James Galway

British virtuoso flute player and teacher from Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. Born December 8, 1939.
He studied at the Royal College of Music, London, then at The Guildhall School Of Music & Drama, and completed his studies at Conservatoire National Supérieur De Musique Et De Danse De Paris. Following his studies, Galway pursued a career as an orchestral flautist, performing first in the United Kingdom with the Sadler's Wells Opera Company (second flute), the Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra (piccolo player) before being appointed principal flutist of The London Symphony Orchestra (1966-1967) and then of The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1969 Galway won the post of principal flautist of the Berliner Philharmoniker, in which he played until he embarked on a solo career in 1975.
He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1977, and was knighted in 2001, the first wind player ever to receive that honour.
He married Jeanne Galway (his third wife) on September 9, 1984. Uncle of Martin Galway.