Manon Mullener is a Swiss jazz pianist born in Fribourg in 1997. From a family of musicians, with a father and brother who are drummers, she began playing piano at the age of four at the Fribourg Conservatory. At 17, her passion for jazz, and particularly for Afro-Cuban music, led her to Havana, where she deepened her musical knowledge. Upon returning to Switzerland, she received the Spirale Prize in Fribourg. After studying with Richard Pizzorno and Thomas Florin, she continued her studies at the Bern University of the Arts, where she studied with Colin Vallon, among others. In 2022, she won the SOFIA (Support Of Female Improvising Artists) international competition.
In 2019, she recorded her first album, Reflejos, in collaboration with Peruvian pianist César Correa and Zurich-based percussionist David Stauffacher. The critically acclaimed album marked the beginning of numerous concerts in Switzerland and abroad.
In 2022, she founded the Manon Mullener 5tet, a flagship project blending modern jazz with Afro-Cuban influences. The group’s first album, Insomnia, was released in 2023 and followed by a tour of over 50 concerts in Europe and Latin America. The group was selected by the prestigious Jazz à Vienne festival to represent Switzerland, received support from the JazzContreband festival, and was selected for an official showcase at Jazzahead in 2025.
She has performed in concerts at clubs and festivals around the world, including in Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Colombia, Mexico, Cuba, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and the United States.
Recipient of the Fribourg Canton mobility grant, Manon spent six months in New York composing and developing a new artistic project. Following this residency, Manon recorded her new album, STORIES, in New York during the summer of 2024. Inspired by poignant stories from people she met during her tours, each track tells a life story, blending emotion, groove, and musical narrative. The album received enthusiastic acclaim from the European press and was praised by France Musique, TSF Jazz (France), NDR, Le Temps, and L’Illustré, who hailed her as a rising star of European jazz. A tour of over 100 concerts accompanied the release of STORIES, confirming the impact of her unique and vibrant sound. The group regularly performs as a quintet but also as a trio for more intimate settings. In 2025, she was nominated for the Forum des 100, which designates “the 100 personalities shaping French-speaking Switzerland in 2025” by the magazine Le Temps. She was the 2026 recipient of the Swiss Jazz Award.
Manon Mullener is also active in various projects such as Nicole Johänntgen’s Robin or La Comédie Musicale Improvisée.
WEBSITE:https://www.facebook.com/manon.muellener/
INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/manonmullener/?hl=en
Playing at these Events
Valley Jams
Visiting Jazzmandu 2026 artists perform individual sets at intimate venues across the Kathmandu Valley. Take your pick!
Date: Friday, October 30
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm | Gates open at 6:30 pm
Ticket: NRs. 1000
Red-Hot Latin Jazz
High-energy blend of infectious grooves – bring your dancing shoes
Date: Monday, November 2
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Venue: Kathmandu Marriott Hotel, Naxal
Ticket: NRs. 2000
(Gates open at 6:30 pm and close at 8:00 pm)
Jazz Bazaar
Escape Kathmandu for a day and night of incredible music under the open sky, with performances from a stellar line-up of international and Nepali musicians. Relax, enjoy and energize with a marathon of music, exquisite food, and drinks!
Date: Saturday, October 31
Time: 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Venue: Gokarna Forest Resort
Ticket: NRs. 1600
(Gates open at 2:30 pm and close at 7:00 pm)
Jazzmandu Finale
The festival’s all-star lineup comes together for one final exchange of musical energy and positive vibes as this year’s Jazzmandu concludes.
Date: Wednesday, November 4th
Time: 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Venue: The Malla Hotel, Lekhnath Marg, Lainchaur
Ticket: NRs. 1800
(Gates open at 5:00 pm and close at 8:00 pm)
Jazzmandu Workshop
Venue: AFK
Date: Tuesday, November 3rd
11:15 am – 12:15 pm