Though conventional wisdom would state that no one can serve two masters, piano sensation Giovanni Allevi maintains an impressive career in music and continues to distinguish himself in the field of philosophy. Allevi's charisma and trademark style -- t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers -- have helped him connect to audiences at major venues around the world. He is also an accomplished author.

Born in Ascoli Piceno on April 9, 1969, Allevi first pursued an education in music, earning high marks in piano and composition from the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan. Before entering the professional music world, he graduated cum laude with a PhD in philosophy; his thesis was titled The Emptiness of Modern Physics. Following a stint in the Italian Army Band, Allevi turned his attentions back to composition, releasing 13 Dita (Universal) in 1997. He easily crossed the line between the classical and contemporary music worlds, performing in venues ranging from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts to New York's famous Blue Note jazz club. Compositions from 13 Dita became well-liked in contemporary piano circles, some of them even performed by Japanese virtuoso Nanae Mimura. Six years later, his second album, Composizioni, was released. In the years that followed, Allevi would perform in key locations throughout the U.S. and Europe, as well as lecture regularly on philosophy and music.

No Concept, released in 2005, garnered Allevi commissions and performance invitations from all corners of the classical music world but also from jazz and contemporary music presenters. While on tour supporting No Concept, Allevi began work on his fourth album, Joy, which would reach his largest audience yet, thanks to a relationship with Sony/BMG. In 2008, Allevi conducted the orchestra I Virtuosi Italiani in his own works as well as those by Puccini for a Christmas concert at the Italian senate, where guests included Italian President Giorgio Napolitano; this concert was broadcast on Italian national television, further raising Allevi's image in the public eye. Allevi's popularity continued to rise through the 2010s through his writing, performances, and recordings. In 2015, he issued the album Love, followed by Equilibrium in 2017 and Hope in 2019. Allevi was the subject of the docuseries Allevi in the Jungle in 2020, and his seventh book, Le regole del pianoforte - 33 note di musica e filosofia per una vita fuori dall’ordinario, was published in 2021.

Allevi received an Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, is an ambassador for Save the Children, and has had an asteroid after him by NASA, giovanniallevi111561. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez & Keith Finke, Rovi