Fabrice Vernay

Born in Massongex (VS), Fabrice Vernay began playing the drum and then percussion in the local brass band. After graduating from high school, he began his professional studies at the Conservatoire de Lausanne in Stéphane Borel's class, where he obtained his teaching diploma and concert diploma, both with honours. He also studied jazz vibraphone at the EJMA in Lausanne with Philippe Cornaz, and drums with Patrick Dufresne and Félix Bergeron.

A versatile percussionist, Fabrice Vernay has taken part in a wide range of productions (rock opera, cabaret shows, theatrical music, wind orchestra). From 2000 to 2006, he was a member of the Swiss Army Marching & Concert Band, taking part in numerous tatoos in Europe. He played in the Sinfonietta symphony orchestra in Lausanne from 2006 to 2019. In 2006, he founded Percuten, an ensemble of young percussionists, for whom he arranges and composes. He has played with renowned percussionists such as Keiko Abe and the Lausanne marimba ensemble, Fritz Hauser, and the Tchiki Duo. He is currently a member of Via Vallesia (world music), Walliser Seema (songs in French-German-WalliserMundArt) and the Octodure symphonists (micro-symphonic orchestra). He also performs as a duo with clarinettist Dany Rossier.

He teaches percussion at the Conservatoire Cantonal Valais and the Ecole Communale de Musique in Martigny. After obtaining a degree in educational science from Dijon University in 2016, he teaches the students in pedagogy master cursus at several Swiss HEMs.