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Michael Ballam

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Michael Ballam
Born (1951-08-21) August 21, 1951 (age 73)
Logan, Utah, U.S.[1][2]
EducationUtah State University (B.M.)
Indiana University (M.M., D.M.)
OccupationOpera singer (tenor)
Spouse
Laurie Israelsen
​
(m. 1972)​
Children6, including Vanessa Ballam
Websitemichaelballam.com

Michael Lynn Ballam (born August 21, 1951)[3][4] is an American opera singer, educator, and arts administrator.

He is the founding general director of Utah Festival Opera[5][6] and a professor of music at Utah State University. He has served on the faculty of the Music Academy of the West, where he also studied,[3][7] and as a guest lecturer at Stanford, Yale, Catholic University,[8] and Manhattan School of Music.

Biography

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Early life and education

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Michael Ballam was born in Logan, Utah to Grant Lamb Ballam, a pharmacist, and his wife, Marianne Fullmer.[9][10] He was raised in River Heights, a town adjacent to Logan.[2][11] Ballam credits his great-grandfather, an immigrant from Denmark, as an inspiration for his pursuit of music and Latter-day Saint Christianity.[12][13]

In 1956, he made his stage debut at Logan's Capitol Theatre, now the Ellen Eccles Theatre.[14] He attended Sky View High School in the neighboring town of Smithfield,[15] where he was cast as Wang Ta in Flower Drum Song and Billy Bigelow in Carousel, among others.[16] After graduation, he attended the nearby Utah State University to pursue a degree in music education.[17][18] He continued to sing in musical theater productions and expanded his repertoire to include opera, oratorio, and concert recital works.

At the age of 24, Ballam became the youngest recipient of a Doctor of Music with Distinction in the history of Indiana University.[19][20] At Indiana, his ten roles performed included Andres in Wozzeck, the title role in The Tales of Hoffmann, and Rodolfo in La bohème. In 1976, he was the first student to perform the title role in Parsifal.[21]

Professional work

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Ballam has performed with many national houses, including the San Francisco,[22] Metropolitan,[23] Houston Grand,[23] Washington National,[23][24] San Diego,[25] and Michigan[26] Operas. In 1978, he premiered the role of Beelzebub in Penderecki's opera Paradise Lost at Chicago Lyric Opera.[27] Ballam also premiered the role of Coyote in Mollicone's 1998 opera Coyote Tales.[5]

Ballam's recital venues have included Kennedy Center,[28] Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Notre-Dame, and the Salt Lake Tabernacle. Ballam has also performed as a soloist at the White House and the Vatican.

As an actor, Ballam has starred in Clubhouse Detectives,[29][30] as the Apostle Paul in the BYU Studios biopic The Chosen Vessel, as well as Lucifer in the 1990 temple film used in the endowment ordinance.[31]

Ballam is also an oboist and pianist.[32][33]

Illness

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In 1987, Ballam was performing La Traviata in Caracas when he suddenly lost his ability to sing. He returned to his home in New York City and visited his ENT. After testing, Ballam was informed that the cause of his illness was a mystery and that he should prepare for a poor prognosis. Physicians in Denver and Houston provided similar perspectives. He returned to his family in Logan, Utah. It was later discovered that Ballam had suffered from a sinus infection that had progressed into his cranial cavity as a bone infection and subsequently into his lungs. Doctors operated on his skull and prescribed a regimen of antibiotics. Ballam recovered quickly.[34][35]

Utah Festival Opera

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When Ballam returned to Logan in 1987, he joined the music faculty of Utah State University.[36] He was soon notified that the Capitol Theatre, where Ballam first performed as a child, was to be torn down to make room for a parking lot. Ballam ran a successful, multi-million dollar campaign to save, restore, and expand the building, which had fallen into disrepair. Upon completion, the theater had its name changed to the Ellen Eccles Theatre, honoring the community service and character of Ellen Stoddard Eccles (1867-1957) and her family.[37][38] In subsequent years, Ballam has also led the restoration and renovation projects of several other historic cultural landmarks in Logan, Utah, including the Utah Theatre and the Dansante Building.[1][38][39]

