LDS Witness
Literary

Domenico Ballo: An Italian Convert and Musician of Early Utah (c. 1850s)

Published August 25, 2026 at 7:06 AM

1850s · 1852
West Point, New York; Salt Lake City, Utah
Domenico Ballo
Todd Morgan

Contributed by

Todd Morgan

Beaumont, CA, 92223

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Domenico Ballo was an Italian convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a clarinetist, and a former bandmaster at the United States Military Academy at West Point. After his conversion he gathered with the Saints to Utah, where he formed and led a military band of the Nauvoo Legion (active by 1852) and wrote music for the Salt Lake Temple. Brother Ballo is one of the faith-promoting early Saints who consecrated his gifts of music and discipline to the building up of Zion—leading the Saints' bands and lending his art to the dedication of the Lord's holy house. His life is a witness that the Lord gathers the faithful of every nation and every art to build His kingdom.

Sources & References

'Domenico Ballo, Italian convert, clarinetist, and former bandmaster at West Point,' 'What Music Did Utah Pioneers Perform?,' From the Desk (https://fromthedesk.org/what-music-did-utah-pioneers-perform/); 'Pioneer Bands and Orchestras of Salt Lake City,' IBEW (http://www.ibew.org.uk/dvarch/DV01972.pdf); 'Dominico Ballo,' Contributor 1 (1879): 31–35.

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Filed under

Literary1850sUnited States

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Questions about this account

Who was involved in this account?
The account involves Domenico Ballo. Each person named here also has a witness page collecting the other accounts involving them.
When did this account take place?
The account is set in 1852, in the 1850s.
Where did this account take place?
It took place in West Point, New York; Salt Lake City, Utah.
What kind of miracle is this?
It is filed as a Literary account reported in United States.
Where does this account come from?
'Domenico Ballo, Italian convert, clarinetist, and former bandmaster at West Point,' 'What Music Did Utah Pioneers Perform?,' From the Desk ( 'Pioneer Bands and Orchestras of Salt Lake City,' IBEW ( 'Dominico Ballo,' Contributor 1 (1879): 31–35. The full source citation appears in the Sources section below, with links to the original where available.

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