Folk singer/songwriter Anne Hills to perform Sunday at Elgin coffee house

Some folk singers are known for their performances, their ability to inspire and please an audience. Others are known for their superb musicianship and their collaborations with and ability to inspire other musicians.

Anne Hills is noted for both, and her long career is replete with memorable performances and collaborations, and her many recordings reflect this reality.

Elgin is privileged to have this marvelous musician in concert at the Highland Avenue Coffee House on Sunday, May 15.

The AllMusic guide says, "A stunning soprano tone has made Anne Hills one of contemporary folk music's premier vocalists. Her affinity for choosing unforgettable material and her knack for writing heartfelt original songs have brought her to the upper echelons of her craft."

Hills has won many awards in her illustrious career as a folksinger/songwriter/musician - the 2012 Posi Music Award in Social Justice, the 1998 Parents' Choice Award for her collaboration with Cindy Mangsen on the children's album "Never Grow Up" - to mention only two.

She has performed and recorded with such luminaries as Michael Smith, Bob Gibson, Priscilla Herdman, Steve Gillette, and Tom Paxton, the latter describing her as "quite simply one of my absolute favorite songwriters."

Born in India to educational missionaries, and educated at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, Hills has been touring and performing constantly since the 1970s. A former resident of Chicago, she was one of the founders of Chicago's Hogeye Music.

Anne Hills will bring her amazing voice and her virtuosity on the guitar, banjo, and Tibetan bell (yes, the Tibetan bell) to the Highland Avenue Coffee House.

The performance will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, May 15, at the Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren, 783 W. Highland Ave. in Elgin. Two sets. No cover charge. Light refreshments. Freewill donations are appreciated. For information, call (847) 751-5124.