Professor John Wallace CBE

That the Parliament mourns the passing of the remarkable musician, Professor John Wallace; notes that, by the age of 25, he was the Assistant Principal Trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra, and that, two years later, he was the Principal Trumpet of the Philharmonia; understands that, in parallel to his orchestral career, he performed as a soloist with many of the world’s finest orchestras and conductors; recognises that, as a virtuoso trumpeter, he accompanied Kiri te Kanawa in Handel’s Let the Bright Seraphim at the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981, and was the soloist in the credits for the TV adaptation of John Le Carre’s Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; acknowledges that, in 1986, he founded The Wallace Collection, which performs and records brass music from many different periods on authentic instruments; understands that he has been responsible for two of the most important books on brass playing, including an authoritative volume on the trumpet, co-authored with Sandy McGrattan in 2012; believes that John’s scholarly work has hugely enhanced the understanding of the complex technology of brass instruments and their development over thousands of years; agrees that, through the unique quality of sound that his playing produced, he established the trumpet as an instrument worthy of the same artistry that has been associated with string and keyboard instruments; understands that his artistry has inspired composers of the stature of Harrison Birtwistle, Peter Maxwell Davies and James Macmillan to write new music for the trumpet, creating a vastly expanded solo repertoire; recognises that, in 2002, John became principal of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, which, under his passionate and expert leadership, expanded its activities and became the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2011; acknowledges that John was appointed a CBE in 2011, was awarded the Degree of Doctor of Music honoris causa from the University of St Andrews in 2014, and awarded a Queen's Medal for Music in 2021 for being an "outstanding individual casting a major positive influence on the musical life of the nation”; is aware that, in 2003, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and has also achieved professional fellowships with the Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music; appreciates that he composed ceremonial fanfares for the Scottish Parliament and was a keen supporter of the Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Music; notes that, after his retirement in 2014, he became convenor of the Music Education Partnership Group, which campaigned for free instrumental tuition across the country; believes that the world of Scottish music and culture has lost an immense figure, and sends its condolences to his family, friends, professional colleagues and countless admirers.