Derek Paravicini_Barrow Hills School Concert February 2010

Derek Paravicini, the human i-pod, performed at Barrow Hills School in February 2010. In the afternnon he played for the whole school amazing them with his ability to play what ever they asked, from classical to modern pop. In the evening th local community along with parents attended another concert to raise funds for St Benoit School, Burkina Faso. Although blind and severely learning-impaired, Derek has a unique musical mind that both moves and astonishes all those who hear him play. Derek has performed across the world as a soloist pianist and with renowned musicians such as the BBC TV personality Jools Holland. His talents have been the subject of several international TV documentaries including Channel Five's Extraordinary People series. Derek's astonishing life story has also been captured in a book, In the Key of Genius written by Adam Ockelford, which was serialised in The Mail on Sunday. Since 2005 Barrow Hills School has been linked in friendship with a school in Burkina Faso, Africa called St Benoît School. To date we have raised over £15,000 facilitating many improvements to the school such as a new school building, a kitchen, toilets, a garden for growing vegetables and a perimeter fence -- meaning that passing traffic does not drive through the middle of the school playground! This year we are raising funds for a number of projects including library books, additional computers, re-wiring of the school and furniture. Therefore, all monies raised during the two concerts will go towards these projects. The School is hosting another concert on Friday 4th March 2011 at Haslemere Hall, Haslemere, Surrey, again to raise funds for St Benoit School, Burkina Faso.