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Emma Lucy Gates was born on November 5, 1880 in St. George, Utah, one of eleven children. When two, the family moved to Provo. When five, the family moved to the Sandwich Islands. Both of her parents were musically inclined and this influenced Lucy, as she was called. At an early age she sang frequently. She played the missions organ. She could also play the guitar and ukulele.
When nine, the family returned to the United States. When she was thirteen she won a contest for piano playing. Over 10,000 people heard her play at the Salt Lake Tabernacle. The success made young Lucy long to play and study in Europe. Lucy got her wish when her half sister Leah Dunford and her new husband John A. Widtsoe moved to Germany. They sailed for Europe in August of 1898.
She studied the German language and customs at Gottingen, Germany. She also studied music with a university professor. One day he heard her singing and was overwhelmed at her clear, pure voice. He insisted she take voice lessons, even if it meant putting her piano aside. At first she enrolled in the Berlin Conservatory of Music to study voice. But she soon realized that the other courses she would have to take to graduate would take too much time away from singing and playing piano. So she left to find a new voice teacher in Madame Blanche Corelli.
Corelli and others heard her beautiful voice and thought it a wonder that Lucy intended only to use it to sing in church and teach music. A Major Pond of New York wanted her to perform in concerts. Lucy was very confused and asked her parents to help her make the decision. Finally they agreed to allow her to perform. She returned to Utah in 1901 and performed in several church programs in the state. She also worked on establishing an opera company, though it didnt come to fruition until 1915.
Her first professional concert was at Carnegie Hall in February 1902. She co-starred with Florizel, the boy violinist. She did not get rave reviews there but the audience was more receptive in Boston. She continued to perform in the U.S. for several years until her debut in Europe. In 1909 she signed a five year contract with the Royal Opera House of Berlin. She did well there until some contractual problems developed. She left there and signed on with the Royal Opera House of Cassel, Germany. She also performed in another European cities. Then she returned home to Utah for a vacation.
World War I prevented her from returning to Germany. She tried to get work in the U.S., but her long absence had made her less familiar. She got some minor roles with the Metropolitan Opera that were less than satisfactory. Then she accepted a contract with the Chicago Opera. She was able to perform with many of the leading singers and actors of the day. She also performed in some operas in her home state and throughout the eastern United States.
In 1916 she married Albert E. Bowen, an attorney with two children from a previous marriage. He supported her in her career and engaged outside help to take care of the household chores. Her mother still had problems with her performing and the two had words. Eventually Lucy limited her performances to her state and became a music teacher as her mother wished. She never had any of her own children, but adored her two step-children. She died in 1951.
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