Born in Massongex (VS), Fabrice Vernay began playing the drum and later percussion within the local brass band. After obtaining his high school diploma, he pursued professional studies at the Lausanne Conservatory in the class of Stéphane Borel, where he earned both a teaching diploma and a concert diploma, each with honors from the jury. He also studied jazz vibraphone at the EJMA in Lausanne with Philippe Cornaz and drum set 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, performing in numerous tattoos across Europe. He played with the Sinfonietta de Lausanne symphony orchestra from 2006 to 2019. In 2006, he founded Percuten, an ensemble of young percussionists. He has performed 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 (bilingual songs), and the Symphonistes d’Octodure (micro-symphonic orchestra). He also performs in a trio with clarinetist Dany Rossier and violinist Nadia Rigolet.
He teaches percussion at the Valais Cantonal Conservatory and the municipal music school of Martigny. After earning a degree in educational sciences from the University of Dijon in 2016, he has been involved in training master’s students in pedagogy at several Swiss universities of music.