As a Chicago-born piano prodigy studying since age four, John Covelli was credited in his youth with numerous concerts, broadcast recitals, special musical awards, performances at the Chicago Music Festival, with the Chicago Symphony at age 9; recipient of the Chicagoland Festival Award; a highly lauded all-Bach concert at the Texas Bach Festival, as well as composing prizes. As a teenager, he was the only concert pianist ever to win the famous Godfrey Talent Scout Program and appeared in a series of nationwide CBS-TV performances. His New York debut drew rave notices from every newspaper and major publication present. While conductor and soloist of the famed Seventh Army Symphony, he was selected special musical ambassador for USIS gleaning accolades as featured touring soloist throughout Europe.

As a laureate of the Queen Elisabeth Competition and the Busoni International Piano Competition, John Covelli was launched from youthful prodigy to an international performer of major standing. In addition to solo piano concerts, he is conductor/pianist in a wide range of concertos - from Gershwin, Gottschalk, Shostakovitch, and Saint Saens, to Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and more. He enjoys the challenges of chamber music and relishes the musical alchemy of working with fellow artists. In addition to many years of collaborative concerts with master violinist Aaron Rosand (with whom he made numerous recordings), he has performed with quartets, trios, and chamber ensembles in a wide variety of repertoire.

John Covelli gives master classes and special coaching sessions emphasizing repertory and performance preparation. He also serves on the Advisory Board of Piano Arts National Concerto Competition of Milwaukee.

His recordings are found on Vox, Audiophon and Columbia labels, and a Fanfare/Carlton Classics release features Conductor/Pianist John Covelli and the Moscow Philharmonic performing Shostakovitch and Saint Saens 2nd Piano Concertos with the rarely heard Saint Saens Caprice Valse "Wedding Cake".