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GALLOWAY -- James "Santa Fe" Galloway, Pianist, Composer, Playwright, born 20 August 1938 died 30 August 2003. Musically gifted from a young age James played clarinet in his grade school band and studied piano at the Danfelser School. At age 10 he and a pal directed a 3-act play, and by age 13 in addition to writing many skits for variety shows, he and a couple of friends wrote and directed their first play. At the old AHS he was on the staff and a contributor to the school literary magazine, participated in the theatre program, played clarinet and oboe and helped write the original operetta that was produced each year by the music theory class. While at UNM he had a one-act play produced at Rodey Theatre and wrote the music for another. He also danced the lead of "Billy the Kid" with the Modern Dance Dept. He received his BFA in Piano and began graduate studies in piano and composition. A scholarship took him to Mexico City to study with the founder and conductor of the National Orchestral of Mexico where he had his professional debut as a concert pianist. Following that he was invited to Bucharest, Romania for the Gerges Enescu Competition. He was awarded a Fullbright Fellowship and spent two years in Brazil studying the music of that country. This was followed by a solo concert tour throughout South America as a musical ambassador for the US State Dept. From sketches he made in Brazil he wrote his 1st Piano Concerto, "Maractu", which premiered with the NM Symphony, and was later reworked into a ballet score for the Harkness Ballet in NY, where he was musical director for a time. His Brazilian "Bahia" songs for Soprano and Orchestra were premiered in Wisconsin and later performed at Carnagie Hall. Reviews of that work termed him "a master of orchestration, producing a score glittering with vivid color, savage rhythms and changing moods". His works, both music and drama, were commissioned by a number of groups across the country from New York, Nashville, Minnesota, and many in New Mexico. His "Santa Fe Spirit" won the Special Music Award from the Western Heritage Center in Oklahoma. Work he did with La Compania de Albuquerque’s production of Tierra Sagrada especially pleased him. Five of his plays were premiered at the U of Albuquerque. "Resurrection" won both Best Play and Best Playwright, and "Mirage" won Outstanding Production from the American College Festival. The musical comedy, "Travelin’ Show" was a joint venture by the drama and music Depts. at UNM and was a roaring success. It was also performed in Raton, Gallup and Red Rock. Opera SW has premiered four of his operas, the latest was just last June. He is survived by a nephew, Craig Fox, a niece, Carla Fox and Steve Slater, their children Stephanie and Kathleen Slater, a niece Chelsea Fox and Scott Harnish, their children Bailey and Kenzie Harnish and the many colleagues and friends who loved him. A viewing will be from 3 - 7 pm on Sunday 7 August. Service is at 11 am on Monday 8 August, both at French Mortuary on University, just north of Lomas. A Memorial Tribute to celebrate some of his prolific contribution to the performing arts will be held the 4th of October at Stage One Theatre, Pope Pious X High School on N. Coors. Time to be announced.
        Published on: Sat September 06, 2003