Next Generation Talent:
From Guitar and Viola to Shamisen and Koto, Music Transcends Borders

Music has Always Been Part of My Life

Both Martínez and Conches discovered their love of music at a young age. "I started playing guitar when I was just four years old. A very little guitar—like this," says Martínez, holding her hands as if cradling a tiny instrument. "So, it was not really something I ever decided to do. Since before I can remember, music has always been part of my life."

Conches first got her hands on her instrument, the viola, in elementary school. "I think I was around seven or six," she says. "My school had these special music lessons where we would each get about five to ten minutes. I don't know what it was, but I told my parents that I wanted to play more." She smiles at Martínez. "My viola was also very tiny back then." 

The two friends both grew up in small towns in the Catalonia region of Spain, Martínez in Tremp and Conches in Moja and Vilanova i la Geltrú. "We've talked about it a lot," says Conches. "Living in those small towns—to be honest, there wasn't that much to do. It was good to have something that I cared so much about, though, of course, back then, I had no idea that it would eventually take me to Barcelona, let alone Japan!"

Martínez and Conches are currently enrolled at the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu in Barcelona, one of Europe's most prestigious music colleges. Founded in 1837, the conservatory is closely affiliated with the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the city's oldest opera house, located on La Rambla, the city's most famous street. Many illustrious musicians have studied or taught at the Liceu, including tenor José Carreras (one of the famous Three Tenors), soprano Montserrat Caballé, pianist Frank Marshall, and composer Engelbert Humperdinck.

"It was an incredible opportunity to continue to pursue my passion for music," says Martínez. "The Liceu has fantastic teachers as well as so much history and tradition, and Barcelona is a wonderful city. Moving there was the first big adventure for me as a musician and as a person, too."

"But then, I heard there was a chance to study in Japan," she adds, her eyes lighting up as she speaks.

Studying Music in Tokyo, a Different Pathway to Japan

While the conventional pathway for international exchange students in Japan once centered on studies of Japanese language, society, and culture, recent years have seen Japanese universities and colleges offer a broader range of programs to attract a more diverse population of students. 

With its long, proud history of promoting the study and performance of Western classical music in Japan, the Tokyo College of Music (TCM) naturally took the lead in offering music programs for international exchange students. The college provides classes and one-on-one lessons taught in English by expert teachers, as well as Japanese language lessons and special assistance with living in Japan. 

Having long imagined living in Japan one day, Martínez was overjoyed when she discovered that music could offer a potential pathway to her dream. "I started studying Japanese in Barcelona about two years ago just in case I got the chance to move to Tokyo," she says. "It was such an exciting surprise to find out that music could be my way in."

Conches's route to Japan was far less planned. "It was her idea," she says, pointing at Martínez. "I had never really thought about Japan much before. But then we got talking about what we knew about Japan, which wasn't much—just sakura and mochi and such things—and I got more and more interested. And of course, as we are such good friends, planning to go together made it even more exciting. So, I thought—why not?"

While the idea of living in a new country and experiencing a new culture may have been the primary attraction, the pair feel like they have benefited immensely from their studies at TCM. Conches is full of praise for her viola teacher, Ono Kaoru, as is Martínez for her guitar instructor, Ema Tsuneo.

"The method of teaching here is quite different from what we are used to," explains Martínez. "I've learned a lot here about discipline and focus. I think it is important for a musician to experience as many different points of view as possible."

The students have also taken advantage of the opportunity to learn how to play traditional Japanese instruments. Martínez has taken on the shamisen, a three-stringed lute often used in folk and classical music, and a natural transition from guitar. Conches has been mastering the koto, a zither typically strung with 13 strings and known for its harp-like sound.

What Does Tokyo Sound Like to a Trained Musician?

When traveling to a new place, it tends to focus on the visuals first, heading off to see the sights. But what about the sounds of a new city? What stands out to the keen ears of trained musicians as they wander the streets of Tokyo? 

"I had the theme from Don Quijote ("Don-Don-Don...Donki...") running through my head for weeks after the first time I went there," says Conches, referring to the famously chaotic store chain. "And each convenience store has its own symphony of different sounds. It's also incredible how you can be on a noisy street in Tokyo, then turn a corner and enter the silence of a temple or shrine."

"I like the train announcements," says Martínez. "And those bird sounds that they have at crosswalks—I couldn't tell where those were coming from at first or why they had them. It finally made sense when I heard that they are designed to tell blind people when it's safe to cross the street."

These small, surprising shifts in soundscapes speak to a deeper charm of Tokyo—the way the city balances energy and calm, function and creativity, all in the span of a few steps. While their reflections focus on what they hear, they also hint at the city's broader appeal: a place where art, design, and thoughtfulness are embedded in the everyday.

The music scene in and around Tokyo has also impressed the two students in terms of variety, quality, and accessibility. "People are into all kinds of music here," says Martínez. "We've been to a metal festival in Chiba, rock concerts in Tokyo, jazz, classical, Latin music."

"It seems like music and the arts in general are more accessible in Tokyo," says Conches. "There isn't such an elitist feeling to them. At the same time, it feels like being a musician or artist is valued in Japan. People here don't roll their eyes when they hear that you are studying music."

Conches and Martínez have already contributed to the Tokyo music scene themselves, giving a joint performance at the 60th Tokyo College of Music Art Festival in November 2024, in which they discussed Spanish culture and their experiences in Japan. More recently, they performed live together at a local bar under the name of Duo BB. 

While their exchange is set to end in August 2025, both Conches and Martínez are already searching for ways to extend their stay in Tokyo.

"It's impossible to be bored in this city," says Martínez. "Tokyo is so big—there's so much here—you can never be finished with it."

Mariona Socoró Martínez (left) and Gala Zhen Gil Conches (right)

Martínez and Conches are from Barcelona, Spain, where they are enrolled at the prestigious Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu. They are currently studying at the Tokyo College of Music as international exchange students. Martínez plays the guitar and is learning the shamisen, while Conches plays the viola and is studying the koto.