A MUSIC for Autism benefit concert takes place on Friday, March 3 at Malmesbury Abbey from 7.30pm.

John Lubbock and Christine Cairns, musicians and parents of a son with autism, established Music for Autism in the United Kingdom in 2002 to share their love of music with other individuals with autism and their families.

Music for Autism is enhancing the quality of life and raising public awareness through autism- friendly, interactive concerts, presented by professional musicians and developed specifically for individuals with autism and their families in an environment designed to make them feel comfortable. 

The very popular Derek Paravicini Quartet is returning to Malmesbury Abbey to lead a day of activities with pupils from schools in the area and with senior citizens and will then perform a benefit concert in the evening. 

A remarkable musician, Derek, now in his late twenties, was born premature, at 25 weeks, and weighing just over half a kilogram. As a result of the oxygen therapy required to save his life, Derek lost his sight and suffers from learning disabilities.

However, he soon acquired a fascination for music and sound, and, by the age of four, had taught himself to play a large number of pieces on the piano, of some melodic and harmonic complexity.

Derek's first major concert was at the Barbican Halls in London, when he was just 9 and he has since played jazz with the Royal Philharmonic Pops Orchestra and at Ronnie Scott’s renowned jazz clubs in London and Las Vegas.

  • Music for Austism benefit concert takes place at Malmesbury Abbey on Friday, March 3 from 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10 and are available from Malmesbury Abbey bookshop or by calling 01666 826666.