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Vitoria-Gasteiz.  The fifteen youth participating in Gaztemundu 2013, from Basque clubs in Argentina, Chile and the United States, started activities last Monday in this training program focused this time on music and instruments.  Yesterday afternoon, they left their classroom and were welcomed in the Lehendakaritza government facilities in Vitoria-Gasteiz by Lehendakari, Iñigo Urkullu.

During the event, Urkullu assured everyone that Euskadi “doesn’t forget” the Basque communities and highlighted the work done by Basque clubs.  The Lehendakari declared that Euskadi is part of a “global culture,” but that at the same time, Basques feel “the need to defend their diversity” and to “preserve and develop” what is “closest.”

[This year’s Gaztemundu participants yesterday in Gasteiz with Lehendakari Urkullu (photo Irekia)]

Lehendakari Urkullu was accompanied by his wife at the event, along with the Secretary General of Foreign Action, Marian Elorza and the Director for the Basque Community Abroad, Asier Vallejo.  The Gaztemundu youth, were accompanied by their instructors who will teach them how to perfect their knowledge of traditional Basque instruments and music through September 14.

The goal is that when the participants return to their respective Basque clubs that they will share what they have learned and contribute to the training of more musicians.  This year’s participants include:

ARGENTINA

-Juan Manuel Hiriart - CV Denak Bat de Mar del Plata
-Aitor Hormaechea - CV Denak Bat de Mar del Plata
-Facundo Lamenza - CV Euzko Etxea de Necochea
-Martina Saa - CV Euzkal Etxea de San Nicolás
-Ignacio Baña - Centro Laurak Bat, Buenos Aires
-José María Gutiérrez - Centro Laurak Bat, Buenos Aires
-Ignacio Esquiroz - Euskaltzaleak, Buenos Aires
-Agustín Alonso - Gerora, Asociación Cultural Vasca de Córdoba
-Franco Seghesso - Gerora, Asociación Cultural Vasca de Córdoba
-Fernando Zabalza - Gerora, Asociación Cultural Vasca de Córdoba
-Cynthia Vanesa Sánchez - CV Gure Ametza de Río Cuarto

UNITED STATES

-Miren Azpitarte - Euzkaldunak Boise Basque Center, ID
-Pilar Shortsleeve - Basque Club of Utah, SLC , UT

CHILE

-Raimundo Riquelme - Colectividad Vasca de Chile, Santiago
-Aitor Xabier Riquelme - Colectividad Vasca de Chile, Santiago