Derek Paravicini

Biography

Paravicini was born extremely prematurely, at 25 weeks. His blindness was caused by an overdosage of oxygen therapy given during his time in a neonatal intensive care unit. This also affected his developing brain, resulting in his severe learning disability. He also shows symptoms of autism.

He has absolute pitch and can play a piece of music after hearing it once. He began playing the piano at the age of two when his nanny gave him an old keyboard. His parents arranged for him to 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 straight for a piano being played, and then pushed the player, Adam Ockelford, aside to take over. Ockelford encouraged him and arranged first weekly and then daily lessons. Aged seven, Paravicini gave his first concert in Tooting Leisure Centre in South London.

In 1989, at the age of nine, Paravicini had his first major public concert at the Barbican Hall in London when he played with the Royal Philharmonic Pops Orchestra. In that year, he appeared on Wogan and was the main subject of a documentary called Musical Savants.

When he was older, he was presented with a Barnardo's Children's Champion Award by Diana, Princess of Wales for his performances at age seven and nine. More opportunities followed, including playing at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club.

Paravicini's first album Echoes of the Sounds to Be was released on 27 September 2006. His official biography, In the Key of Genius by Adam Ockelford, was published in the UK by Hutchinson (ISBN 978-0091796129) on 3 May 2007.

He was featured on an episode of Channel 5's 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. He was interviewed twice by Lesley Stahl for 60 Minutes. In 2009, he was one of the subjects of the NOVA series' episode "Musical Minds", featuring neurologist Oliver Sacks, on PBS. He was featured a second time by 60 Minutes on 14 March 2010. In 2009, he performed for the former Chancellor Alistair Darling, when he unexpectedly played Big Spender.

On 13 May 2010, Paravicini made legal history when the United Kingdom's last remaining secret court was opened for the first time to discuss his future care. The Court of Protection, which controls the future of adults incapable of managing their own affairs, appointed Paravicini's family to look after his welfare and commercial future. Until that legal decision was made, the Official Solicitor from the Ministry of Justice had been looking after his affairs, rather than his divorced parents, Nicolas Paravicini and Mary Ann Parker Bowles.

On 26 August 2010, Paravicini was featured on the History Channel's Stan Lee's Superhumans. On the show, he was subjected to testing which verified his savantism and musical ability. After Paravicini improvised at two pianos with the composer Matthew King for a radio programme made for BBC Radio 4, they collaborated on a new Piano Concerto entitled Blue, which was first performed with the Orchestra of St John's in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London in September 2011. This is believed to be the first concerto ever composed for someone with learning disabilities.

On 9 March 2013, Paravicini appeared with Adam Ockelford at TEDxWarwick. During the talk, Ockelford discussed Paravicini's amazing musical abilities, while Paravicini demonstrated them.

Family

Paravicini is the son of Nicolas Paravicini and Mary Ann Parker Bowles, sister of Andrew Parker Bowles. Paravicini's aunt (by marriage) was Camilla, who later, by her marriage to the Prince of Wales, became Duchess of Cornwall.

He is a great-grandson of author W. Somerset Maugham and great-great-grandson of Thomas John Barnardo. His stepmother is Susan Rose "Sukie" Phipps (born 1941), who was brought up by Fitzroy Maclean, one of the models for James Bond. His cousins include the food writer Tom Parker Bowles and his sister Laura Lopes.