Eurochestries: an intercultural festival welcomed in Jonzac despite the cancellation of the final concert

The Eurochestries festival, which took place until August 10 in Charente-Maritime, Charente and Gironde, attracted nearly 17,000 spectators

As every year, on Saturday, August 9, just before the two closing concerts of the Eurochestries, a friendly gathering brought together the participants of the 2025 festival to share their impressions. President Claude Révolte began by announcing that there had been a much larger audience than in other years. He then thanked all the volunteers, the orchestra delegates, the technical staff, the Lisa, the Bateleurs, and the municipalities that make this highlight of cultural life possible.

Speaker and composer Étienne Kippelen, who gave a lecture and presented several concerts, spoke about the special and touching aspect of presenting youth orchestras, and especially of discovering music he was unfamiliar with. Nearly 17,000 spectators attended the 65 concerts given by 350 young musicians from ten countries, the important thing being to continue to uphold the values of the Eurochestries: interculturality and fraternity in a tense international climate.

On Saturday, all the band representatives expressed their feelings during this ^36th edition . What we can remember is the unanimity around the qualities of this festival, the friendship, the importance of listening to other orchestras, the excellence of the welcome at the concert venues, the acquisition of new skills, the importance of making the music of one's country known, and also of having fun... For all the young participants, the Eurochestries are a parenthesis of happiness, kindness and encounters.

This edition nevertheless ended on a mixed note because the prefecture of Charente-Maritime preferred to cancel, due to the heatwave, the last closing concert at the foot of the Donjon de Pons on August 11th – the one in Jonzac on August 10th at the Convention Center, bringing together all the musicians in two major international orchestras, was sold out. The final concert expected 1,300 spectators… Disappointed, the young musicians then improvised an intimate concert in the park of the Émile-Combes high school.

Information on www.eurochestries.org