Professor John Wallace, Principal of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama

Music has always been a part of Professor John Wallace's life. "I was born in Fife, Methilhill in 1949 and I started playing the trumpet and cornet when I was seven-years-old. My dad and grandfather played in a brass band and it was natural that I would take it up," he says.

"I never knew that I wanted a musical career though; I fell in to it. Right from the start I played in competitions every weekend and I was also in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. When I was at university in Cambridge I played in their orchestra. Very naturally it became something I wanted to do."

Music wasn't just something John wanted to do, he feels lucky to play in fantastic orchestras. He says, "It was a fantastic experience playing for orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra. There is no greater ensemble that has been devised by human kind to explore abstract ideas of beauty and sound. It was fantastic to be in orchestras with such fantastic players."

Although John performed with top-class orchestras, he was elated about returning to Scotland. "When I became the principal of the RSAMD I felt completely euphoric and elated," he mentions.

"I still can't quite believe it. I had to leave Scotland when I was 18-years-old because of what I wanted to do with music. To have the chance to come back to Scotland at age 52 is amazing. It’s like returning from exile. It's about being accepted in one’s homeland, and it’s the most fantastic feeling I've ever had. The orchestra at the RSAMD is a great team. Along with the film, performing and other teams, they are all one dream team."

As a musician, John has travelled a lot, but missed Scotland. He says, "I spent six months of the year abroad. As a musician you can’t stay in one place. You’re moving around all the time. It’s very unusual for a musician to stay in one place and I was no exception.

"But I’ve visited lots of countries and continents. I've been to Africa, Asia, the Far East and Australasia. Music has taken me to lots of interesting places; it’s the universal language. Everyone is interested in music; it’s always there. It's a voice of Scotland; Scotland is music. My view of music is that it’s the biggest binding element of humanity.

"I missed Scotland when I was travelling. Scots are very emotional about Scotland. I used to come back to see relations and it was the only time I heard the bagpipes and I had hot tears running down my cheeks. Bagpipes are so elemental; they are part of every Scottish person."

John is not just passionate about music, but about the beauty of Scotland. "The best thing about Scotland is the culture and creativity," he says. "We need to retain creative young people here. In Scotland, the talent is outstanding. We turn out more astounding musicians than any part of the UK. We are a very creative population. The architecture is very beautiful.

"There’s also a lot more space. There is more room to breathe here than in the rest of the world. When I am coming back from London I breathe a sigh of welcome that I am home. People here are also fonder of abstract ideas. Even cabbies here will talk about economics, not just football."

Although John has achieved so much, he has one big ambition for the RSAMD. He says, "I would say my greatest achievement was playing the Trumpet Concerto by James MacMillan at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh. It's a great work of art to bring into the world.

"But my biggest ambition now is to make the RSAMD the number one conservatoire in the world."

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The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama