Pantxoa Urtizberea

Pantxoa Urtizberea was born in 1992 in Lyon, France. At the age of seven he began playing the flute in Grasse and quickly developed a passion for music. He then continued his formal musical training at the Conservatoire of Aix-en-Provence under the guidance of Jean-Marc Boissière. After moving to the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse (CNSM) in Paris, he deepened his skills under renowned teachers such as Sophie Cherrier and Vincent Lucas. His studies continued at the Munich University of Music under Professor Andrea Lieberknecht, where he earned his master class diploma with flute as his principal study. This thorough training laid the foundation for his impressive career as a flutist.

Pantxoa Urtizberea has made a name for himself as a talented flutist in a number of renowned orchestras. Following his academy position with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (2013–2015) and engagements as deputy principal flute at the Pfalztheater Kaiserslautern and the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, he had the opportunity to perform under the baton of major conductors such as Mariss Jansons and Andris Nelsons. As a member of the Tiroler Symphonieorchester Innsbruck and the Vogtland Philharmonie, he gained valuable experience as principal flute. Since 1 January he has also been first flute of the Polizeiorchester Bayern. These engagements allowed him not only to showcase his solo and chamber-music abilities, but also to work alongside outstanding musicians and to develop continuously within the orchestral world.

Alongside his orchestral career, Pantxoa Urtizberea has also given impressive performances as a soloist. In 2010 he made his debut in solo concerts in Le Havre and Honfleur with the Orchestre André Caplet. In 2022 he appeared with the Vogtland Philharmonie and the Greizer Collegium, where he demonstrated his exceptional talent and musical accomplishment. In the autumn of 2025 he will once again give a solo performance with musicians of the Tiroler Symphonieorchester Innsbruck, underlining his continuing presence on the music scene and his dedication to flute repertoire.

Over the course of his career, Pantxoa Urtizberea has received numerous international awards recognizing his skill and his dedication to music. In 2004 he was honored with First Prize with Distinction at the national youth competition in Morangis, and in 2007 he received the special prize for the most promising young flutist at the International “Maxence Larrieu” Flute Competition in Nice. He also won the Bärenreiter Urtext Prize at the 59th International ARD Competition in Munich in 2010 and took Second Prize at the 2012 competition of the Rectors’ Conference of the German Music Academies. These distinctions attest to his exceptional talent and his enduring passion for flute music.

Through his exceptional achievements and his commitment to music, Pantxoa Urtizberea has enriched the musical world not only as a soloist but also as an important teacher. With his wide-ranging experience across the most diverse areas of music, he is an inspiring figure.