Valerio Menon

Born in Turin and based in Thun, Valerio Menon connects handpan composition and collaborative recordings with instrument making, tuning and festival work.

Valerio Menon was born in Turin, Italy, and works in Thun, Switzerland. He discovered the handpan in 2012 and developed a performing and recording career before making instrument building his profession in 2015. Conversations With Strangers, his 2013 debut solo EP, was recorded live in a Zurich studio with Nicola Frecci and features Liron Meyuhas and Settore Giada. Slow Motion Replay followed in 2015, combining handpans with samplers, percussion and effects. Its guest contributions include Mumi's voice, NeroArgento's guitar and bass, and Peter Vermeulen's didgeridoo, extending the instrument into different ensemble settings. After learning construction with Ore' of Koan Handpans and working with Echo Sound Sculpture, he returned to independent workshop practice in 2021. He has made instruments for Hang Massive and Jeremy Nattagh and is a co-creator of the Swiss Handpan Festival. His path joins a player's understanding of phrasing and collaboration to the daily work of shaping and tuning steel.