Derek Paravicini

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Derek Paravicini (b. 26 July 1979) is a blind English autistic savant and a musical prodigy. He lives in Surrey, England.

Paravicini was born premature. He has a severe learning disability, and, as a result of oxygen therapy, blindness. However, he also has perfect pitch and can play a piece of music when he has heard it once.

Paravicini began to play the piano at the age of 2. When he was studying at Linden Lodge School for the Blind in London, his teacher Adam Ockelford encouraged him and arranged first weekly and then daily lessons.

In 1989, at the age of 9, Paravicini had his first major public concert at the Barbican Hall in London when he played with Royal Philharmonic Pops Orchestra. More opportunities followed, including playing at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club.

As of 2006, Paravicini was a student at Redhill College of the Royal National Institute of the Blind in Surrey.

During the same year, Paravicini was the main subject of a documentary called Musical Savants. He was also featured in an episode of Five TV's series Extraordinary People in an episode titled "The Musical Genius" which showed his journey to Las Vegas to play in a charity concert with another savant, Rex Lewis-Clack.

Paravicini is the great-grandson of author Somerset Maugham.