The LSO was saddened to hear of the death of John Wallace, former Principal Trumpet of the Orchestra, on 11 January.
John was a renowned trumpet soloist, composer and educator, performing worldwide with many of the top orchestras. He was born in Fife, Scotland, in 1949 into a brass band family. He joined the LSO in the mid-1970s as Principal Trumpet under the leadership of André Previn.
John served as Principal of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) from 2002, expanding the institution’s curriculum and reputation. After his retirement in 2014 he was appointed Emeritus Professor in Brass.
He famously formed the Wallace Collection Brass Ensemble whose aim is to promote the diverse world of brass music.
He was awarded an OBE in 1995 and CBE in 2011 for his services to music education. He received The Queen’s Medal for Music in 2021, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the world of music.
Our thoughts are with John’s family, friends and colleagues at this sad time.
Further Reading
Obituary: Neil Watson, 1928-2025
The London Symphony Orchestra is saddened to hear of the death of Neil Watson, former Co-Principal Second Violin.
Obituary: Michael Davis, 1944–2025
The London Symphony Orchestra is saddened to hear of the death of Michael Davis, former LSO Leader.
Obituary: Dame Patricia Routledge, 1929–2025
The London Symphony Orchestra is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dame Patricia Routledge.
