American Conductor

Margaret Hillis was born in Kokomo, Indiana, and began studying piano at the age of five. Her conducting debut came early, as she served as assistant conductor of her high school orchestra while still a student. After pausing her education for two years during World War II, she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in composition from Indiana University School of Music in 1947. She went on to study conducting privately with Julius Herford and with Robert Shaw at the Juilliard School, later becoming assistant conductor of Shaw’s Collegiate Chorale.

In 1950, Hillis founded the Tanglewood Alumni Chorus, which evolved into the New York Concert Choir and Orchestra. She also served as a choral conductor for the New York City Opera and the American Opera Society. During her time in New York, she taught choral conducting at both the Juilliard School and Union Theological Seminary. Hillis also established the American Choral Foundation (now Chorus America), an organization dedicated to enhancing the standards of choral performance.

Hillis broke barriers as the first woman to conduct the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, debuting in a special concert in November 1957 and later leading subscription concerts in December 1958. Her performances included Honegger’s Christmas Cantata with the orchestra and chorus. Under her direction, the Chicago Symphony Chorus delivered numerous major choral-symphonic works and won nine Grammy Awards for Best Choral Performance.

Beyond her work with the Chicago Symphony, Hillis was active with community and regional orchestras, including serving as director of the Kenosha Civic Orchestra and the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. She frequently conducted the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the training orchestra of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Beginning in the late 1970s, Hillis became a sought-after guest conductor, appearing with prestigious ensembles such as the National Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, and many others. She also worked with renowned choral groups like the New York Choral Society, Los Angeles Master Chorale, and Gloria Dei Cantores, and led performances at the Santa Fe Opera.