A Gilded Career: A Q&A with Sir James Galway Celebrating His 85th Birthday

Belfast-born Sir James at age 10. Photo courtesy of the Galways.

A school photo: Sir James (age 12) is seated second from left. Photo courtesy of the Galways.

Honing his skills at 16. Photo courtesy of the Galways.

Sir James with Phillip Moll. Photo courtesy of the Galways.

Sir James and John Denver ca. 1979–80. Photo courtesy of the Galways.

Sir James meets Queen Elizabeth II at the 1979 Royal Variety Performance. Photo courtesy of the Galways.

Sir James and Henry Mancini in 1984. Photo courtesy of the Galways.

Sir James shares a jovial moment with The Chieftans in 1986. Photo courtesy of the Galways.

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day in 1998 with President Clinton at The White House. Photo courtesy of the Galways.

Sir James on stage with Lorin Maazel ca. 2000. Photo courtesy of the Galways.

Sir James with Mr. Murumatsu. Photo courtesy of the Galways.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Sir James, and Lady Jeanne in 2015. Photo courtesy of the Galways.

Composer Bill Whelan and Sir James. Photo courtesy of the Galways.

Sir James at the 2009 NFA Convention in New York City. (NFA Archive.)

Sir James receives the 2009 NFA Lifetime Achievement Award from Leonard Garrison. (NFA Archive.)

Sir James and NFA flutists break the Guinness World Record for Largest Flute Ensemble at the 2009 convention in New York City. (NFA Archive)

A dedicated teacher. Photo courtesy of the Galways.

Sir James and Lizzo recorded Henry Mancini's Pink Panther theme in 2023. Photo courtesy of the Galways.

Sir James with the flutists of the Berlin Philharmonic in August 2023. Photo courtesy of the Galways.

Sir James's 85th Birthday concert in Lucerne, Switzerland. Photo courtesy of the Galways.

Lady Jeanne and Sir James (center) with Galway Flute Foundation Competition Winners Zeynep Canay, Valerie Teresa Walter, Chris Boyadjiev, and Louis Liu at the 85th birthday concert. Photo courtesy of the Galways.

Lady Jeanne, Karl-Heinz Schütz, Sir James, and Gareth Davies at the 85th birthday celebration. Photo courtesy of the Galways.

Phillip Moll, Gareth Davies, and Sir James at the 85th birthday celebration. Photo courtesy of the Galways.

Lady Jeanne, harpist Anneleen Lenaerts, Sir James, and flutist Karl-Heinz Schütz at the 85th birthday celebration. Photo courtesy of the Galways.