Oct
2026

A musical friendship between Monaco and Japan

RAINIER III ACADEMY | Marc César SCOTTO Auditorium

A moment of friendship and musical sharing between Monaco and Japan at the Rainier III Academy.

On Monday, October 19, we had the pleasure of welcoming a concert to our Marc César Scotto Auditorium, celebrating friendship and music. The event was attended by H.E. Mr. Didier Gamerdinger, Monaco’s Ambassador to Japan; Mr. Eric Benchimol, Honorary Consul of Japan in Monaco; Monaco’s Mayor, Georges Marsan, and his Deputy Mayor, Karyn Ardisson Salopek, Delegate for the Rainier III Academy, as well as numerous representatives of the Japanese delegation visiting the Principality.

Two instruments with distinctive sounds took centre stage in turn:

The mandolin, emblematic of Monaco’s musical tradition, and the marimba, a prominent instrument in Japanese musical culture.

The first part of the concert featured students from our plucked-string orchestra, conducted by Martine Favergeaud, mandolin teacher at the Rainier III Academy. The second part showcased six young marimba players from various cities across Japan, mainly students of Atsuko Kaneda, a renowned artist and virtuoso marimba player.

Beyond the performances themselves, this gathering offered a special opportunity for young musicians who share the same passion to connect and exchange ideas. It was a wonderful illustration of music as a universal language, bringing generations closer together in a spirit of friendship, curiosity and sharing.