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Swiss pianist Lionel Monnet was awarded a “Virtuosity with Distinction” diploma in 2003 from the Haute École de Musique de Lausanne, where he studied under Christian Favre. He continued his training in Paris with his mentor Abdel Rahman El Bacha, and also worked with Menahem Pressler of the Beaux-Arts Trio of New York and with the Trio Wanderer of Paris.
Since 1999, he has been the pianist of the Trio Nota Bene, with which he continues to perform regularly on both the Swiss and international music scenes.
Lionel Monnet won First Prize at the International Music Competition of Rotterdam, as well as First Prize by unanimous jury decision at the 28th Géraldine Whittaker Prize for Instrumental Trios in Neuchâtel. He was also honored with the Philippe Chaignat Prize for outstanding performance at the Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad, and received the Audience Prize at the 2009 edition of the Zulawski–Ville de Chamonix Prize.
He has performed internationally at venues and festivals including the Sion International Festival, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, La Roque d’Anthéron, Folles Journées in Nantes, Ljubljana Festival, Castres Festival, Zermatt Music Festival, the Tonhalle in Zurich, Bodrum Festival, Jerusalem Music Center, the Tel Aviv Museum, Nice Festival, and as a soloist with the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, the Zurich Chamber Orchestra, and the European Concert Orchestra.
Lionel Monnet has shared the stage with numerous renowned artists such as Tibor Varga, Renaud Capuçon, Svetlin Roussev, Fabio Di Càsola, Malin Hartelius, Rachel Harnisch, Christoph Schiller, Shlomo Mintz, Nobuko Imai, Gérard Caussé, Pierre Amoyal, Ilya Gringolts, Blythe Teh Engström, Ophélie Gaillard, Svetlana Makarova, the Terpsycordes Quartet, the Sine Nomine Quartet, Edgar Moreau, Michel Dalberto, Brigitte Engerer, Dany Bonvin, and Shmuel Ashkenasi, among others.
He has received support from the Irène Dénéréaz Foundation, composer Henri Dutilleux, and the Swiss Global Artistic Foundation.
Since 2011, Lionel Monnet has been a piano professor at the Valais Cantonal Conservatory of Music. In July 2016, he was appointed professor of piano and chamber music at the International Academy of Biarritz, Côte Basque.
In January 2017, he was invited on an American tour with performances at festivals in New York, Philadelphia, and Princeton. That same year, he also served as a jury member for the Musique Riviera Piano Competition in Vevey.
He is the pianist of the “Quinteto del Fuego”, a group specializing in the music of Astor Piazzolla.
He is also the founder and artistic director of “Espace Consonance”, a concert hall and recording studio located in Saxon, Switzerland.
Lionel Monnet is represented by the Swiss record label Claves and the American label Naxos.
Loris Mittaz grew up in the Valais mountains, in the village of Chermignon. At the age of 8, he learned that an illness would gradually take away his sight. His disability forced him to give up many of his favorite activities.
It was then that he discovered a deep passion for music and the piano. He developed a special connection with the instrument, which became both a creative outlet and a powerful tool for resilience, allowing him to rise above his challenges.
Both his journey and his music are a tribute to perseverance — a heartfelt invitation to share in an authentic and moving experience.
Classically trained (EJMA), Loris has been performing in various projects since the age of 15. Musically curious, he has explored a wide range of genres and collaborations, from rap (Oxmo Puccino, Moodjo) and electronic music (Feder, Marieposa) to psychedelic rock (The Doors Revival) and pop (Mia Oud).
At the same time, he began composing and launched his own solo project. He was quickly noticed and made his solo debut on prominent stages (Crans-Montana Classics, Montreux Autumn Festival) in 2022.
Blending classical, jazz, and contemporary music, his sound is a melodic, deep, and colorful journey. Loris invites listeners to join him — to close their eyes and imagine their own story inspired by the music.
Adam Znamirovský began playing the piano spontaneously at the age of four and has studied with MgA Markéta Cibulková at ZUŠ Jižní Město since the age of five. He has received top prizes at national and international competitions, including the Béla Bartók Competition in Graz, the Chopin Competition for Young Pianists in Szafarnia, and the César Franck Piano Competition in Belgium. Among his greatest achievements is his absolute victory at the Concertino Praga competition, where he performed Grieg’s Piano Concerto with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra. The following year, he was a finalist at Eurovision Young Musicians in Bodø, Norway, performing Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra. Adam regularly participates in masterclasses with Ivo Kahánek, Ivan Klánský, and Daniel Blumenthal, and has performed at major festivals including Prague Spring, Smetana’s Litomyšl, and Santa Cecilia in Porto.
Ido Zeev is an Israeli pianist known for his transcriptions, collaborations, and performances at international festivals including the Martha Argerich Festival, La Roque d’Anthéron, Oxford Piano Festival, and Allgemeine Musikgesellschaft Basel. In 2024, he was presented by Martha Argerich in a series of recitals in Lyon and Toulouse as part of ‘Les Grands Interprètes’. He has worked with musicians such as Nikolai Lugansky, Christoph Eschenbach, and Menahem Pressler. He has studied with Arie Vardi since 2016 and is currently working with Rena Shereshevskaya and Florence Millet.