In 1992, Ballam founded Utah Festival Opera,[40][41] which presented its first season in the summer of 1993.[34][42] Since its inception, Ballam has stood as general director of the company, as well as one of its recurring performers. Most Utah Festival Opera productions are performed on the stages of the Ellen Eccles and Utah Theatres. The repertory company has continued to grow, now staging six shows and several concerts each summer.[43]

For the 30th anniversary season in 2022, Ballam reprised his role as Cervantes/Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha.[44]

Additional contributions

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"[Michael Ballam's] more than an entertainer.
He's got a heart of gold. He does it quietly.
He doesn't make a show of it.
He believes in music and goodness."

—Thomas S. Monson, former president of the LDS Church[45]

Ballam has authored over forty publications and recordings in international distribution, and produced/performed a weekly radio program on Utah Public Radio.[32][46] He is frequently asked to hold lectures worldwide on the creative arts, more specifically music, and their interaction with the functions of the mind, their use in enhancing education, and as sources of therapy and motivation.

Ballam currently serves on the Board of Directors of several professional arts organizations.

Achievements

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Faith

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Ballam is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[12][47] He has written and lectured on the relationship between music and the doctrines of the Church.[48][49][50] The Church created the position of "musical missionary-at-large" specifically for him.[51]

In 1999, Ballam sang "Panis Angelicus" by Cesar Franck at the funeral of his friend and supporter,[52] influential LDS author and historian Leonard J. Arrington.[53] Ballam also sang for the 90th birthday celebration of LDS president Gordon B. Hinckley.[54]

Family

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Ballam's grandfather, Oral Ballam, was a veteran in World War II. When he returned to the United States, he was educated at Utah State University, and received an Ed. D. from UCLA. After graduation, he was granted a Ford Foundation Fellowship, which allowed him further study at Stanford and Columbia Universities. He was a public school administrator in Cache Valley before becoming a professor at USU in 1963. In 1969, he was appointed Dean of the College of Education, retiring in 1992.[55][56][57]

Ballam is also descended from J. W. Summerhays, the patriarch of a musical dynasty in the Utah region and a singer himself. Summerhays emigrated from Europe as an LDS convert in 1866.[9][58]

Michael's daughter, Vanessa, is a performer,[59][60] stage director,[61][62] and former Miss Utah.[63] She is also a theatre professor at Idaho State University[64] and education director for Utah Festival Opera.[65] Michael's son, Benjamin, whose mobility is affected by spina bifida,[66][67] has appeared in some Utah Festival productions.[68][69] Michael Ballam has four other children with his wife, Laurie. He currently resides in Logan, Utah.

