Founded by John Wallace in 1986 to explore and perform the extensive brass repertory, the Wallace Collection has become one of the world's pioneering brass ensembles with an international reputation for innovative programming. Following a highly acclaimed début concert at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall and subsequent performances at the Edinburgh and Madrid Festivals, the Wallace Collection received numerous invitations to perform at major Festivals throughout the UK, including a further three appearances at Edinburgh.

World-wide tours to countries including Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and the USA have formed the major focus for the Wallace Collection since its inception. Following its triumphantly successful first American tour in 1993 the group has performed at many major Festivals including Madrid, Prague Spring, Lucerne and Gstaad and has made special guest appearances in Northern Ireland, Switzerland, France and Turkey. Renowned for their new initiatives in music education, the ensemble regularly visits Spain where, in one year alone, it performed to some 80 000 schoolchildren.

Under the aegis of the British Council the group has visited South Africa, Botswana, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Malaysia, Russia, Kazakhstan and Bangladesh.

The Wallace Collection comprises John Wallace trumpet, John Miller trumpet, Paul Gardham horn, Simon Gunton trombone and Robin Haggart tuba.