It was founded as The Confederation of Basque Associates in 1974 to promote the study of the instrument and increase the level of interpretation and pedagogy in our country. In the search of its aims, the Association began to organize competitions of various degrees of difficulty, until it was equated to the strictest of European competitions. A few years later, in 1999, HAUSPOZ became known as the Accordion Association of the Basque Country. It is member of the UNESCO International Music Council. Nowadays, every year, the ``Arrasate Hiria`` International Accordion Competition, the Francisco Escudero International Composition Competition and the pedagogical project Accordion Meeting Point are organized, among other activities, by Hauspoz Euskal Herriko Akordeoi Elkartea.
In 1975, Hauspoz Euskal Herriko Akordeoi Elkartea created the first accordion competition with the purpose of strengthening the accordion in every sense. Since then, we have created a structure, which, reflected on a variety of categories, encourages the self-transcending and rewards the work of students and teachers as far as possible.
Accordion Meeting Point presents a willingness to offer students of music a general approach to the music industry. This pedagogical meeting shows young musicians aspects that they will have to deal with throughout their career: work on the aspects of interpretation, the treatment of music recording and/or editing, the orientation of music management and proper promotion, and the approach to different artistic disciplines and the current needs of musical development.
The goal of the ‘Francisco Escudero’ International Accordion Composition Competition is to create works for accordion, throughout both solo and chamber music pieces.