Kai West

Double Bass - In your rooms

Kai Carson West was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1987. He began teaching himself the bass guitar age 11 when he found his father’s bass in the closet. By age 12 he had begun playing guitar, drums, and tenor saxophone. At 16 Kai was gigging in professional bands on both guitar and electric bass and he tested out of high school in order to devote his full attention to music.
 
He began focusing specifically on classical music and developed a deep fascination and love of the orchestra. He took up the double bass while studying improvisation and composition at the California Institute of the Arts, and had lessons with Peter Rofe of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. After only six months of playing the instrument, he was accepted to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where he studied with Thomas Martin and Kevin Rundell.  In 2010, at age 22, Kai was invited by Nigel Kennedy to join his newly formed Orchestra of Life as Principal Bass. 

In addition to his double bass studies Kai has studied conducting with Sian Edwards since 2007.  He also has a strong interest in mixing music and theatre, and has collaborated with the Guildhall Drama Department on many productions and projects. Kai recently completed a Masters degree at Guildhall on a full fees scholarship and has been invited to return as a Fellow of the school.