In Memoriam: Celebrated Operatic Singer and Music Educator, Norma Bowen, Passes Away at 74
January 19, 2024
Norma Bowen, a prominent operatic singer, teacher, musical director, and vocal trainer, passed away at a nursing home at the age of 74. She had an esteemed career as a former student of St Paul’s Girl’s School and the Federal High School, performing with various choirs including St Michael’s Cathedral and All Angels. Norma studied music theory, piano, and voice in Barbados and McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Notably, she was the former director of the Barbados Festival Choir and the Community Mass Choir. She received the Barbados Service Star award and established the music department at Springer Memorial School. Norma also served on the board of the National Cultural Foundation and as a judge for the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts.
Operatic singer, teacher, musical director and vocal trainer Norma Bowen,74, has passed at a nursing home last Friday.
A former student of St Paul’s Girl’s School and the Federal High School, she sang in both choirs and also sang with the St Michael’s Cathedral and All Angels, the Barbados Festival Choir, McGill University Singers and the McGill Opera Studio and Sine Nomine Singers.
Norma, who was the former director of the Barbados Festival Choir and the Community Mass Choir, studied music theory, piano and voice in Barbados and the McGill University in Montreal, Canada.
A Barbados Service Star awardee, she also set up the Springer Memorial School music department, where she retired from in 2015. She also served as a member of the board of the National Cultural Foundation and as a judge with the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts. (NS)
