Curriculum

He took a degree in Music Education at the University of Santiago de Compostela and has a professional degree in Galician pipe.

He started traditional music when he was eleven at Aturuxo Folk Association with Xosé Temprano and Pepe Vaamonde and he got the basic technique on Galician pipe. When he was thirteen he began to study, as an autodidact, works from the Galician traditional collection and works by the most important composers.

In 1991, he began to study trumpet at A Coruña Conservatoire of Music and finished his studies in Carballo specialising in pipe. During this period, he formed part of Sementeira Music Band in Cambre.

In 1998, he started a new stage as a solo piper in “Iar” performing his music in important international festivals for ten years such as the 6th Interceltic Festival in Avilés (Asturias), the International Festival in Seia (Portugal), the World Festival in Zaragoza, in Santomera (Murcia), in Bermeo (Euskadi), etc. In 1999, he participated in the programme organized by TVG homage to the English Way and collaborated in the Galician Folklore Annual Awards organized by that group for many years.

He was awarded prizes in many pipe contests all around Galicia. He was the winner of the 12th edition of the Solo Piping Competition organized by ‘Xacarandaina’ Association (2001), winner of the Galician Pipe Contest organized by ‘Cantigas e Agarimos’ Association on three occasions (2001, 2002 and 2003), finalist on two occasions at “Gaiteiro de Soutelo” Contest (2002 and 2004) getting a third and fourth position, first finalist of Galician pipe at the “Trophee McCrimmon” (Lorient, France) and third position in the general classification, among others. In 2001, he made his debut at ‘Constantino Bellón’ Galician Pipe Contest and got his first accesit; in 2003, he won the 13th edition and was finalist on six consecutive occasions in this contest.

Together with Pedro David Lamas and Daniel Bellón from ‘Luvas Verdes’, he founded ‘Os sete estalos’ in 2004. Thanks to this group he got the first position in important contests like “Memorial Ricardo Portela” (Pontevedra 2004), “Memorial Manuel Texo” (Ribadulla 2005) and “Meigas e Trasgos” (Sarria 2004) and performed at the Palacio de Congresos in Barcelona (21st edition of Toxos e Xestas Festival, Barcelona 2005), Folk Festival in O Pino (2006). He also collaborated in the first record by Luvas Verdes: “Fandango desesperado” (NGD Música 2005).

His artistic activity as a soloist led him to important stages, accompanied by several instrumental groups. He performed his music at the First Concert of Galician contemporary music (MUSGAFOL Pipe and piano - 2008), together with other two best Galician pipers, with the Symphonic Orchestra of the Music Conservatoire of A Coruña (2010) and the Music Band of Sada (2009). In 2010, he was invited by Carlos Nuñez to collaborate in one of his concerts, presenting his last record: “Alborada do Brasil”.

Agustín also develops an important activity in pipe composition. He was successful and got favourable critics in diffeent concerts and traditional music contests. In 2004, he won the second edition of “Concurso de Composición para Gaita Galega Solista” (Constantino Bellón) with “Capricho de gaita” for pipe and piano. The score was published by “Dos Acordes”.

He has been working as a teacher of pipe and traditional percussion since 1999. He worked at G.B.P “Iar” and “Xacarandaina” Association, both of them in A Coruña. Since 2003 he has been colaborating with the Xunta de Galicia giving courses on pipe and traditional percussion in Galician centres abroad: Marseilles (France), Havana (Cuba), Comodoro (Argentina), Montevideo (Uruguay) and Badalona. In 2009, he taught pipe techniques in the 27th edition of the Galician traditional music course organized by “Cantigas e Frores” (Lugo).

In 2012, he presented “Pezas de aquí e acolá”, his first record dedicated to this group in which he makes a selection of his compositions showing his particular modern vision of the quartet and Galician traditional music. At the same time he recorded this work, he inaugurated his web page www.agustingaiteiro.com and founded “Farrapos de ghaita”, a quartet created with other experienced musicians of folk music. He tries to make a homage to this group in a different and innovative way where composition, arrangement and importation of new rythms and musical genders are essential factors without giving up his roots: Galician traditional music.