Margaret Hillis

Margaret Hillis (b. Kokomo, October 1, 1921 - d. Evanston, Illinois, February 4, 1998) -- Conductor, teacher, and author. Born and raised in Kokomo, Hillis started piano lessons at age five and then learned several band and orchestra instruments. While still a student, she had her first conducting experience with the Kokomo High School band. After serving as a civilian flight instructor in Muncie during WW II, she graduated from Indiana University with a B.M. in Conducting in 1947. She then attended Juilliard, where she studied with Robert Shaw. She was the founder of the Tanglewood Alumni Chorus, which became the New York Concert Choir and Orchestra. In an era when women were not given many opportunities to conduct professional groups, Fritz Reiner appointed Hillis to establish and conduct the Chicago Symphony Chorus in 1957. She led the group for thirty-seven years, working with musical directors Reiner, Jean Martinon, George Solti, Irwin Hoffman, and Daniel Barenboim. From 1977 to 1993, she won nine Grammy awards with the CSO and Chorus for "Best Choral Performance." The following list of pieces in those recordings represent a compendium of master choral works: Brahms, German Requiem; Beethoven, Missa Solemnis; Haydn, the Creation; Berlioz, Damnation of Faust; Orff, Carmina Burana; Bach, Mass in B Minor; and Verdi, Requiem. She conducted over 600 concerts with the CSO and was a highly sought-after guest conductor, appearing with the orchestras of San Francisco, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Saint Paul, Baltimore, Minnesota, Columbus, Peoria, San Antonio, Terre Haute, and Spokane. Since 1992, Chorus America has awarded the Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence.