James Galway’s Biography, Career, and Legacy

James Galway is an Irish flutist, known as the man with the golden flute with a career spanning decades and over 30 million recordings sold worldwide. He is a skillful interpreter of classical repertoire and a musician who works in multiple genres. James frequently toured, appeared on television shows, promoted his love of music and tried his best to improve the music education for younger musicians. Sir James Galway is a world-recognized master of the flute with a remarkable life story. In this article, we will highlight the key aspects of his biography and creative life. 

How It all Began

James Galway was born on 8 December 1939, in Northern Ireland, in the family of a flute player and a pianist. He was raised as a Presbyterian, which meant he was surrounded by a tradition of flute music and people who performed it from an early age. James’s first teacher, who sparked interest in the flute, was his uncle. James started to learn to play this instrument at the age of nine. His first instrument was a five-key Irish flute. 

When he was eleven, James became a winner of the junior, senior, and open Belfast flute Championships, all three in one day. Galway studied at Mountcollyer Secondary Modern School in Belfast, but left it when he was fourteen. At the age of sixteen, Galway won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music, and then continued his studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Paris Conservatoire. 

In Paris, James took lessons from the well-known French flute player Jean-Pierre Rampal, who shared invaluable insights with James on flute playing technique. However James already felt that he had enough knowledge to start his career. After Paris, he moved to London, where he got his first orchestral flute-playing job at Sadler's Wells Opera. 

This was just the starting point for his further achievements. When he was twenty-one, he played in London’s major opera and symphonic orchestras. During 1969-1975, he also took a position of a solo flutist with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Herbert von Karajan. 

He has been playing as an orchestral flutist for fifteen years and then he switched to a solo career. Actually, James Galway became one of the most successful international flute players. 

James Galway’s Achievements and Legacy

Apart from classical repertoire, James was also involved in contemporary music, including works commissioned for him by composers David Amram, Malcolm Arnold, William Bolcom, John Corigliano, John Wolf Brennan, Lowell Liebermann, and others. He also collaborated with a traditional Irish folk band from Dublin, The Chieftains. Together they released the album James Galway and The Chieftains that reached number 32 in the UK Albums Chart in 1987. 

He was on the same stage with Stevie Wonder, John Denver, Elton John, Henry Mancini, Ray Charles, Jessye Norman, Joni Mitchell, Andrea Bocelli. In 1990, he performed with Pink Floyd at the Berlin Wall, he took part in the Nobel Peace concert in Norway  in 1990, and performed for Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

James Galway devoted much time to education and did his best to improve the educational system regarding music.  He is known for his support for numerous charitable organizations, including  Future Talent, Youth Music (UK), FARA, The Caron Keating Foundation, and more. 

Galway is also the president of Flutewise, an organisation engaged in supporting young flutists. In 2003, he established the Music Education Consortium to encourage the British Government to provide better music education in schools. 

James Galway’s legacy impresses with its diversity. His discography includes 98 CDs, featuring contracts with Sony Classics, Deutsche Grammophon and the RTE Label. He has even been involved in work on film soundtracks, collaborating with Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Joni Mitchell and Sir Elton John.  This limitless boundaries in Galway’s creativity demonstrated his rich musical range and earned him a reputation as a flutist of the very highest stature.

He has always had a busy schedule with tour dates worldwide.  Even now, in his eighties, he continues to take part in leading festivals, sharing a stage with the best world orchestras and conductors. 

James Galway’s Awards

James Galway has received many notable awards, including gold and platinum CDs.  He was honoured twice by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, with The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1979, and a Knighthood for his services to music

James Galway’s Personal Life 

He married three times. These days he lives with his third wife, who is also a flute player, Jeanne Galway. They have been together since 1984 and frequently appeared on the same stage. They also share their experience through masterclasses. 

Galway likes to visit various churches when he travels around the world. As a Christian he also prays before hitting the stage. He is also known for wearing a cross pendant, which he never considered simple jewellery. 

Currently he plays a Platinum ‘Galway’ Nagahara Flute, specially designed for him. 

Final Word

James Galway is one of the most notable flute players of modern times with an expressive tone and stunning playing technique, who successfully works with various genres, from the classical repertoire to modern music. This diversity made him one of the most commercially successful classical musicians. 

If you’re playing or just learning to play the flute, check out our collection of flute leather accessories, featuring stylish bags in both modern and classical design, as well as spacious backpacks. 

Would you like to learn more about another flute player mentioned in this article as a teacher of James Galway? We invite you to check out 10 Interesting Facts About Jean Pierre Rampal