Michael Ballam
Michael Ballam has been a successful classical singer for four decades, appearing on every continent, including command performances in the Vatican and the White House.
At the age of 24, Mr. Ballam became the youngest recipient of the degree of Doctor of Music with Distinction in the history of the prestigious Indiana University. An accomplished pianist and oboist, he is the Founder and General Director of the Utah Festival Opera, which is fast becoming one of the nation’s major Opera Festivals. Professor of Music for the past 24 years at Utah State University, he has also been a faculty member at Indiana University, The Music Academy of the West, University of Utah, Brigham Young University (where he was awarded the Teaching Award in Continuing Education in 1992) and guest lecturer at Stanford, Yale, BYU Idaho, Catholic University and Manhattan School of Music (official website).
The composer of many successful songs, Michael’s list of accolades and awards goes on and on. He has 40 publications and recordings in international distribution.
Recent Posts
Right out of High School into Missionary Work
It was expected that there would be a surge in the number of full-time Mormon missionaries, and then that the number would decrease and level out. That’s not what has happened.
The Piano Guys – Five Mormons Creating Beautiful Music
Plato, the classical Greek philosopher, and the founder of the Academy in Athens, once said concerning music, “Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” That...
The Passing of Phil Kesler from Voice Male
Phil Kesler passed away on February 11th, 2010, from metastatic colorectal cancer. His sweet wife, Heidi, and daughter Eden, were by his side at home as he peacefully passed on. Phil had a love of poetry and music, and was with Voice Male from its beginnings, a...
80 Years of “Music and the Spoken Word”
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is celebrating their 80th year of the popular "Music and the Spoken Word" broadcast. Richard L. Evans (pictured) was the beloved announcer for Music and the Spoken Word from 1930 to 1971. Following Brother Evans, two men have carried the...
LDS “Music and the Spoken Word”
TV/Radio Program Makes History in Europe & AmericaWhen the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on July 15, 2009 will celebrate its 80th year of broadcasting the CBS Network program of Music and the Spoken Word, the longest continuous program in the history of radio...