- Before the first date of 14 September, we held a presentation festival with the participants, sponsors and members of the bertso-eskolas of the region. We have presented the prize and the attestation for children under 25.
We introduced it early in the summer, and we just entered it in September, there's the Bertsolaris Championship in Gipuzkoa. Next Saturday, 14 September, the first session of the series will be held in Urretxu. With the excuse of this we met in the Apotzaga district of Eskoriatza, at the meeting point of the bertsolaris school Almen: championship participants, boys and girls from the bertsolaris schools of Debagoiena, young and old members of Almene and sponsors of the championship.
The Bertsolaris Association of Gipuzkoa and the sponsors of the Bertsolaris Championship have also been present: Lide Herrarte, Director of the Office of Eskoriatza de Laboral Kutxa, Leire Okarantza Ibabe, Head of Social Management of the Fagor Group and Mari Jose Telleria, Director of Culture of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, we have thanked the support and confidence of the three.
The choice of the place has not been random, as the members of Almen were meeting there, as has been said. Precisely, the 50th anniversary of the creation of this bertso-eskola is the milestone that the Bertsolaris Championship of Gipuzkoa this year wishes to pay tribute, with images and messages. In particular, Mikel Artola, coordinator of Gipuzkoako Bertsozale Elkartea, explained the reason for the choice of place: "The meeting with Apotzaga offers us a good opportunity to think about the importance of bertso-eskolas in the last 50 years. Today there is no championship without bertso-eskolas, there will be no one to go to the championship without going through bertso-eskola".
Recognizing the importance of bertso-eskolas, he has thanked the work of those who pioneered 50 years ago: "We were handed a hobby, a passion for the word, we learned to enjoy with the bertso," he explained. Besides the hobby, the bertso-eskolas also convey the group character. And that is precisely the character that the Bertsolaris Championship of Gipuzkoa wants.
Present youth
Today's presentation was attended by the young people of the bertsolaris schools in the region: after the intervention of the coordinator, the children of the bertsolaris schools in Denbagoyen have sung coplas to the bertsolaris who will participate in the championship.
Like the presentation, the championship wants to recognize intergenerational transmission, and that's the latest novelty this year: Award for the best bertsolari under 25 years old. Of the 48 bertsolaris who will participate in the championship, 10 are in that age group, and one of them will receive the prize, on the day of the final, on December 14.
After presenting the prize and before the snack, we have also presented the attestation of the Bertsolaris Championship in Gipuzkoa. The musician Trigger has blended traditional melodies with electronics.
Everything is ready for the Bertsolaris Championship of Gipuzkoa 2024 to start. All the information about the championship will be found on this website and on our social networks, and the tickets are available on the website bertsosarrerak.eus. Get ready and come to the sessions!