A trumpeter from a village in Fife. A royal wedding. The Principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. For John Wallace, music wasn't just a career, it was something to teach, share and feel.

Born in Fife in 1949, John joined his local Tullis Russell Mills Band as a boy. From 1976, he was Principal Trumpet of the Philharmonia Orchestra. In 1981, he played alongside Kiri Te Kanawa at the royal wedding.

In 1986, he founded The Wallace Collection. Then he turned more and more to education, conducting and composition, leading the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland as Principal from 2002 to 2014. A CBE came in 2011, and the Queen’s Medal for Music in 2021.

He never stopped championing free music education and access to instruments for young people.

Our documentary, John Wallace: A Tribute in Brass, tells John’s story. It builds to a performance at the Usher Hall, with brass players from across Scotland and people whose lives John touched.

Watch it now on the Edinburgh International Festival YouTube channel.

Catch every broadcast on our social channels:

• @edintfest on YouTube

• @edintfest on Instagram

• @Edinburgh International Festival on Facebook

• @edintfestival on TikTok

• @edintfest on Twitter