| Alex Staropoli | |
| Birth Name: | Alessandro Staropoli |
| Birth Date: | 9 January 1970 |
| Birth Place: | Trieste, Italy |
| Origin: | Italy |
| Years Active: | 1993–present |
| Associated Acts: | Rhapsody of Fire |
Alessandro "Alex" Staropoli (born 9 January 1970) is a keyboard player, composer, leader and co-founder (with Luca Turilli) of the Italian symphonic power metal band Rhapsody of Fire. He does the orchestral arrangements in all the band's songs.[1] Following the split with Turilli, Staropoli is Rhapsody of Fire's only remaining founding member.
Staropoli was born in Trieste. As a child he was mainly interested in nature – mountains, forests and lakes. At the age of nine he got his first piano and began to study its basics,[1] [2] and at the age of fourteen he bought his first electric guitar. After meeting Luca, but before the creation of Rhapsody of Fire, he bought a Korg 01/W pro keyboard, a model he still uses.[1]
Alex and Luca met in 1990 during a course in mental techniques (how to have more control of your own mind), and together they started the band Rhapsody (later named as Rhapsody of Fire) in 1993.[1]