Award-Winning Musicians to Give Benefit 
Concert for Hadley School

Date:   Saturday, April 21, 2007
Time:  7:30 p.m.
Place:  Music Institute of Chicago-Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston, Ill.

Winnetka? The sound of music and the strumming of guitars will fill the Music Institute of 
Chicago-Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 21, as world-renowned 
musicians Anne Hills and David Roth take the stage in “Spring from Darkness into Light,” a 
concert benefiting The Hadley School for the Blind. 

Hadley instructor Linn Sorge has been a fan of both artists for more than 15 years, and it has been 
a goal of hers to see both artists perform together. 

“Both Anne Hills and David Roth have worthy messages in all that they sing,” said Sorge. “They 
are both incredibly skilled musicians and extraordinary people.”

Hills, one of a few artists with a wide range of musical gifts both as a singer, musician and a 
songwriter, was the recipient of the World Folk Music Association’s 2002 Kate Wolf Memorial 
Award. She said it was an easy decision to be a part of this concert as she has known Linn Sorge 
for many years and blindness has impacted her personally.

“Blindness is a personal issue for me,” said Hills. “My mother lost her sight due to macular 
degeneration over 10 years ago at a time when she was busy assisting my grandmother, who had 
also lost her sight. Both of these women taught me about resilience and patience and broadened 
my awareness of age-related blindness.”

Roth, a former Chicago resident, can’t wait to get home to his roots for this concert. Since 
beginning his career and gathering accolades along the way, he has emerged nationally in the field 
of songwriting and folk music. 

“To be able to offer my songs in support of people who take inspiration or hope from them is a 
great honor to me,” Roth said. “The natural extension of this collaboration is a live event and this 
concert with my long-time friend Anne in my hometown for a good cause like Hadley is a dream 
come true. It’s a privilege to do this.”

In addition to the concert, there will be a silent auction featuring handcrafted items from local 
artisans, raffle prizes and a reception following the concert to meet the musicians. Tickets for the 
event can be purchased in advance or at the door at $15 students/$20 regular. For more 
information visit www.hadley.edu/concert or call Dianna at 847-784-2794. All proceeds benefit 
The Hadley School for the Blind.


The Hadley School, 700 Elm St., Winnetka, is a distance education school that serves over 10,000 
students annually in all 50 states and 100 countries. All courses are offered free of charge to those 
who are blind and Hadley relies on contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations 
to fund its programs.