Derek Paravicini is one of AMBER's
great success stories – the Trust was
set up when he was little to help him
and other blind and partially sighted
children like him. Now 31, Derek,
who is blind and autistic, has severe
learning difficulties and needs round-
the-clock care, has an extremely rare
gift. He is a musical prodigy whose
piano-playing has thrilled audiences
from London to Las Vegas.

Born prematurely, weighing just 21 ozs,
Derek taught himself to play music on a
toy organ, and, at the age of two before
he could even talk, he could pick out
nursery rhymes.

 Derek playing with Jools Holland

Music proved to be an outlet not only
for expressing himself, but also for
communicating with others – his way of
dealing with a strange and confusing
world. By the age of four, he was
already an exceptional musician in the
making. Even now, he can play and
remember any tune he has ever heard.