Philip Gallaway
Second Violinist of the Coull Quartet for 51 years, Philip Gallaway, who died on the 22nd October 2025, was much loved and respected as a player, teacher and chamber music coach, and his erudite and witty introductions to the Quartet’s performances were always hugely appreciated by audiences.
Born in Norfolk in 1954, Philip subsequently studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London with Clarence Myerscough and later with Frederick Grinke. With Roger Coull he was co-founder of the Coull Quartet in 1974, with colleagues David Curtis and Martin Thomas, under the mentorship of Sidney Griller, and moved to the Midlands when the Quartet was appointed as Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Warwick in 1977. This was the start of a residency which was to be a major part of the musical activity at Warwick for over 40 years.
Although the Quartet’s busy schedule occupied most of his time, he also enjoyed fitting in occasional orchestral playing, where he was much in demand. Amongst other things he led the Midlands-based Orchestra da Camera and was Principal Second Violin of Orchestra Viva for many years.
A popular coach, he involved himself in the community and most recently directed the Warwick String Group. On chamber music courses he was well known for his classical music quizzes.
The Coull Quartet has always had a strong affinity with the Channel Islands, and Philip was often to be seen supporting the musical life of Guernsey either in the Guernsey Symphony Orchestra or on the teaching staff of the Elizabeth College Summer Orchestral Course.
In his spare time he devoted much of his time to his family, enjoyed fine wines, but was also a keen gardener, and liked nothing better than tending his allotment, happy to share the fruits of his labours. His colleagues were much amused by his story of how he entered an allotment vegetable competition, initially being very proud to be awarded second prize, but then discovering that in that section he was the only entrant!
Gustav Clarkson
Gustav was the viola player with the Coull Quartet from 2004 until 2010, though he had been a long-standing friend since the early 1970s at the Royal Academy of Music, where he was studying violin with Manoug Parikian. He was a fine violinist and musician of real integrity, and also a person of great kindness and sensitivity with a wonderful sense of humour. While at the RAM, Gustav joined the Bochmann Quartet as their viola player, and on many occasions the Coulls and Bochmanns performed the Octets of Mendelssohn and Shostakovich.
Subsequently, Gustav joined the Eroica Quartet, which specialised in ‘authentic’ performances and recordings of 19th-century repertoire, before joining the Coulls in 2004. There was no ‘difficult’ changeover period, as he instantly fitted very happily into the ensemble. This was the start of six very rewarding and enjoyable years together, which included many performances in the UK, several classical music cruises, and a fascinating tour of China.
While Gustav was with the Coulls, we made recordings for the Somm label of works by Britten, Maw, Mozart and Ian Venables, the latter including Gustav’s fine performance of Venables’ Soliloquy for solo viola and piano. After leaving the Coull Quartet in 2010, Gustav often returned to collaborate with us in performances of larger chamber works such as the Brahms and Tchaikovsky sextets. These were real high points, both socially and musically, which will be greatly missed by us all, as will our occasional but regular meetings with him on his beloved narrowboat at various points on the canal network.
