Paolo Salvi began studying piano at the age of five with Silvia Pezzotta. He continued his education at the Conservatorio “Luca Marenzio” in Darfo Boario Terme under Maestro Massimo Cotroneo, graduating with top marks, honors, and special distinction. His final thesis was a research work on Robert Schumann and his Exercises in the form of variations on a theme by Beethoven. He is currently continuing his studies with Maestro Orazio Sciortino.
Over the years, he has participated in numerous national and international competitions, earning several accolades: first prize at the WUN competition in San Paolo d’Argon (BG) in 2018; first prize at the Fasolsi competition in Milan in 2019; third prize at the Giangrandi-Eggmann Award in Cagliari in 2023; and finalist at the 2023 regional competition Lombardia è Musica. In 2024, he won the first absolute prize at the 36th European Music Competition in Moncalieri (TO), along with the special award for piano performance, the Rosy Tondato Award. In 2025, he was awarded the 16th “L. Marenzio” Prize, offered by the Lions Club “Brescia Cidneo,” as well as the second prize at the Villa Oliva Competition in Cassano Magnago (VA).
Masterclasses and advanced training courses have given him the opportunity to work with internationally renowned pianists such as Louis Lortie, Roberto Prosseda, Francesco Libetta, Emanuele Arciuli, Vincenzo Balzani, Sara Costa, Fabiano Casanova, and Alexander Lonquich. At the Livorno Music Festival in 2022, he distinguished himself in the class of Alexander Romanovsky, winning the class scholarship.
As a performer, he regularly gives concerts both as a soloist and in chamber ensembles, appearing in events such as Piano City Milano, the Brescia and Bergamo International Piano Festival, Cremona Pianoforum, Onde Musicali Festival on Lake Iseo, La Mousiké Téchne in Cagliari, and Primavera in Musica, organized by the Pergolesi Musical Association of Vallecrosia (IM).
In October 2024, he performed in Xuzhou, China, giving concerts both as a soloist and in a duo with flutist Michela Podera. On that occasion, he also led a masterclass for the students of the China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT) in Xuzhou.
His eclectic musical interests have led him to participate as a keyboardist in various musical projects. As a member of the group Marsyas, he released the album Emergence in 2020, and in 2022 he recorded the piano parts for Material Fields, an album by the solo project of Lorenzo Pasini.
In 2023, he debuted in the concert season of the Accademia Santa Cecilia in Bergamo with Duo Convergenza, a formation he co-founded with guitarist Massimiliano Cirelli. The duo focuses on exploring the lesser-known repertoire for guitar and piano, and their work has led to collaborations with contemporary composers such as Livio Gianola.
Since 2022, he has been teaching piano at various institutions and associations, including Paratico in Musica (Paratico, BS), Accademia Rondò (Nuvolera, BS), and I Piccoli Musici (Casazza, BG).
Paolo Salvi is a student of the Fondazione Accademia di Musica.
