John Wallace grew up in the Brass Band tradition in Scotland.  In 1965 he toured Europe with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and went on to become Principal Trumpet with the Philharmonia Orchestra after periods with the Royal Philharmonic and London Symphony Orchestras as Assistant Principal. In 1986 he created his internationally acclaimed brass group, The Wallace Collection and in 2002 he took up the position as Principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) – a position he held until leaving in 2014 to resume his musical career, reforming The Wallace Collection, and composing new music for brass. 

John’s international career as a highly acclaimed virtuoso trumpet player, educationalist, published composer and co-editor of Companion to Brass Instruments and History of The Trumpet have combined to establish him as a musician of enormous distinction.  John was awarded the OBE in 1995 in recognition of his distinguished services to Music, and the CBE in 2011 for services to Dance, Music and Drama in Scotland.