About this Artist
MINDY BALL began playing the harp at the age of 12, studying with Marjorie Call-Salzedo. She received her degree in harp performance from Chapman University, graduating with honors. She also trained with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute Orchestra under conductor Leonard Bernstein.
Currently celebrating her 30th year as principal harp with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, she is also principal harp with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and has held principal positions with Opera Pacific and Pittsburgh Opera under John Mauceri. Ball performs regularly for major national and international touring ballet companies and has recorded for major motion pictures and television. Newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register have described her performances as “expressive,” “vigorous and assertive,” and “virtuosic.”
Ball has toured to Europe with the Pacific Symphony, and to Japan and Brazil with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra; she performed for the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach and the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera. In addition, she has played for political dignitaries such as former President George H. W. Bush, former President Richard Nixon, and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
In 1993, Ball founded the Pacific Harp Ensemble, and serves as its director and current conductor. Along with keeping a busy freelance career, she teaches harp at Biola, Chapman, Cal State Fullerton, Vanguard, and Concordia universities, as well as limited private instruction in her own studio. She is founding and past President of the newly formed Orange County chapter of the American Harp Society.
Mindy Ball is married to a retired United Airlines pilot and resides in the city of Orange, along with her dog Sophie and three cats – Gloria, Sanctus, and Benedictus.