Jesús Arámbarri Gárate was born in Bilbao on 13 April 1902. He studied piano, organ, harmony and composition at the Bilbao Conservatory with Fuster, Guridi and Basabe. As the recipient of the “Juan Carlos Gortázar Fellowship” he was able to continue his studies with Paul Le Flem and Paul Dukas in Paris, and conducting with Vladimir Golschmann and Felix Weingartner in Switzerland.

Arámbarri made his first attempts at composing in 1929; the fact that we able to perform a number of these works in concert provided an important stimulus to continue his effort. His true aspirations, however, lay in conducting. Upon returning to Bilbao in 1932, he earned the position as conductor of the municipal brass band; later the same year he was appointed conductor of the Bilbao Symphonic Orchestra. His boundless enthusiasm and tireless endeavors in this position severely limited his composing. With the exception of the completion of a number of compositions in 1938, he was thereafter rarely active as a composer.

Arámbarri died in Madrid on 11 July 1960.