Autism success stories – Tim Page

Autism success stories – Tim Page

Each week, along with Autism Care UK we profile a famous face across the autism spectrum. This week we take a closer look at Pulitzer Prize winner Tim Page.

Who is Tim Page?

Probably best known to readers of this blog as the author of Parallel Play: Growing Up With Undiagnosed Asperger's, Page is a writer and music critic and was music critic of the Washington Post where he won a Pulitzer Prize.

Page, from Storrs, Connecticut, and his interest in the arts was evident as early as 1967 when he was the subject of a short documentary – A Day With Jimmy Page – which focused on his early interest in filmmaking. During this period he also studied the piano and started his own band ‘Dover Beach’.

Page headed to New York to attend Mannes College The New School for Music, however after one year he transferred to Colombia University, where he graduated in 1979. By the time of his graduated Page was already cutting his teeth in the world of arts journalism by writing for a number of publications, including Soho News. He was also hosting a regular radio show on Colombia’s radio station. 

After this Page began his association with WNYC-FM, a relationship that would span over a decade. Page presented an afternoon show which featured interviews with composers and musicians. One of his interviews, with Glenn Gould where Page compared the pianist’s two versions of Bach’s Goldberg Variations was released as part of a three-CD set. In 2002, the cd collection A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations 1955 & 1981 became a best seller.

Whilst still broadcasting his radio show, Page joined the staff of the world famous New York Times, as a music writer and culture reporter. He held this role until 1987, when he left to take up a position as chief music critic for Newsday. He stayed there for eight years before moving on again to become Chief Classical Music Critic for The Washington Post. It was during his time at The Post that he won the Pulitzer Prize, in 1997. The board called his work “lucid and illuminating”. As well as his work as a music critic, Page has written widely on film and literature, including his biography of author Dawn Powell, which was published in 1998.

As well as his journalism, Page has been involved in other aspects of the music industry. In 1993 he was the first executive producer for BMG Catalyst, a record label that was dedicated to new and unusual music.

In 1993, Page conceived and then served as the first executive producer for BMG Catalyst, a short-lived record label devoted to new and unusual music. Some of his projects at the short-lived venture included Spiked, an album by Spike Jones and Memento Bittersweet, and Night of the Mayas, the first CD devoted entirely to orchestral works by Silvestre Revueltas,

Page has also produced concerts including some at Carnegie Hall and between 1999 to 2001, he was the artistic advisor and creative chair for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Since leaving his role at The Washington Post, Page has been named a professor of journalism and music at the University of Southern California.

Tim’s experience of Ausperger’s.

As well as his book, Tim wrote an extensive article about growing up with Asperger’s syndrome that can be viewed here: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/08/20/070820fa_fact_page?printable=true