Recognised as one of the most versatile performers of his generation, Joxe Benantzi Bilbao has built an extensive international career as a concert organist, harmonium and harpsichord player, as well as a singer. His artistic endeavours have taken him to prominent venues across Europe and Asia, including Germany, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, and the Philippines, among others.
He holds a tenured position as organ professor at the “Guitarrista José Tomás” Conservatory in Alicante, a role he balances with his artistic coordination of numerous specialised festivals and courses. Notable among these are the “Urdaibaiko Organoak Joxe Mari Eguileor” (UOJE) Festival in Busturialdea (Basque Country), the Benidorm International Organ Festival (FIOB), and the Musicaloxa series, all dedicated to promoting the organ repertoire and highlighting instrumental heritage.
Bilbao has contributed to recording projects for labels such as RTVE, Lycanus, and SEDEM, and has collaborated with esteemed musicians and ensembles including Hiro Kurosaki, Javier Artigas, Yehudi Menuhin, Estil Concertant, Capella de Ministrers, and the Euskadi Symphony Orchestra (OSE).
In addition, he has served as an advisor on historic organ restorations in towns such as Monóvar, Mundaka, Gernika, and Ibarrangelu, and has directed festivals including Els Orgues d’Alacant, Itxas Soinua, and the Monóvar International Organ Festival.
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Born in Mundaka (Bizkaia), Joxe Benantzi received his training in piano, harpsichord, organ, singing, choral conducting, and early music at various conservatories and specialised centres across Europe, consistently achieving top marks. His teachers include renowned figures such as Esteban Elizondo, Montserrat Torrent, Brett Leighton, Javier Artigas, Alberto Blancafort, Michael Radulescu, and André Isoir.
A specialist in Spanish keyboard music, he pursued postgraduate studies at the Institució Milà i Fontanals of the CSIC in Barcelona. He has been honoured with prestigious awards, including the Final Honour Prize in Organ from the Higher Conservatory of San Sebastián, the Harpsichord Honour Prize from the Higher Conservatory of Murcia, and the esteemed Andrés Segovia Music Prize in Compostela.
Bilbao has participated in numerous recording projects with labels such as RTVE, Lycanus, SEDEM, and Ausart Records. He has collaborated with distinguished performers and ensembles, including violinist Hiro Kurosaki, conductor Yehudi Menuhin, harpsichordist Javier Artigas, Estil Concertant, Capella de Ministrers, and the Euskadi Symphony Orchestra (OSE).
He has acted as an advisor in the restoration of many historic organs in towns such as Monóvar, Mundaka, Gernika, Ibarrangelu, and Callosa d’en Sarrià, actively contributing to the preservation of organ heritage. Additionally, he has directed festivals including Els Orgues d’Alacant, Itxas Soinua, Música Sacra de Elche, and the Monóvar International Organ Festival.
In 2015, he created and hosted the radio programme “Música por un tubo” on Ibídem Radio, dedicated exclusively to Spanish organ music.
Currently, he holds a tenured professorship in organ at the “Guitarrista José Tomás” Conservatory in Alicante, where he also directs the early music ensemble Capella Joan Baptista Comes. He balances teaching with active artistic coordination of specialised festivals and concert series, such as the Benidorm International Organ Festival (FIOB), the Musicaloxa series, and the “Urdaibaiko Organoak Joxe Mari Eguileor” (UOJE) Festival, for which he serves as artistic director.
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