Following studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama and at the Guildhall School of Music, John Gracie joined the BBC Training Orchestra in Bristol. In 1971 he was appointed Principal Trumpet with the Ulster Orchestra and in 1973 he joined the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra in Manchester under Bryden Thomson, where he was promoted to Principal Trumpet in 1977. During this time he played regularly with the Halle, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestras. John Gracie returned to Scotland to take up his present position as Principal Trumpet in the RSNO, which he has held for the last 23 years. He is currently Professor of Trumpet at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music, and a member of the Paragon Ensemble, Chamber Group of Scotland, and the RSNO Brass Ensemble. He appears regularly as a soloist with the RSNO and as Guest Principal Trumpet with the London Orchestras.
