Swiss Global Artistic Foundation

The Nota Bene Trio was founded in 1999 by violinist Julien Zufferey, cellist Xavier Pignat and pianist Lionel Monnet.

In 2000, these three young Swiss artists obtained their Chamber Music Diplomas at the Lausanne Music Academy and soon after - their Virtuosity degrees. They have been coached by such well known musicians as Patrick Genet (Quatuor Sine Nomine), Roberto Szidon and Menachem Pressler (Beaux-Arts Trio of New York), Christian Favre (Quatuor Schumann), Raphaël Wallfisch, Jean Ballissat, Thomas Grossenbacher and recently they received advice from the well-known Trio Wanderer in Paris.

The trio has been invited to participate in numerous chamber music festivals throughout Europe. They started 2004 with a concert in the Tonhalle Zürich where they gave the Swiss première of Roberto Sierra's "Trio Tropical". The same year they were finalists in the International Competition Carlo Soliva, Italyand won first prize in the International Chamber Music Competition in Hellevoetsluis, The Netherlands.

In July 2005, Nota Bene (in collaboration with other Swiss musicians) completed the recording of various chamber music works by Swiss composer Jean Daetwyler. A second CD featuring pieces by Beethoven, Honegger and Mendelssohn is scheduled for the end of 2006. In December of the same year they performed Beethoven's Triple Concerto accompanied by the Zürich Camerata Orchestra.

In August 2006 the trio was invited as an "ensemble in residence" to the famous Festival de la Roque d'Anthéron, well known in France for its classical music concerts. It benefited from the many master classes available, and was able to perform in several of the Festival's programs.

Further information may be found at the official website, www.trionotabene.com.