James Galway - Personal

Personal

In the 1970s Galway moved from Berlin to Lucerne, Switzerland, the home town of his second wife, Anna (Annie) Renggli, one of the daughters of a well-known local architect. They had twins and a son. In 1978 he recorded for her an instrumental version of John Denver's "Annie's Song". it peaked at #3 in the UK Singles Chart. After their divorce he moved to Meggen, Switzerland, a village next to Lucerne, where he resides now with his third wife, the American-born Jeanne Galway (née Cinnante). They often tour together playing duets, accompanied by Phillip Moll on piano. In addition, they give master classes for flutists of all levels.

Galway is also president of a global organisation called Flutewise, a charitable organisation which supports young flute players, run by Liz Goodwin.

In 2003 he formed the Music Education Consortium together with Julian Lloyd Webber, Evelyn Glennie and Michael Kamen to pressure the British Government into providing better music education in schools.

Galway is a dedicated Christian who visits various types of churches while travelling (as long as they are not modern and "happy-clappy") and prays before his concert performances. He also wears a large cross necklace, about which he says, "It's not jewelry. It's something that reminds me of what I should be doing and how I should be behaving." At the same time, he has a strong sense of humor and a readiness to have fun with his music and in conversation with others.

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 is a National Patron of Delta Omicron, an international professional music fraternity.

Galway's nephew, Martin Galway, is a musician famous for his work on Commodore 64 computer game music in the 1980s.

James Galway has the eye condition nystagmus, and is a patron of the Nystagmus Network, a UK-based support group for people with the condition.