Emma Lucy Gates Bowen

Emma Lucy Gates Bowen

Emma Lucy Gates Bowen (1882–1951) 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

She was born in 1882 to Jacob F. Gates and Susa Young, and thus a granddaughter of Brigham Young.

She 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.

Lucy 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, Lucy formed the Lucy Gates Grand Opera Company with her brother B. Cecil Gates. In July 1916, Lucy married widower Albert E. Bowen in 1916. 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, 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.

She died in 1951.

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.

References