I had the joy of hearing live an incredible musician and dear friend sing: “I sit down in my favorite chair and float downstream. Let my hand drop in the water and catch a dream.” My dream became reality as Anne Hills’ rich voice filled the concert hall at the Music Institute of Chicago during two past benefit performances for our school.

I designed a 2-CD musical component for Hadley’s Social Skills Series, addressing social issues through music. Award-winning acoustic folk musicians Anne Hills and David Roth—both with Chicago roots—were strong supporters. These benefit concerts were prompted by their involvement in my music project.

The Nichols Concert Hall, one of the best acoustic venues in the Chicago area, is typically out of financial reach for a benefit concert. Rick Kogan of WGN Radio helped me work with Fiona Queen, the Institute’s director of performance activities, who helped make this benefit concert happen. Local merchants, blindness agencies and individuals throughout the country donated raffle prizes and artwork for silent auctions. The first year’s expenses were covered by anonymous donations. Many costs for the second performance were covered by Hadley students who were happy for a chance to give back to the school. This year’s performance will be entirely covered by student donations. We’ve raised close to $12,000 thus far while increasing awareness of our school.

“I was thrilled when Linn asked me to be part of these benefit concerts,” says Hills. “Blindness is a personal issue for me. My mother lost her sight to macular degeneration more than 10 years ago at a time when she was assisting my grandmother, who had lost her sight. Both women taught me about resilience and patience and widened my awareness of age-related blindness.”

“To be able to offer my songs in support of people who take inspiration or hope from them is a great honor, so my ‘yes’ was easy and emphatic,” says Roth. “The natural extension of the collaboration with Linn’s project was a live event. These concerts with longtime friend Anne Hills, in my hometown and for a good cause, is a dream come true.”

The concert’s musical messages focus on one’s inner spirit—turning from a feeling of darkness into light while experiencing the growth and learning that comes with vision loss. Several songs address teaching, caring for others and disabilities. We hope to have 300+ in our audience sharing music as they support Hadley’s 90th anniversary. Help make this dream a reality!