Andrea Bocelli

Andrea Bocelli (born September 22, 1958, in Tuscany, Italy) is a globally renowned Italian tenor and crossover artist, celebrated for his powerful, emotive voice that blends classical opera with pop music. Born with congenital glaucoma, he became completely blind at age 12 following a brain hemorrhage caused by a football accident. Despite this, his passion for music led him to learn piano, flute, and saxophone at a young age. Before achieving international fame, Bocelli studied law at the University of Pisa and practiced as a state-appointed attorney for one year. To finance his education, he performed in piano bars. His music career took off in the early 1990s after he sent a demo to Italian rock star Zucchero Fornaciari, which caught the attention of tenor Luciano Pavarotti. Bocelli’s breakthrough came in 1994 with the album Il mare calmo della sera and the record-breaking hit duet with Sarah Brightman, "Con Te Partirò" (Time to Say Goodbye). He has sold over 90 million records worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling classical artists in history. He has collaborated with numerous artists, including Celine Dion and Ed Sheeran, and performed for popes, presidents, and at major events like the Olympic Games. He remains a prominent figure in bridging the gap between opera and pop music.

Andrea Bocelli's philanthropy, channeled through the Andrea Bocelli Foundation (ABF) (founded 2011), focuses on empowering disadvantaged individuals through education, art, and music, tackling poverty and social marginalization. This is exemplified by building schools in Haiti and Italy, providing clean water, and running music programs like "ABF Voices Of" to foster talent, leadership, and community inclusion globally, aiming to create a fairer world. ABF's core mission is using education as a key to empowerment, running programs (ABF Edu, ABF Globalab) that support integrated learning, music, and digital skills for youth. His "Voices of the World" program creates choirs for vulnerable children, fostering teamwork, leadership, and talent development in places like Haiti, Italy, and Jerusalem. In Haiti, ABF has funded schools and established water projects, providing clean drinking water to over 400,000 people, reducing disease risks. The foundation also supports community projects, including rebuilding infrastructure like the Palazzo della Musica in earthquake-affected areas of Italy, and provides direct support for basic needs. Bocelli aims to "build a better world," giving back opportunities for beauty and potential, inspired by his own journey overcoming blindness.