Death of Fife musician John Wallace who performed at 1981 Royal wedding of Charles and Diana
A renowned Fife musician, who played a trumpet solo at the wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles, has died at the age of 77.
Professor John Wallace was a much-loved former principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and hailed as world-renowned trumpet soloist, composer and educator.
Born in Methil, he first played a cornet with Tullis Russell Paper Mill’s highly regarded brass band - he was the fourth generation of his family to play in a brass band - and he went on from Buckhaven High School to study music at King's College, Cambridge, and then composition at the Royal Academy of Music and York University.
In 1974, he joined the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as co-principal trumpet, and, two years later, began a two-decade long stint as principal trumpet of the Philharmonia Orchestra. As a solo musician, he performed extensively, with one of the highlights being at the 1981 Royal Wedding alongside renowned opera singer, Kiri Te Kanawa
Mr Wallace became principal of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in 2002, a position he held until his retiral in 2014.
In a tribute, it said under his leadership the academy’s learning and teaching portfolio expanded to forge a groundbreaking and multi-disciplinary curriculum.
Professor Jeffrey Sharkey, who succeeded him in 2014, said: “John was a legend in the music world – one of Scotland’s own who gave so much to the world as a performer, educator and leader. He was also incredibly warm and approachable.
“John was grounded in the brass music of his childhood - those Fife bands formed him and shaped his love for the ensemble. He kept those roots even when leading the brass sections of some of the world’s top orchestras and the whole of RCS, taking us into the 21st century. He will be much missed, and his legacy will be felt by so many.”
Mr Wallace received an OBE in 1995 and a CBE in 2011, and was presented with The Queen’s Medal for Music in 2021, awarded annually to an outstanding individual or group of musicians.
He was also patron of the Scottish Brass Band Association where, in 2025, his musical life was recognised with its ‘Outstanding Achievement Award’ and in the same year was presented with honorary membership of the Royal Philharmonic Society as he was performing with The Wallace Collection - the ensemble he founded in 1986.
Among his many honours, in 2014, he received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music from the University of St Andrews.
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland said it will celebrate Mr Wallace’s unrivalled contribution to music in Scotland and the legacy he leaves in due course.
A spokesperson added: “John was a positive force in life as well as in music and we extend our heartfelt sympathies to his wife Liz, their children and all those who loved him and were inspired by him.”