References

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  1. ^ a b Boone, Ray (2020). "Utah Theatre Turned Into 'Time Machine' Showcasing Classic Films". KSL-TV. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Opsahl, Kevin; Dolan, Sean (2017). "Cache Chamber, Downtown Alliance give annual business awards". The Herald Journal. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  3. ^ a b International Who's Who in Music and Musicians' Directory. Vol. 10. Cambridge: Melrose Press. 1981. p. 46.
  4. ^ Sweeney, Michael S. (2008). Last Unspoiled Place: Utah's Logan Canyon. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic. p. 149. ISBN 9781426202827. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Mesa, Franklin (2015). "Ballam, Michael". Opera: An Encyclopedia of World Premieres and Significant Performances, Singers, Composers, Librettists, Arias and Conductors, 1597-2000. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 306. ISBN 9781476605371. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  6. ^ Johnston, Jerry (2015). "Battling the wind, rain and tigers in Cache Valley". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  7. ^ "Alumni Roster". musicacademy.org. Archived from the original on June 5, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  8. ^ "Past Visitors and Scholars". Departments of Music. Catholic University of America. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Stowe, Dorothy (1995). "Deep-Rooted Heritage Sprouts Artistic, Musical Generations". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  10. ^ Who's Who in the West (16 ed.). Berkeley Heights, New Jersey: Marquis Who's Who. 1978. p. 33.
  11. ^ Johnston, Jerry (1991). "Ballam Takes America's Music to America". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Ballam, Michael (2011). "Michael Ballam: My Testimony of the Book of Mormon". FAIR. Redding, CA. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  13. ^ Ballam, Michael (2013). "Michael Ballam". MormonArtist.net (Interview). Interviewed by Ananda Isaksen. Mormon Artist.
  14. ^ Housley, Hailee; Reid, Kiel (2013). "Longtime Logan residents reflect on city changes through the years". The Utah Statesman. Logan, Utah: Utah State University. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  15. ^ Lincoln, Ivan M. (1989). "Logan Man has had a Trilling Life in the Opera". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  16. ^ "Performances of Michael Ballam". MichaelBallam.com. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  17. ^ "USU Alumni = Great Success". Utah State University. Logan, Utah. 2007. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  18. ^ "Utah State University Commencement". Logan, Utah: Utah State University. 1972. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  19. ^ Holland, Dr. James M. C. (2012). Singing Excellence and How to Achieve It (3rd ed.). Bloomington: Xlibris. p. 80. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  20. ^ "Welcome to the Utah Festival Opera". Ufoc.org. Archived from the original on February 24, 2008. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  21. ^ Tobias, Marianna Williams (2010). Opera for All Seasons: 60 Years of Indiana University Opera Theater. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. pp. 138, 362. ISBN 9780253353405. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  22. ^ "Performance Archive". San Francisco Opera. 2004. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  23. ^ a b c Perkins, Will (2017). "4". Incorporating Musical Theater in the Classical Voice Studio (PDF) (DM). Bloomington: Indiana University. p. 48. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  24. ^ Rich, Maria F., ed. (1982). "First Performance Listing" (PDF). Central Opera Service Bulletin. Vol. 24, no. 1. New York City: Central Opera Service; Metropolitan Opera. p. 58. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  25. ^ Herman, Kenneth (1986). "Foss Set to Spin Ghost Tales for 'Lighthouse'". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  26. ^ Townley, R. Edward (ed.). "Profiles" (PDF). Michigan Opera Theatre: Official Program Book. No. 1981–1982. Detroit: Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts.
  27. ^ Humphrey, Mary Lou (1979). "Paradise Lost: Penderecki's Operatic Enigma". Music Journal. 37 (1). New York City: 13. ProQuest 1290708047.
  28. ^ Hume, Paul (1982). "Michael Ballam". The Washington Post. Washington, D. C. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  29. ^ Michael Ballam at IMDb
  30. ^ Young, R. G. (2000). The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Film: Ali Baba to Zombies. Lanham, Maryland: Applause. p. 106.
  31. ^ Merrill, Kieth (2005). "A Family Film Made For Families by a Family". Meridian Magazine. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  32. ^ a b Orellana, Roxana (2009). "Ballam will discuss the healing power of music". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  33. ^ Rothschild, Abigale M. (1999). "BYU Women luncheon to offer good time, entertainment". The Daily Universe. Provo, Utah: BYU. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  34. ^ a b Benson, Lee (2012). "About Utah: Logan arts scene enriched by Michael Ballam's return home". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  35. ^ Parkinson, Paul (2014). "Miracles in Cache Valley: Michael Ballam & The Utah Festival Opera". Fibonacci Fine Arts Digest. Vol. 1, no. 2. p. 76. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  36. ^ "Faculty and Professional Staff - USU Catalog" (PDF). Utah State University (PDF). Logan, Utah. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  37. ^ Johnston, Jerry (1992). "Logan Brims with Pride, Hope Over Renovated Opera Theater". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  38. ^ a b Israelsen, Boyd P. (1997). "Restored and Revitalized:Logan's Eccles Theatre". Utah Preservation Magazine. Vol. 1. Utah Division of State History. p. 24 – via Image Publications.
