenzo Ferrándiz, José A. Trigueros and Antonio Domingo. In 2018, he completed a Master's programme at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in The Hague (Netherlands) under the tutelage of renowned performers such as Hans Zonderop, Theun van Nieuwburg, Niels Meliefste, Pepe García and Rob Verhagen, obtaining the highest marks. He has collaborated with ensembles such as Residentie Orkest, Slagwerk Den Haag, Euskadiko Orkestra, Atlas Ensemble, Bilbao Sinfonietta, Ensemble Kuraria, and Sinkro Ensemble, among others. He is currently a member of the San Sebastián Municipal Band, as well as collaborating with various associations in the Basque Country to promote contemporary music.
Hernani, 1992. He studied txistu performance in San Sebastián. His training included classes with great performers such as Aitor Amilibia, Jose Ignazio Ansorena, Iñaki Alberdi, Sèverine Ballon, Alfonso Gómez and Miquel Bernat. He is currently a member of the San Sebastián Municipal Txistulari Band. He combines this work with research into the txistu and the most avant-garde repertoire. He also collaborates with various associations and institutions committed to contemporary music in the Basque Country. Pharos Art Foundation Festival, Quincena Musical de San Sebastián, Classical:Next and Gargonza-Arts, among others, are some of the festivals in which he has participated.
