Harpist and arranger Ida Louise Frandsen Pratt passed away June 4, 2023, in Manti, Utah, at the age of 95.
Louise Pratt was born May 11, 1928, in Clarion, Utah, to Peter Lafayette Frandsen and Ida Caroline Larsen. While attending Brigham Young University, she met and married Samuel Orson Pratt, whom she married in 1947. She took time away from her college education to begin her music performance career. Louise became principal harpist of the Utah Symphony, then moved to New York City. After Sam landed a job as manager of the Lyon & Healy factory, the couple moved to Chicago. Louise suggested to her husband the idea of creating a small, more affordable harp, inspiring Sam to design the troubadour harp in the late 1950s.
In 1964, Louise moved back to Utah. She returned to BYU to complete her college education, graduating with a degree in music education in 1970. Louise was the harp instructor at BYU for 28 years, until 1995. She also taught music in the Jordan School District in Utah until 1990.
