Anke Summerhill

Anke Summerhill’s diverse background and powerful gift of observation has seasoned her songwriting and performances with that which makes us compassionate. As a musician, as well as a visual artist and practitioner of healing arts, Summerhill ultimately desires a connection with people, and sees a parallel through each of the arts.Originally from Munich, German is Anke’s first language. Even before she understood a word of English, Anke would listen to the music of some of her favourite singers, songwriters and bands, which included The Beatles, Esther & Abi Ofarim, and later on James Taylor, (a favourite of her English House Mother).When Summerhill’s family moved from Germany to Vancouver, British Columbia, she finished high school in a visual and performing arts program, where she began to study drawing. The study of various vocal styles and the love of singing eventually coaxed her to also pick up the guitar, so she could accompany herself. After completing high school, Anke moved to the small town of Princeton, British Columbia, where she would occasionally sit in to sing vocal harmonies with her friends’ rock n’ roll band.Her travels throughout England, Canada and the United States, eventually led her to make her home in the beautiful Utah desert in the mid 1980’s. While attending Salt Lake Community College to earn a degree in Graphic Design, a fellow student introduced Anke to one of the oldest coffeehouses in Salt Lake City. She co-founded the duo “Stillwater” and before long found herself writing and singing her own songs at the coffeehouse. Inspired and encouraged by her fellow musicians and songwriters, her passion for songwriting continued to grow.Since then, she has had the privilege of being a two-time New Folk Finalist at the Kerrville Folk Festival, and has released two full- length recordings of original songs. She has played her songs in coffeehouses, house concerts and festivals across the US.Of her debut CD release, Dirty Linen Magazine wrote: “Quiet and reflective, but with an inner magic, Summerhill's songwriting has a maturity not usually found in a new artist.”A listener from Illinois wrote: “I LOVE your music and…enjoy listening to your wonderful voice and songs which always make me feel like there is light streaming all around.”Anke’s song: “Stars at Noon”, reflects perfectly the character of the Southern Utah Wilderness she has grown to love. This, and several other songs of hers, have been adopted by environmental organizations, and a variety of other community groups, and have found good homes on compilation recordings as part of their fund raising efforts.Summerhill’s second CD recording, "Shine on Through" was self-released through Sky & Earth Music, to radio stations across the US, Canada and to some stations internationally. In February of 2004, this recording of original songs was ranked highly when surveyed on the Folk DJ list.