Ziyu Shao is a Chinese pianist and winner of the 2023 Franz Liszt Piano Competition in Weimar. He has also received top prizes at the Chopin International Competition in Poland, the Vladimir Krainev International Competition in Moscow, and the Horowitz Memorial Competition in Ukraine. In 2021, he gave a solo recital at the New MMDM Hall in Moscow, broadcast by Radio Orpheus, and was featured in the 2024 Pianissimo Winter Festival. Ziyu has appeared with orchestras such as the Moscow Virtuosi and the Svetlanov State Academic Symphony Orchestra and performed at venues including the Moscow Conservatory, Zaryadye Hall, and Carnegie Hall.
Yonatan Senik was 22 when he became a prize-winner at the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition, where he also received the Best Israeli Performer Prize. He has won competitions in Tel Aviv and Boston, and in 2021 won the Chamber Music Competition at Tel Aviv University. In 2024, he received the Bruno Frey Musikpreis for chamber music in Ochsenhausen and was a finalist in the Classeek Ambassador Programme. He was also nominated for an International Classical Music Award (ICMA). He is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the New England Conservatory in Boston with Alexander Korsantia.
Natalie Schwamová made her orchestral debut at the age of ten, performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto in D minor with the Buenos Aires Symphony Orchestra. She has since performed with major orchestras including the Czech Philharmonic, Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, and Extremadura Orchestra, with appearances in prestigious venues such as the Rudolfinum in Prague, the National Auditorium in Madrid, and the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona. She has received more than 20 international awards, including Second Prize at the Pilsen Smetana Competition, First Prize at the Fryderyk Chopin Competition in Marienbad, and First Prize at the 2023 International Music Competition in Alicante. In 2023, she was named Most Outstanding Student of the Year by Queen Sofía at the Reina Sofía School of Music. She studied at the Prague Academy of Music with František Malý and at the Reina Sofía School of Music with Dmitri Bashkirov, Milana Chernyavska, and Claudio Martínez Mehner.
Malaysian pianist Magdalene Ho began her musical training at the age of four. After being offered a full scholarship at age ten, she moved to the UK to study at the Purcell School with Patsy Toh. Since 2022, she has studied with Dmitri Alexeev at the Royal College of Music. She has performed at venues such as the Wigmore Hall, Laeiszhalle Hamburg, and Victoria Concert Hall Singapore, and appeared as soloist with the SWR Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. In 2023, she won First Prize and the Audience Prize at the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition and was a finalist of the International German Piano Award.
Swedish pianist Edward Ahlbeck Glader recently graduated from Lilla Akademiens Musikgymnasium in Stockholm, where he studied with Martin Sturfält. Since 2022, he has been a private student of Paolo Giacometti at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf. He has also drawn inspiration from the Jiri Hlinka Piano Academy in Norway and pianist Roland Pöntinen. In 2024, he made his orchestral debut performing Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto with the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra and gave his German recital debut in Hamburg. Edward has received top prizes at the Steinway & Sons Nordic Junior Piano Competition, the MozArte International Junior Piano Competition in Aachen, and the Euregio Young Piano Award in Geilenkirchen. He has performed at venues and festivals including Konserthuset Stockholm, Gothenburg Concert Hall, Queen Silvia Concert Hall, Sasel-Haus Hamburg, the Royal Palace of Stockholm, the PIANALE Piano Festival and O/Modernt Festivals and the Helsingborg Piano Festival.
“Roberto Olzer, a pianist at home in the worlds of both jazz and classical music, is gifted with a unique musical sensibility and extraordinary expressive power” A. Valiante, Jazzitalia
“Olzer’s unique disposition towards music and the intellectual awareness of a man of culture have undoubtedly defined him as a jazz musician of admirable expressiveness; this becomes evident in his lucid inventiveness, imaginative and melodic clarity, refined and attractive harmonic colorings.” B. Schiozzi, Musica Jazz
“Reason combined with feeling…. fusing into a precious symphony with the power to evoke dreamlike spaces and faraway countries.” S. Maccari, Muzik Box
“…. A pianist at once sophisticated, sensitive and very expressive, imbued with classical andjazz traditions…” F. Caprera, Dictionary of Jazz, Feltrinelli, 2014
“This ultra-refined recording of the pianist Roberto Olzer (Steppin’ Out) is a clear example of how to make quality music of a disarming formal simplicity with a clear preference for the “beautiful”, devoid of unnecessary stylistic ornamentation or exaggerated virtuosity.” F. Peluso, Fedeltà del Suono
“A lovely album (Steppin’ Out) of jewelled lyricism, by Italian pianist Roberto Olzer … very visual, each track seems to tell a story” M. James, Only Jazz
“Clarity of phrasing, a clean sound, lyrical themes, a marked propensity for expressive linearity.” L. Sforza, All About Jazz
Born 1971 in Domodossola Italy, Roberto Olzer began studying piano at an early age and later organ with Maestro Giancarlo Parodi under whose guidance he received his diploma in organ and organ composition from the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan, Italy. While completing his philosophy degree at the Catholic University Milan, he studied jazz improvisation with Roberto Ciammarughi. He further refined his technique through classes and seminars held by prominent piano masters, like S. Battaglia and E. Pieranunzi. He completed his musical education with a degree in piano.
