Hillis, Margaret (1921—)

American conductor. Born on October 1, 1921, in Kokomo, Indiana; daughter of Bernice (Haynes) Hillis and Elwood Hillis; studied at Indiana University; received her Master's in choral conducting, Juilliard School of Music, 1949.

Was a naval flight instructor for two years during World War II; founded the American Concert Choir and the American Concert Orchestra (1950) which made many international tours for the State Department; conducted the Kenosha Symphony in Wisconsin (1961–68); also conducted the Cleveland Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Akron Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and Chicago Symphony Orchestra among others.

Margaret Hillis was born in Kokomo, Indiana, in 1921, the daughter of Bernice Haynes Hillis and Elwood Hillis. Margaret's earliest memory was of crawling around her grandmother's living room near the pipe organ as an eight-month-old. She would crawl to the grill and keep time by beating the grill work. As a little girl, after listening to a Sousa band, she wanted to conduct an orchestra, not realizing women of that period were not encouraged to conduct male orchestras and bands. In high school, Hillis was as talented at golf as at music and won the Junior State championship. During World War II, she was a naval flight instructor, training for 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. At Juilliard, she studied under Robert Shaw and Julius Herford, receiving her Master's Degree in choral conducting in 1949. For two years, she was Shaw's assistant.

Hillis founded the American Concert Choir and the American Concert Orchestra in 1950. The performing group represented the United States at the Brussels World's Fair, toured extensively for several years, and made numerous broadcasts on all three television networks. By 1977, Hillis was also conducting the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and the Civic Association Orchestra. As conductor of the Chicago Symphony Chorus, she developed one of the finest groups in the world. She also chaired the Department of Choral Activities at Northwestern University.

Margaret Hillis chose choral conducting because orchestral conducting was largely a closed field to women in the 1950s. In later years, she was finally allowed her childhood wish. She took the podium to lead major American musical organizations, including the Chicago, Cleveland, Akron, Minnesota, and Milwaukee symphony orchestras.

John Haag , Athens, Georgia