Chris West is a Professor of double bass at Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London. He was formerly the solo bass in the Guildhall String Ensemble and co-principal of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He is a regular guest principal with major British orchestras such as the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia and Academy of St Martin-in-the-fields and can be heard on many film and TV soundtracks such as Downton Abbey and two Harry Potter movies. He is also well-known as a chamber musician, featuring on discs of the Schubert Octet, Beethoven Septet and Vaughan Williams Quintet. His publications include a Guide to Double Bass Harmonics, Reaching The Heights-A Guide to Thumb Position on the Double Bass, and a biography of Giovanni Bottesini.