Derek Paravicini

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Derek Paravicini
Derek Paravicini at the keyboard, 20 April 2008.
Born	July 26, 1979
Known for	Music ability

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

Paravicini was born 15 weeks prematurely. His blindness was caused by oxygen therapy given during his time in a neonatal intensive care unit. This also affected his developing brain, resulting in his severe learning disability. Furthermore Paravicini developed autism. However, he also has absolute pitch and can play a piece of music after hearing it once. He began playing the piano by the age of two. His parents arranged for him attend the Linden Lodge School for the Blind in London. On his introductory visit to the school, in the music room he broke free from his parents, then headed staight for a piano being played, and then pushed the player aside to take over. Adam Ockelford who was the teacher that day encouraged him and arranged first weekly and then daily lessons.^[1]^[2]

In 1989, at the age of nine, 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.^[2] Paravicini is a resident at the Royal National Institute of the Blind.^[2] 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. In addition, he was interviewed by Lesley Stahl for 60 Minutes.^[1]