Swiss ensemble Trio Nota Bene consists of pianist Lionel Monnet, cellist Xavier Pignat and violinist Julien Zufferey.

Having obtained their virtuosity diplomas in chamber music at the Lausanne Conservatory, the trio perfected their studies in Paris with the Trio Wanderer and took advice from such professors as Roberto Szidon, Menahem Pressler (Beaux-Arts Trio), Patrick Genet (Sine Nomine Quartet), Christian Favre (Schumann Quartet), Jean Balissat, Raphaël Wallfisch, Thomas Grossenbacher, Shmuel Ashkenasi (Vermeer Quartet), Mauro Minguzzi, Christian Ivaldi, Claire Désert and Emmanuel Strosser.

Nota Bene earned a place in the finals of the 11th International "Carlo Soliva" Competition in Casale Monferrato(Italy), won First Prize of the International Chamber Music Competition inHellevoetsluis-Rotterdam (Netherlands), was awarded the Prize for Cultural Achievements from the Cantonof Valais, won a unanimous First Prize at the 28th Instrumental TrioCompetition – Prix Géraldine Whittaker in Neuchâtel, distinguished itself by earning the Prix Philippe Chaignat(as recognition of the quality of its performance during the Sommets Musicauxin Gstaad) and won the Prix du Public during the 2009 edition of the Prix Zulawski-Ville de Chamonix. In 2011, the MusiquePro triennialscholarship was awarded to the Trio by the State of Valais.

Active in the contemporary music field, Trio Nota Bene is a regular first performer of works by Swiss and foreign composers, such as the first performances of Robert Sierra’s, Christine Raboud’s, Jean-Luc Darbellay’s, Gregorio Zanon’s or Alfred Zimmerlin’s trios. Their live interpretation of the “Nachtstundenstücke” of this last composer – first performed during the Ernen Festival, and again at the Rigiblick Theatre in Zurich – was chosen by Migros’ artistic commission to figure on its Selection-CD featuring the best creations of 2013.

The Trio works with famous artists such as Fabio di Càsola, Brigitte Fournier, Christoph Schiller, Shlomo Mintz, Nobuko Imai, Gérard Caussé, Silvia Simionescu, Pierre Amoyal, Ilya Gringolts or Shmuel Ashkenasi.

Nota Bene has produced two recordings with the Claves label, which were warmly acclaimed by critics. The first one “100% Russe” is dedicated to Russian trios – Arenski, Rachmaninov and Shostakovitch; the second album, “Swiss Perspective” is devoted to Swiss composers J. Raff, A.Honegger, E. Bloch and F. Martin.