Professor John Wallace CBE, Principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) and virtuoso trumpet player, was given a warm welcome at the Scottish Brass Band Association’s recent Annual Conference in Stirling.

Captivating

The keynote speaker gave a captivating and witty insight to his life in music; from his first introduction to the cornet aged 8, through his glittering career as a professional musician and on to his current key role as Principal of the RCS.

Liberally sprinkled with affectionate references, sharp observations and self deprecating humour, the audience was left in no doubt that he holds the importance of his own brass band background in the highest regard – as well as the current work SBBA is doing in helping hundreds of children to enjoy banding as he did.

Professor Wallace made it clear that his amazing career has always been underpinned by the foundations laid down by these originsSBBA

Amazing career

A SBBA spokesperson told 4BR: "Professor Wallace made it clear that his amazing career has always been underpinned by the foundations laid down by these origins.

It was obvious that his passion for brass banding remains, and that, both as a musician and as the Principal of the RCS, he fully embraces the important role this form of music plays in the overall picture of Scotland’s arts."