John Wallace, who has died aged 76, was a virtuoso trumpeter, composer and educator whose roots lay in the brass band tradition of working-class communities in his native Fife.
He nurtured that connection throughout a hugely successful and eclectic performing career, as principal trumpet and soloist with leading UK orchestras and conductors, and founder of the Wallace Collection brass ensemble, before becoming principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2002. Wallace was also an effective campaigner for free instrumental tuition in Scottish schools, enabling children of all backgrounds to explore and develop their talents.
Following a music degree at King’s College, Cambridge, and postgraduate composition studies at York University and the Royal Academy of Music in London, Wallace started out composing but found it difficult to make a living from this alone. So in 1974 he auditioned successfully as assistant principal trumpet for the London Symphony Orchestra, then led by And
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