Born in Algorta, Bizkaia, Spain, in 1967.

sabel Urrutia studied composition, piano and music pedagogy at The Bilbao Music Conservatory. She completed her higher level studies in composition at The Madrid Music Conservatory. Subsequently, she went on to train with music teachers Francisco Escudero and José Luis Campana, amongst others.

She worked as a teacher of harmony, analysis, counterpoint and composition at The Centre of Musical Studies “Juan Antxieta”, Bilbao. Later she taught harmony, analysis and the fundamentals of composition at The Bilbao Music Conservatory. Currently, she is a lecturer at “Musikene” – Higher School of Music of The Basque Country, where she teaches harmony, counterpoint and composition techniques.

She has given conferences and master classes on her  music in various universities and conservatories, both in Europe and in America: The University of The Basque Country (Bizkaia), The University of Deusto (Bizkaia), Teacher Training College (Bizkaia), The “Jesús Guridi” Conservatory, Vitoria (Alava), “Musikene” – Higher School of Music of The Basque Country, The “Franz Liszt” Horschüle of Music, Weimar (Germany), The CNR of Bordeaux ( France), The CNR of St. Etienne (France), The CNR of Bayonne (France), The Vivaldi Conservatory of Alessandria (Italy), The Catholic University of Argentina (Buenos Aires ), The Catholic University of Chile (Santiago de Chile), The National University of Mexico (Mexico D.F.), The Catholic University of Mexico (Monterrey, México)…

Her works have been performed in various concert halls and music festivals in Europe, America and Asia.
In Spain: The “Music of The 20th Century” Festival – Fine Art Museum Bilbao, The Bidebarrieta Library – Bilbao, Rekalde Hall – Bilbao,  Elcano Hall – Bilbao, Bilbaoarte Hall – Bilbao, Euskalduna Palace-Bilbao, Guggenheim Museum-Bilbao, Alhóndiga Auditorium-Bilbao, The “Quincena Musical” of San Sebastián-Gipuzkoa, The Victoria Eugenia Theatre-San Sebastián, The “Musikaste” Festival of Renteria-Gipuzkoa, Principal Theatre of Vitoria-Alava, Baluarte Auditorium of Pamplona-Navarra, “The First Week of Women in Music” Festival- Madrid, The National Music Auditorium – Madrid, The “Reina Sofía” Art Centre National Museum- Madrid, The Royal Theatre-Madrid, The ENSEMS Festival of Valencia, Auditorium of Murcia, “Príncipe Felipe” Auditorium of Oviedo-Asturias, Opera Palace of La Coruña-Galicia,”Alfredo Kraus” Auditorium of Gran Canaria-Canary Islands, Auditorium of Tenerife, Main Theatre of Córdoba…
And also, in other countries: The “Franz Liszt” Horschüle of Music – Weimar (Germany), The ”Ile de  découvertes” Festival of Aulnay-sous-Bois (France), The ENMD of Aulnay-sous-Bois,  “Salle de la Terrasse” of Gyf-sur-Yvette (France), The Goethe Institute – Paris, The Cortot Room – Paris, The University of Saint Denis/Paris VIII, The CNR of The 20th district of Paris, Olivier Messiaen Auditorium of Radio France-Paris, The CNR of Bordeaux (France), The “Halle des Chartrons” Auditorium of Bordeaux (France), The Michel de Montaigne University of Bordeaux (France), The CNR of St.Ettienne, (France), The “Musiche in nostra” Festival of Turín (Italy), The Colon Theatre of Buenos Aires (Argentina), The “Recoleta” Cultural Centre of Buenos Aires (Argentina), International Encounters of Contemporary Music- ISCM of Buenos Aires (Argentina), The “Aspects of Contemporary Music” Festival at The Catholic University of Santiago de Chile (Chile), The Municipal Theatre of Santiago de Chile, The National University of Mexico D.F., The Catholic University of Monterrey, Mexico, The University of Illinois (U.S.A.), The  University de Oberlin (U.S.A), The Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Moscow, etc.

In 2007 Isabel won the composition contest organised by The Spanish Association of Symphonic Orchestras (A.E.O.S), with her piece for orchestra, “Gerok”. This score has been interpreted by some Spanish orchestras, such as: Symphonic Orchestra of Galicia, Symphonic Orchestra of Bilbao, Symphonic Orchestra of Tenerife, Symphonic Orchestra of Madrid, Symphonic Orchestra of Córdoba, Symphonic Orchestra of Murcia, Spanish Radio Television Orchestra…

In 2010 her work “Sei” was selected to represent Spain in The UNESCO International Tribune of Composers.

In 2012 Isabel has won First Prize in the “Grazyna Bacewicz” International Composer Competition with her work “Haizearen nahiak”, concerto for clarinet in Bb and string orchestra.

Different institutions and ensembles have commissioned her work: BBVA Foundation, Spanish Centre for the Diffusion of the Contemporary Music, ARCEMA-Paris Ensemble, Neopercusión…

Various of her works have been premiered with international soloists such as: Pierre-Yves Artaud, (flute), André Cazalet,(horn), Jean Geoffroy and Junajo Guillén, (percussion), Pierre Strauch and Eric Marie Couturier,(cello), Julien Guénebaut and Dimitri Vassilakis( piano ),Iñaki Alberdi, ( accordion), José Luis Estellés, ( clarinet)…and also with international ensembles such as: Arditti Quartet, Neopercusión, Trio Arbós, Arriaga Quartet, Residencias Ensemble, ARCEMA/Paris Ensemble, etc.

In 2015 Isabel Urrutia has started a new musical aesthetic, «World Timbres Mixture», a new sound for chamber and symphonic music, with the composer J.LCampana at the INA / GRM / Radio France (Radio France Music Research Group) of Paris.