Utah tenor, who has son with spina bifida, explains the healing power of music

From The Salt Lake Tribune in Utah:

Utah tenor Michael Ballam's (pictured) life is so surrounded by music that it's not a form of relaxation. But when he finds himself facing personal trials, he'll turn to the choral movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

"That piece always gives me strength in difficult times," he said. "I considered where Mr. Beethoven was and how he was able to create that. It lifts me out of the pity party I'm experiencing."

Having spent most of his 57 years of life onstage opera singer and pianist, Ballam has discovered that music has a far greater influence than just entertainment. The founder and general director of Logan's Utah Festival Opera will share his experience and knowledge in a combination lecture/performance titled "Music as Healing" at the Madeleine Festival May 24.

Organizers of the festival said the topic is especially timely as people experience severe economic hardships. They tapped Ballam for the speech because of his reputation. As a singer, pianist and oboist, Ballam has performed around the world, from the Middle East to the Vatican, and created more than 40 recordings. Locally, his voice is heard weekly on Logan's Utah Public Radio station.

"What I hope we can accomplish is to help people understand how they may tap into the great power that music has to soothe the soul, heal the body," Ballam said. "It's much bigger than applause-generating."

Ballam will sing several songs as examples of music that possesses a strong message
of healing and hope. During the conversation, he will also explore those elements of music that transcend the traditional entertainment value, while drawing upon his personal experience.

The healing power of music, Ballam acknowledged, is nothing new. The difference is living in a time when people can scientifically see how music affects the body.

Hence there is a science today, music therapy, that didn't exist when he was youngster. "If such a field had been available when I was a child, perhaps that would have been the direction I took as opposed to standing on the world stages," Ballam said.

From an early age, Ballam has been compelled to use music to bless people's lives. "I have seen it not only heal people but bring people back from the dead, from comas."

That exploration of music's healing power was further enhanced in raising his son, Benjamin, now 17, who was born with spina bifida, as music has helped the young Ballam overcome significant challenges.

"I don't think a week goes by in my life when I don't see some manifestation of music has help someone get through a difficult time," Ballam said. "And healing isn't just a physical thing. ...There is a lot of mental and emotional anguish people carry with them that are just as painful."