Roberto Olzer’s first recordings date back to 2002-2003 with “Folk Songs” accompanied by the guitarist F. Spadea and “Eveline” accompanied by a sestet bearing his name for the label Splasc(h). Following that, he collaborated with the Max De Aloe Quartet recording six albums including a live concert edited by Abeat Records. He then recorded two albums for Splasc(h) and Dodicilune with the Michele Gori Quartet, a recording titled “Bill Evans Homage“ with the Roberto Mattei Double Quartet, and a CD with the Florentine songwriter Susanna Parigi.
His first piano solo “Esprit de Finesse”, edited by Dodicilune was recorded in 2009 and is dedicated to F. Mendelssohn Bartholdy to commemorate his bicentennial date of birth. He further developed themes from the classical repertory as a basis for jazz arrangements and compositions with the Rudy Migliardi Quartet. ‘Au Rebours’ is a recording with the bassist Roberto Mattei of improvisations on classical themes, edited by 201 Editions, also the label for “Avorio”, a recording with the singer Elisa Marangon.
A more recent formation is the JMT (Just Music Trio) together with Yuri Goloubev and Fabrizio Spadea. The trio recorded “Standpoint” edited by Caligola.
The Roberto Olzer Jazz Trio was formed in 2011 with bass player Yuri Goloubev and percussionist Mauro Beggio. Their first album ‘Steppin’ Out’ with the Abeat label in 2013 was widely acclaimed by both music critics and the public. In particular, it was awarded the title of best instrumental album of 2013 by the Japanese ‘Jazz Critique Magazine’ (HIHYO) in a category that includes names of world fame like Chick Corea, Dave Holland or Steve Swallow. Since the debut of the Trio in the prestigious Moods Jazz Club Zürich, Switzerland, they have continued to refine their sound, highlighted by the strong soloist talents of each of its members and their creative reciprocity.
Roberto Olzer continues to perform live in concerts not only as a jazz pianist but also as a classical pianist and organist in Italy, Switzerland, France and England in important theatres, festivals, clubs and events such as Time in Jazz (Sardenia, Italy), Fano Jazz by the sea (Italy) Musica sulle Bocche, Iseo Jazz, Gallarate Jazz Festival, MITO, Blue Note (Milan, Italy), House of Jazz (Rome), Piazza Verdi (Radio Rai 3, Italy), Moods Jazz Club, (Zurich, Switzerland) Villa Streuli, (Winterthur, Switzerland), Auditorium of the Swiss Radio, (Lugano, Switzerland), Conservatoire de Paris, Conservatoire du Choletais, (France) the Bangor New Music Festival (United Kingdom) and many others.
Roberto Olzer is also active as a composer and arranger for bands, string quartets and prestigious ensembles. He has arranged compositions such as ‘Homage to Nino Rota’ , ‘Xilophonia’, ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ and ‘John Williams Suite’ for the Decimino d’Ottoni (Brass Ensemble) of the La Scala Opera House, Milan. He also arranged Astor Piazzolla’s tangos, homage to Ennio Morricone etc. for the Coccia Theatre Symphonic Orchestra (Novara, Italy).
His collaboration with the Brass Ensemble of La Scala Opera House, Milan, as arranger and soloist in Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue (Domodossola, Italy 2013) has developed into a new project called ‘American Sweets’, where he plays in combination with his own Trio and the Brass Ensemble his original arrangements of music by Leonard Bernstein and John Williams.
Roberto Olzer’s published works as a composer include “Tetragono” for clarinet and piano (Bim Vuarmarens Editions Switzerland), “Sciccareddu” and “Monte Rosa” (Wicky Editions in Milan), “Per Geometrico Destino” for solos, chorus and orchestra commissioned for the centennial of the Simplon tunnel (Switzerland), and two compositions for organ commissioned by M° Parodi: ‘Prelude, Fugue et Chorale’ and ‘Fantasy on B.A.C.H’
Besides the musicians mentioned above, he has collaborated and played with musicians Chris Collins, Paolo Tomelleri, Emilio Soana, Bruno de Filippi, Roberto Rossi, Asaf Sirkis, Luciano Zadro, Emanuele Cisi, Bebo Ferra, Andrea Dulbecco, Ramberto Ciammarughi, Mauro Negri, Steve Mead, and with outstanding Italian jazz and pop singers Diana Torto, Barbara Casini, Susanna Parigi, Antonella Ruggero, Tosca Donati.