Emma Lucy Gates Bowen
Encyclopedia
Emma Lucy Gates Bowen 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 just Lucy Bowen.
Emma Lucy Gates was the daughter of Jacob F. and Susa Young Gates
, 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 there. 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 company with her brother B. Cecil Gates
. In July 1916 Lucy marred widower Albert E. Bowen. Even after her marriage to Albert Bowen in 1916 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. In 1937 Albert Bowen was called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve 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.
One of the Heritage Halls at Brigham Young University
is named for Bowen.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
opera singer and later the wife of Albert E. Bowen
Albert E. Bowen
Albert Ernest Bowen was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
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 just Lucy Bowen.
Emma Lucy Gates was the daughter of Jacob F. and Susa Young Gates
Susa Young Gates
300px|thumb|Susa Young Gates, portrait bustSusa Young Gates was a writer, periodical editor, and women's rights advocate in Utah....
, and thus a granddaughter of Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
. 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
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to study there. The next year she began studies at the Berlin Conservatory
Berlin Conservatory
Berlin Conservatory may refer to:*Berlin University of the Arts, founded in 1975 with the merger of the Berlin State School of Fine Arts and the Berlin State School of Music. Its history dates back to the Akademie der Künste in 1696...
but later began private studies under Blanche Corelli.
Lucy received a contract with the Royal Opera of Berlin
Berlin State Opera
The Staatsoper Unter den Linden is a German opera company. Its permanent home is the opera house on the Unter den Linden boulevard in the Mitte district of Berlin, which also hosts the Staatskapelle Berlin orchestra.-Early years:...
in 1909 and in 1911 became the prima coloratura soprano with the Kassel Royal Opera
Staatstheater Kassel
The Staatstheater Kassel is a state-owned and -operated theater in Kassel, Germany.- History :A permanent theatre house already existed in Kassel during the first decade of the 17th century. It stood immediately next to the Ottoneum near the State Theatre which is now used as a Natural History...
. In 1915, Lucy formed the Lucy Gates Grand Opera Company company with her brother B. Cecil Gates
B. Cecil Gates
Brigham Cecil Gates was born in Laie, Oahu, Hawaii on August 16, 1887, the second of twelve children of Jacob F. and Susa Young Gates. Following early training in music from teachers at Brigham Young Academy, John H. McClellan and others in Salt Lake City, and the New England Conservatory of...
. In July 1916 Lucy marred widower Albert E. Bowen. Even after her marriage to Albert Bowen in 1916 she continued performing in operas and did recordings with Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
.
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
1928 Republican National Convention
The 1928 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held at Convention Hall in Kansas City, Missouri, from June 12 to June 15, 1928....
from Utah. In 1937 Albert Bowen was called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve 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.
One of the Heritage Halls at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
is named for Bowen.
Sources
- article on Emma Lucy Gates Bowen by Carol Cornwall MadsenCarol Cornwall MadsenCarol Cornwall Madsen is an emeritus professor of history at Brigham Young University where she was a research historian with the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History. She also served as associate director of BYU's Women's Research Institute...
. - Ernest L. WilkinsonErnest L. WilkinsonErnest Leroy Wilkinson was an American academic administrator and prominent figure in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was president of Brigham Young University from 1951 to 1971 and also oversaw the entire LDS Church Educational System. Prior to this, Wilkinson was a lawyer...
, ed., Brigham Young University: The First 100 Years (Provo, UtahProvo, UtahProvo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
: Brigham Young University PressBrigham Young University PressBrigham Young University Press is the university press of Brigham Young University .-History:Brigham Young University Press was formed in 1967 through the consolidation of BYU's various publishing activities into one central organization....
, 1975) Vol. 2, p. 732-733. - Finding aid connected with the Emma Lucy Gates Bowen collection at the Utah State Archives