Who is The Piano star Lucy's teacher Daniel Bath? Inside their close bond ... trends now
Lucy Illingworth captivated the nation at just 13 years old when she performed Debussy's Arabesque on Channel 4's The Piano last year.
The Halifax teen moved viewers to tears as they watched in awe as the blind and autistic pianist recited the piece from memory.
The performance was so moving Lucy was crowned winner of the show February last year with classical pianist Lang Lang, one of the judges, calling her a 'genius'.
The star pianist started playing piano at the tender age of three, and Daniel has been by her side ever since.
Here we take a look at the musician's marvellous bond with her piano teacher and music activist Daniel Bath as The Piano returned to our screens last Sunday.
Lucy Illingworth captured the hearts of the nation last year when she won The Piano in February 2023. Pictured: Lucy, aged 13 and Daniel Bath, her piano teacher at Leeds Station
Lucy and Daniel worked closely together, and he adapted his methods to her blindness and autism. Pictured: Lucy performed at Windsor Castle celebrating the coronation of the King
Lucy's piano teacher humbly branded himself a 'scruffy music teacher' in an X post alongside this picture of him beaming. The music activist aims to champion neurodivergent musicians
It all started at a young age for the piano prodigy, first playing the keyboard when she was aged just two.
Daniel first saw her ability when she played Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, years before the blind and autistic teen performed on stage at the Royal Festival Hall.
In fact, Lily had the chance to start piano lessons with the teacher Daniel when she was just three through the musical charity The Amber Trust, that he is proudly part of.
He recalled: 'I first met Lucy in ball pool at school and I couldn't see anyone in the room at first. And then I saw this little hand sticking out of the ball pool.
'And someone said "Oh that's Lucy". So I put a little keyboard under the hand, and the hand started playing, rather mutinously, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
'And I thought: "Here's a girl for whom music is really important." And it could it be a way of unlocking her language, her social skills, and above all, her enjoyment of life'.
The family upgraded her keyboard and realised she was composing music in her head while sitting on the sofa. She was also able to play back music after listening to it just once.
'From a fairy tale book with a piano on it, she started playing Twinkle Twinkle
