Emma Lucy Gates Bowen

Emma Lucy Gates Bowen

Emma Lucy Ann Gates Bowen (November 5, 1882 – April 30, 1951) was an American opera singer and later the wife of Albert E. Bowen, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). She was often referred to as Lucy Gates and after her marriage as Lucy Gates Bowen or Lucy Bowen.

Biography

Emma Lucy Gates was born to Jacob F. Gates and Susa Young, in St. George, Utah Territory. She was a granddaughter of Brigham Young.

Gates did not began her formal musical studies until the age of 12. She studied both violin and piano as well as vocal performance. In 1898, she traveled to Göttingen, Germany to study. The next year she began studies at the Berlin Conservatory, but later began private studies under Blanche Corelli.

Gates received a contract with the Royal Opera of Berlin in 1909 and in 1911 became the prima coloratura soprano with the Kassel Royal Opera. In 1915, Gates formed the Lucy Gates Grand Opera Company with her brother B. Cecil Gates. In July 1916, Gates married widower Albert E. Bowen. After her marriage, she continued performing in operas and did recordings with Columbia Records.

Lucy and Albert did not have any children of their own, but she raised his two sons from his first marriage.

In 1928, Lucy Bowen served as an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention from Utah.[1] In 1937, Albert Bowen was called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church and it was about this time that Lucy ended most of her public music appearances, although she continued teaching those seeking to enter opera until her death. Her last public concert appearance was in 1948.

Bowen died in Salt Lake City of a cerebral hemorrhage,[2] leaving her husband a widower for the second time.

Legacy

One of the Heritage Halls at Brigham Young University is named for Bowen.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Lawrence Kestenbaum. "political graveyard listing for Bowen". Politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 2013-03-19.
  2. ↑ State of Utah death certificate.

References

  • Madsen, Carol Cornwall (1994), "Bowen, Emma Lucy Gates", in Powell, Allan Kent, Utah History Encyclopedia, Salt Lake City, Utah: University of Utah Press, ISBN 0874804256, OCLC 30473917
  • Ernest L. Wilkinson, ed., Brigham Young University: The First 100 Years (Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 1975) Vol. 2, p. 732-733.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.