Is this announcement to reduce Sonerion’s activities a surprise to you?
Alex Kervadec, president of the Bagad de Vannes: we did not see this brutal decision to stop activities coming. We knew it was complicated. But there seemed to be a collective awareness of the necessary transformation of the confederation. Collectively, we have not succeeded. We know what we’re going to talk about during our weekend rehearsals…
This decision, which cancels the Lorient competition, comes 15 days before the Brest competition. Does it change the way you approach this deadline?
We go to Brest and we remain focused on our program. But of course, this will be the subject in Brest between the bagadoublis. We won’t know when we’ll meet again next time… I hope there will be a next time! The bagadig will be in Pontivy on March 2 for the 3rd category competition and we are hosting the 4th category competition at the Palais des arts on February 23. We wonder what will happen on Saturday afternoon at the interceltic festival if there is no longer the competition. It’s a great showcase that brings partners and students.
The bagadù write sequels for each competition. Is stopping them detrimental to creation?
Not in the short term for the Melinerion because we have a project in May, our 70th anniversary on July 5, another show in September. We are not going to miss our objective in 2025! But for the bagadig, we will have to find deadlines. And in the long term, the question arises.
-Could these Sonerion difficulties also weaken the training?
If the first stage of the rocket does not work, the 2nd will be affected. In Vannes, in addition to the employees we employ directly, three teachers work for a total of 13 hours. Their employer is the departmental federation… with funding from Sonerion. What will happen at the start of the next school year? We too have had three years of deficits, due to a logical increase in training costs and a drop in all revenues. The problem that Sonerion is facing, the bagadù are facing it too.
Yet bagad still attracts?
We have never had so many students. Our music school is full, we are refusing people. We always have projects. But, like other associations, it is not easy to find volunteers. Obviously, we are at a moment where we can only be worried. I hope that this decision by Sonerion will be an electric shock for a collective start.
