Vera Gow - Revision history

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Created page with "Vera Gow (1942-) is an opera singer. ==Biography== Vera Gow was born in Cape Town in 1942. Her primary school years were spent near Evaton in the Gauteng Province where her..."

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Vera Gow (1942-) is an opera singer.

==Biography==

Vera Gow was born in Cape Town in 1942. Her primary school years were spent near Evaton in the Gauteng Province where her father was Dean of the Theological School at the Wilberforce Institute of the African Methodist Church (A.M.E.). In Evaton, Gow was immersed in an ethos of music and culture, singing in the church and at community weddings. She was profoundly influenced by the Manhattan Brothers and Dolly Rathebe who performed at her school.

At the age of 15, Gow moved to Cape Town, where at Trafalgar High School, she thrived in the vibrant milieu of culture and liberation politics, singing in school productions such as ''[[The Peasant Cantata]]'' and ''[[Hiawatha’s Wedding]]''. At 17, Gow joined the legendary [[EOAN Group]] in District Six, where, under the guidance and leadership of its founder, Mrs Southern-Holt, young people were taught drama, ballet and classical singing.

Having qualified as a social worker in 1965, Gow began to work among farm-workers in the Western Cape to improve their working conditions while highlighting the pernicious impact of the “tot system”. In 1979, she moved to Johannesburg to pursue her career as a social worker.

==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==

Gow became a regular singer with the [[EOAN Group]] and toured the country singing the female role of Flora, and later Violetta, in ''[[La Traviata]]'', Lolla in ''[[Cavallieria Rusticana]]'', Muzzetta in ''[[La Bohéme]]'', Leonora in ''[[Il trovatore]]'', the title role in ''[[Carmen]]''. Other productions include ''[[South Pacific]]'' (1968) and ''[[Carmen Jones]]'' (1970).

==Awards==

In 1972, Gow won the Johann Nel Award from the Cape Town Players’ Club for her substantial contribution to the arts in the Western Cape.

She was awarded [[The Order of Ikhamanga in Silver]] for her excellent contribution to the development of arts and culture in South Africa and sterling performance in the field of operatic music.

==Sources==

https://www.thepresidency.gov.za/vera-gow-adams-1942

==Return to==

Return to [[ESAT Personalities G]]

Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]

Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]

Return to [[Main Page]]

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 In 1972, Gow won the Johann Nel Award from the Cape Town Players’ Club for her substantial contribution to the arts in the Western Cape.
-She was awarded [[The Order of Ikhamanga in Silver]] in 2004 for her excellent contribution to the development of arts and culture in South Africa and sterling performance in the field of operatic music.
+She was awarded The [[Order of Ikhamanga]] in Silver in 2004 for her excellent contribution to the development of arts and culture in South Africa and sterling performance in the field of operatic music.
 ==Sources==

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 Vera Gow was born in Cape Town in 1942. Her primary school years were spent near Evaton in the Gauteng Province where her father was Dean of the Theological School at the Wilberforce Institute of the African Methodist Church (A.M.E.). In Evaton, Gow was immersed in an ethos of music and culture, singing in the church and at community weddings. She was profoundly influenced by the [[Manhattan Brothers]] and [[Dolly Rathebe]] who performed at her school.
-At the age of 15, Gow moved to Cape Town, where at Trafalgar High School, she thrived in the vibrant milieu of culture and liberation politics, singing in school productions such as ''[[The Peasant Cantata]]'' and ''[[Hiawatha’s Wedding]]''. At 17, Gow joined the legendary [[EOAN Group]] in District Six, where, under the guidance and leadership of its founder, Mrs Southern-Holt, young people were taught drama, ballet and classical singing.
+At the age of 15, Gow moved to Cape Town, where at Trafalgar High School, she thrived in the vibrant milieu of culture and liberation politics, singing in school productions such as ''[[The Peasant Cantata]]'' and ''[[Hiawatha’s Wedding]]''. At 17, Gow joined the legendary [[EOAN Group]] in District Six, where, under the guidance and leadership of its founder, [[Helen Southern-Holt]], young people were taught drama, ballet and classical singing.
 Having qualified as a social worker in 1965, Gow began to work among farm-workers in the Western Cape to improve their working conditions while highlighting the pernicious impact of the “tot system”.  In 1979, she moved to Johannesburg to pursue her career as a social worker.

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 ==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
-Gow became a regular singer with the [[EOAN Group]] and toured the country singing the female role of Flora, and later Violetta (1967), in ''[[La Traviata]]'', Lolla in ''[[Cavalleria Rusticana]]'', Muzzetta in ''[[La Bohéme]]'', Leonora  in ''[[Il trovatore]]'' (1965), the title role in ''[[Carmen]]'' (1965). Other productions include ''[[South Pacific]]'' (1968) and ''[[Carmen Jones]]'' (1970).
+Gow became a regular singer with the [[EOAN Group]] and toured the country singing the female role of Flora, and later Violetta (1967), in ''[[La Traviata]]'', Lolla in ''[[Cavalleria Rusticana]]'' (1960), Muzzetta in ''[[La Bohéme]]'', Leonora  in ''[[Il trovatore]]'' (1965), the title role in ''[[Carmen]]'' (1965). Other productions include ''[[South Pacific]]'' (1968) and ''[[Carmen Jones]]'' (1970).
 ==Awards==

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 ==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
-Gow became a regular singer with the [[EOAN Group]] and toured the country singing the female role of Flora, and later Violetta (1967), in ''[[La Traviata]]'', Lolla in ''[[Cavalleria Rusticana]]'', Muzzetta in ''[[La Bohéme]]'', Leonora  in ''[[Il trovatore]]'', the title role in ''[[Carmen]]''. Other productions include ''[[South Pacific]]'' (1968) and ''[[Carmen Jones]]'' (1970).
+Gow became a regular singer with the [[EOAN Group]] and toured the country singing the female role of Flora, and later Violetta (1967), in ''[[La Traviata]]'', Lolla in ''[[Cavalleria Rusticana]]'', Muzzetta in ''[[La Bohéme]]'', Leonora  in ''[[Il trovatore]]'' (1965), the title role in ''[[Carmen]]'' (1965). Other productions include ''[[South Pacific]]'' (1968) and ''[[Carmen Jones]]'' (1970).
 ==Awards==

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 ==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
-Gow became a regular singer with the [[EOAN Group]] and toured the country singing the female role of Flora, and later Violetta, in ''[[La Traviata]]'', Lolla in ''[[Cavalleria Rusticana]]'', Muzzetta in ''[[La Bohéme]]'', Leonora  in ''[[Il trovatore]]'', the title role in ''[[Carmen]]''. Other productions include ''[[South Pacific]]'' (1968) and ''[[Carmen Jones]]'' (1970).
+Gow became a regular singer with the [[EOAN Group]] and toured the country singing the female role of Flora, and later Violetta (1967), in ''[[La Traviata]]'', Lolla in ''[[Cavalleria Rusticana]]'', Muzzetta in ''[[La Bohéme]]'', Leonora  in ''[[Il trovatore]]'', the title role in ''[[Carmen]]''. Other productions include ''[[South Pacific]]'' (1968) and ''[[Carmen Jones]]'' (1970).
 ==Awards==