  39. ^ Allison, John (2011). "Opera Festivals, 2011". Opera (British magazine). Vol. 62, no. 1. London: Rolls House Publishing Company. p. 123.
  40. ^ "Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre". Charity Navigator. Saddle Brook, New Jersey. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  41. ^ Wilde, Whitney Butters (2017). "What you need to know about the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  42. ^ "Utah Festival Opera". Visit Utah. Utah Office of Tourism. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  43. ^ Schill, Charlie (2021). "Utah Festival Opera unveils 2022 summer season shows". Cache Valley Daily. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  44. ^ Schill, Charlie (2022). "Logan impresario Michael Ballam reprises the role of Don Quixote". Cache Valley Daily. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  45. ^ Robinson, Doug (2002). "Michael Ballam: Utah tenor's career comes full circle". Deseret News. Salt Lake City.
  46. ^ "Michael Ballam Recordings". Phoenix Productions. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  47. ^ Maxwell, Neal A. (August 18, 1992). The Inexhaustible Gospel (Speech). Devotional address. Brigham Young University. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  48. ^ Ballam, Michael (1991). "Music's great power can uplift and inspire - or promote evil". Church News. Salt Lake City: Deseret News. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  49. ^ Ballam, Michael (August 17, 1998). The Power of Music to Lift and Teach (Speech). BYU Education Week. Provo, Utah. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  50. ^ Ballam, Michael (August 16, 1999). The Healing Power of Music (Speech). BYU Education Week. Provo, Utah. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  51. ^ "Deseret News, October 28th, 2002". Deseretnews.com. October 28, 2002. Archived from the original on December 5, 2003. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  52. ^ Rudolph, Walter B. (2017). Opera and its Voices in Utah (lecture). Logan, Utah: DigitalCommons@Utah State University. Retrieved August 4, 2022 – via YouTube. ...the very first tickets sold when [Utah Opera Festival] opened in 1993 were purchased by Leonard Arrington.
  53. ^ Anderson, Lavina Fielding, ed. (1999). "In Memoriam, Leonard J. Arrington". Journal of Mormon History. 25 (1): 8. JSTOR 23287736. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  54. ^ "Year of transition: Church progresses in many ways". Deseret News: Church News Archives. Salt Lake City. 2000. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  55. ^ "New temple presidents". Deseret News: Church News Archives. Salt Lake City. 1993. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  56. ^ "USU Dean is 1st to Join Educators Hall of Fame". Deseret News: Church News Archives. Salt Lake City. 1990. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  57. ^ "Remembering College of Education Dean, Oral Ballam (1967-1992)". Logan, Utah: Utah State University. 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  58. ^ Stowe, Dorothy (1995). "Summerhays: A Pioneer Legacy". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  59. ^ Coleman, Robert (2014). "Review: 'Les Miserables' leads standout Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre lineup". The Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake City. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  60. ^ Dunham, Mike (2013). "Hilarious choreography makes for entertaining 'Pirates'". Anchorage Daily News. Alaska Dispatch. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  61. ^ Neeley, Kate (2022). "Utah Festival Opera's The Magic Flute is Nothing Short of Enchanting". Front Row Reviewers. Ogden, Utah. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  62. ^ Little, Jill (2010). "Utah State Theatre Brings Family-Friendly 'Seussical the Musical' to USU". Utah State Today. Logan, Utah: Utah State University. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  63. ^ Bluemlein, Ann (1999). "Miss Utah title comes to Cache queen". The Herald Journal. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  64. ^ Rushdi, Farid (2013). "ISU now home to stage performer: Former Miss Utah, husband fall in love with university". Idaho State Journal. Pocatello, Idaho. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  65. ^ "Staff Directory: Utah Festival Administrative Staff". Utah Festival Opera. Logan, Utah. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  66. ^ Maxwell, Neal A. (1996). Becometh As a Child (Speech). General Conference. Salt Lake City. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  67. ^ Breton, Ann (2007). "'Life-altering' birth defects topic at U." Deseret News. Salt Lake City. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  68. ^ Coleman, Robert (2010). "UFO rolls a winner on opening day". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  69. ^ Schill, Charlie (2021). "UFOMT artists let their hair down at Late Night Cabaret". Cache Valley Daily. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
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