The death has been announced of the Scottish trumpet player, composer and educator John Wallace CBE.

He passed away at a hospice following a short illness on 11th January. He was 76. He is survived by his wife Liz and children, Esme and Cosmo.

Born in Fife, the former co-principal trumpet of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra began his playing career with the Tullis Russell Mills Band, following in the footsteps of his father and lifelong friends.

Proud connection

It was a proud connection that he maintained throughout his life, later returning to conduct and perform with the band in concerts and contests. He also led Foden's and Kirkintilloch Bands at contests and in later years had a close association with the cooperation band. He also adjudicated at the Royal Albert Hall National Finals, British Open and European Championships, as well as in Norway and Sweden.

During his school years he developed his playing experience with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, and went on to study music at King's College, Cambridge under David Willcocks. Further study came at the Royal Academy of Music with Alan Bush and York University with David Blake.

Influential

John Wallace was to become one of the most influential brass soloists, educators and personalities in the UK. He became a passionate advocate for the promotion of music and peripatetic music services both in Scotland and beyond.

Hugely respected as an orchestral performer by colleagues and conductors, following his departure from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1974 he performed with the London Symphony Orchestra, before embarking on a 19-year tenure as principal trumpet of the Philharmonia Orchestra.

He also became a member of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, before founding the Wallace Collection Ensemble in 1986, which maintained a remarkable level of performance linked to historical research.

He was an editor alongside Prof Trevor Herbert and Arnold Myers of the seminal 'The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Brass Instruments', as well as with Alexander McGratton of 'The Trumpet' and his own 'The Victorian Trumpet'.

More recently he had launched a popular podcast series 'Brass Matters' in which he was joined by friends and associates to discuss and explore different aspects of their musical worlds — from compositions to education and more.

Champion

A champion of contemporary music, he enjoyed an outstanding solo career, with concertos written for him by the likes of Malcolm Arnold, James Macmillan and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. He went on the record over 30 solo and ensemble albums as well as gaining worldwide prominence in performing alongside Kiri Te Kanawa at the wedding of Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.

He later combined his solo and ensemble playing with the role of Principal of the then Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

There he oversaw its extensive development as part of its 'Creating the Future of Performance' strategy, the extensive creation of new programmes of study and research, and renaming as the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He retired from the role in 2014 and became its Emeritus Professor of Brass.

An extraordinary musician, educator, scholar and friend, he will be so deeply missed by all who knew and worked with him, and most especially by the music and brass community around the worldThe Wallace Collection

Honours

He was appointed OBE in the 1995 New Year Honours list, for distinguished services to music. In 2003, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and in the 2011 New Year Honours list was appointed CBE for services to music, dance and drama education.

In 2014, he received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music from the University of St Andrews and in 2021, was awarded the Queen's Medal for Music by Queen Elizabeth II.

Other awards and accolades were presented to him throughout his career — his death marked by a substantial level of reflection and celebration in honouring his profound legacy and contribution to the world of music.

Tributes

The tributes were led by his friends and colleagues of the Wallace Collection who stated: "An extraordinary musician, educator, scholar and friend, he will be so deeply missed by all who knew and worked with him, and most especially by the music and brass community around the world."